Melinda Lackey is Founder and Executive Director of SEED Impact, a nonprofit that equips nonprofit leaders to develop the skills they need to build high-performing, sustainable organizations. Herself a nonprofit professional for 30 years, Melinda contributes facilitative leadership; designs tools and services, and serves as an executive-life coach and trainer for nonprofit leaders and teams. SEED identifies exceptional, under-resourced nonprofit organizations and, through a proven “tech and touch” methodology, equips them to achieve the outcomes they seek. Under her leadership, SEED has transformed more than 250 community-serving nonprofits. SEED clients are critical drivers of social change – enabling access to resources like food, shelter and jobs for those in urgent need. With SEED coaching and technology, organizations have touched millions of lives across the nation and globe.Prior to SEED, Melinda co-founded two successful nonprofits. In the early 1990’s, she helped expand a group of six women living with HIV to a network of 600 women doctors, lawyers, service providers, students and caregivers, to establish Iris House, Inc: the first multi-service support center in the country designed by and for women affected by HIV/AIDS. She also co-founded and for ten years directed the Hunter College Welfare Rights Initiative (WRI) which assists low income students to become effective agents of community empowerment and systemic change. Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, she was a professional ballet dancer. Melinda has been featured in Ms. Magazine and New York Daily News. She holds a Masters degree in Social Research from Hunter College and served as a Kellogg National Leadership Program Fellow. Melinda is convinced in the power of nonprofits to support individuals and communities in creating lasting change. She welcomes connections with investors, foundations and people who share SEED’s commitment to expanding the impact of “doing good.”