Melody Keim
Philadelphia,PA
Summary
Dynamic leader dedicated to fostering equitable communities through strategic cross-sector partnerships and innovative problem-solving.Proven track record in organizational development and financial management. Committed to collaboratively designing strategy, cultivating inclusive environments, and building an equitable organization from the inside out to support transformative change.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Interim Executive Director
Village of Arts and Humanities
Philadelphia, PA
01.2025 - Current
- Instituted a co-leadership model in alignment with the organizational values to oversee programs and operations.
- Prepared the organization for the new executive leadership by updating policies and procedures.
- Managed financial resources to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
- Worked with the Board to provide regular updates, including monthly financial reports.
- Managed staff relationships and provided for staff development.
- Initiated individual donor campaigns involving staff and board members.
- Worked to deepen relationships with funders, including a renewed multi-year commitment of $1.125 million.
- Facilitated a shared understanding of strategic vision and organizational focus.
Executive Director (currently part-time)
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
Philadelphia, PA
09.2019 - Current
- Transformed the organization's siloed habits into a collaborative culture grounded in trust, principles of equity, and utilizing consensus balanced with role autonomy.
- Grew the organization's capacity to serve and know who we're serving, from 125,000 people to 500,000 people annually, by updating internal systems, creating a monthly data collection process, and developing a nonintrusive system to gather demographic information.
- Aligned work through a transformational Strategic Plan that named core and aspirational organizational values for the first time, identified strategic goals, and pushed the organization to focus on addressing root causes of food insecurity, such as racism and other forms of oppression.
- Created an equitable compensation policy, ensuring living wage salaries for all team members, and capping the Executive Director's salary at 2.5 times the lowest salary.
- Utilized restorative practices to reduce barriers for Spanish speaking immigrant families fearful of applying for SNAP benefits.
- Joined the Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network to grow relationships with local business who share our values and redistribute wealth through support of black and brown owned companies.
- Reimagined the organizational structure to reduce stress for SNAP hotline counselors, provide flexibility for parents, and build supports for work-life balance.
Consultant
Five Spires
Elkins Park, PA
02.2019 - 07.2019
- Fostered learning through the delivery of a workshop on the intersectionality of race, class, and gender for members of the Philanthropy Network Philadelphia.
Executive Director
Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
01.2017 - 06.2018
- Built the organizational capacity to open additional JBJ Soul Kitchen locations by conducting an HR audit and updating HR policies.
- Facilitated a $1 million corporate donation.
- Fostered a funders' collaborative in support of LGBTQI+ youth, and youth of color, experiencing homelessness through cultivating funder relationships.
VP, Programs & Initiatives/Program Officer
Lancaster County Community Foundation
Lancaster, United States
04.2009 - 01.2017
- Disrupted the Community Foundation's view on diversity, equity, and inclusion, resulting in the development of an organizational DEI lens and grant initiative.
- Created the 'Ah-ha Project: Creative Solutions to Real Problems,' resulting in organizations taking more calculated risks, developing new partnerships, and leveraging $3 million in grantmaking to raise over $50 million in additional dollars for grantee partners.
- Founded the 'Great Social Enterprise Pitch' in partnership with Assets Lancaster, sustaining a 77% launch rate with participating social entrepreneurs, creating 204 living wage jobs, with 49% POC and women among participating participants, and distributing over $1 million in prizes and post-Pitch investment into the local economy.
- Established the Foundation as a community thought leader by hosting 'Ah-ha Community Conversations,' building deeper relationships with community benefit organizations, and working to widen the community's narrative of itself by addressing issues of racism and oppression.
- Raised $11.9 million in 24 hours for local organizations through the launch of the Extraordinary Give, as a member of the Leadership Team.
- Built a trust-based grantmaking program that relied on community volunteers and past grantees to review grant applications, offered general operating dollars, simplified the reporting process, and utilized a grantee cohort model to foster new partnerships.
- Reimagined the Leadership Program to better support and serve leaders of color, based on feedback from past participants and barriers identified by leaders of color who didn't apply for the program.
Director
East King Improvement District
Lancaster, PA
07.2007 - 03.2009
- Increased access to affordable local food and supported local farmers through the revitalization of Eastern Market, a local farmers' market.
- Cultivated a funding relationship of $700,000 with the Wells Fargo Foundation, and wrote a successful grant renewal application for $140,000.
- Contributed to a 12% reduction in crime through community programs and neighborhood engagement.
Education
B.A. - Liberal Arts/Peace & Justice
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VAMaster of Science - Family & Consumer Sciences
Iowa State University
Ames, IASkills
- Social Justice Advocate
- Collaborative Leader
- Organizational Strategy
- Innovative Problem Solver
- Network Weaver
- Active Listener
- Financial Management
- Fundraising
- Equity Leadership
- Policy Development
- Community Engagement
- Team Development
- Critical thinking
- Change Management
- Human Resources
- Governance oversight
Volunteer Roles
- Northwest Mutual Aid Collective, Volunteer, Prior Board Member, Philadelphia, PA, January 2023 - Present
- PA Humanities, Board Member, DEI Group Co-Chair, Philadelphia, PA, November 2016 - October 2022
- Creekside Food Co-op, Board Co-President, Elkins Park, PA, November 2018 - April 2020
- Lancaster Pride, Co-Chair, Lancaster, PA, September 2011 - July 2013
Certification
- Trauma Informed Care Certification
- Nonprofit Management Certification
Affiliations
- Multi-media textile artist
- Published author
- Avid reader
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Interim Executive Director
Village of Arts and Humanities
01.2025 - Current
Executive Director (currently part-time)
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
09.2019 - Current
Consultant
Five Spires
02.2019 - 07.2019
Executive Director
Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation
01.2017 - 06.2018
VP, Programs & Initiatives/Program Officer
Lancaster County Community Foundation
04.2009 - 01.2017
Director
East King Improvement District
07.2007 - 03.2009
B.A. - Liberal Arts/Peace & Justice
Eastern Mennonite University
Master of Science - Family & Consumer Sciences
Iowa State University
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