Melissa Swartz has more than two decades of non-profit leadership experience in organizations ranging in size from large world renowned institutions to small grassroots organizations. She has created and implemented strategic and development plans resulting in record breaking event fundraising, grant awards and major donation earnings. As a Coach, Melissa partners with nonprofit leaders, corporate professionals and business owners empowering them to strengthen mental fitness, hone leadership capabilities, and unlock their full potential.

Melissa began her career managing large-scale galas and dinner dances, securing millions of dollars for NYC charities, including The Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, New York Restoration Project, The Juilliard School, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and more. As Assistant Director of Development at NYU Langone Medical Center, she was part of a team tackling a ten-year, two-billion-dollar campaign and personally grew a portfolio of major donors at the $10,000-$150,000 giving level. Eager to make a greater impact in her local community, Melissa brought the best practices and skills she developed to smaller organizations, including Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary, and People to People, Rockland County’s largest food pantry. While serving as Director of Development for these nonprofits, she surpassed event fundraising goals, increased individual and major donor funding, and secured new corporate and government grants. Melissa brought her fundraising skills and coaching acumen to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year Campaign, where she partnered with volunteer candidates to raise nearly $2.5 million, surpassing the campaign goal of $600,000.

From 2019-2023, she served as co facilitator of Leadership Westchester, a rigorous, nine-month curriculum that is designed to sharpen effective leadership skills and provide participants with the clarity to define and achieve their personal and professional goals in life. In 2018 Melissa became accredited as an ICF Certified Professional Coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). Melissa partners with mid level career professionals, executives, and small business owners who wish to find greater success for themselves and their organizations. She welcomes the opportunity to help clients facing burnout, navigating career transformation, tackling management struggles, creating and implementing strategic plans, increasing capacity, and more.

Notable Client Achievements

• Coached a Nonprofit Co-Founder/Executive Director in transitioning out of day-to-day operations by strengthening the board, implementing efficient volunteer led systems, and leveraged key connections to identify a qualified successor, leading to a smooth leadership transition and sustained organizational growth.

• Provided strategic fundraising coaching to 10 volunteer leaders, resulting in the creation and execution of individual plans which raised $2.5 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, surpassing the initial goal of $600,000 by over 400%.

• Supported an early career professional through transition coaching, enabling them to earn their dream director role at a prestigious summer camp group where they spearheaded the design, construction, and launch of a new lakefront sleep-away camp and retreat center, accommodating up to 150 guests at a time.

• Provided leadership coaching for a high-performing fundraising director grappling with burnout, team performance challenges, and sacrificing family time, who was able to establish and enforce boundaries, enhance management skills and reclaim work-life harmony.