Melissa Madzel Email & Phone Number

Do Good Connections is a boutique consulting practice focused on bringing outstanding leaders and their expertise to nonprofit and philanthropic executive positions and Boards of Directors in the social justice space, as well as supporting nonprofit Boards and leadership through advising around transition processes.Search partners include: Neighborhood Funders Group, Building Movement Project, Drug Policy Alliance, Groundswell Fund, and Clean Slate InitiativeAdvising and training partners include: ProInspire and Nonprofit Leadership Lab

New York, Ny, Us

Serve as Board Member for this public foundation that strengthens the LGBTQ+ Movement by making smart, values-driven investments in dynamic organizations, projects, and leaders. Began Vice President role in 2022.

Provided strategic leadership to client partnerships, working on exciting and complex executive searches with social justice organizations including CHANGE Philanthropy, Cause Effective, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Center of New York City, Decolonizing Wealth Project, Hewlett Foundation, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Nontraditional Employment for Women, and The Public Theater. Also led Board recruitment processes for foundations including Public Welfare Foundation and Proteus Fund, working closely with Board and organizational leadership for Board growth. Actively contributed to a shared leadership model with the 12-person staff, including extensive coaching and development of team members.

Boston, Ma, Us

Served as a day-to-day leader ensuring that Koya's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is infused into our search processes, organizational culture, staff competency, and external brand. Partnered closely with senior leadership to ensure that Koya's work is centered in DEI principles, with constant focus on building the nonprofit sector as a whole.

Boston, Ma, Us

Led and contributed to nonprofit executive searches, mainly in the social justice community, as well as developing and deepening Koya’s relationships in the progressive movement. Representative searches for CEOs/Presidents/Executive Directors included: Community Change Action, Innocence Project, Southern Poverty Law Center, NYC AIDS Memorial, Hetrick-Martin Institute, and Demos. Brought particular focus to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the hiring process as well as work with people of color and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. Facilitated trainings about navigating nonprofit career pathways for people of color and in the LGBTQ+ community. Past trainings include: Grantmakers United for Trans Communities, Lead the Way Fellowship, and Pipeline Fellows, among others.Active with Koya's internal and external DEI work, specifically serving as the facilitator and leader of IDEAS @ Koya, the firm's monthly conversation about inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

Boston, Ma, Us

Worked with non-profit organizations throughout the country to identify hiring needs, execute recruitment plans, and connect top-tier talent. Placed senior leaders at organizations including Drug Policy Alliance, Nathan Cummings Foundation, Per Scholas, and the Foundation for a Just Society, among others.

Boston, Ma, Us

Supported the growth of Koya Leadership Partners into New York City, serving as Koya's first staff-person in NYC. Worked with search leads to conduct candidate outreach.

Provided oversight of day-to-day operations of national nonprofit organization in the “spin-off” from Bloomberg Philanthropies, with focus on organizational structure and development, goal-setting, and planning. Specific activities included: recruitment and hiring management, oversight of fundraising activities, and strategic/operations planning.

New York, New York, Us

Managed corporate relationships for high-profile Fortune 100 donors, built and grew multi-million dollar partnerships that integrated philanthropic grants, employee and senior executive engagement, and program-related investments. Led small team in managing portfolio of companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, and technology industries.

New York, Ny, Us

Worked with Corporate Development Team to secure over $2 million in sponsorships, cause-marketing, event sponsorships, and restricted support for programs, including the single largest corporate sponsorship for organization.

Boston, Ma, Us

Led twenty-six 17-24 year-old Corps Members in all aspects of full-time community service at underserved New York City public schools in Hunts Point, Bronx, and the Lower East Side, Manhattan.

Msw, Social Work

Ba, Human Services, Theatre Performance