Melanie Davis-Jones

Co-founder | Director of Strategic Communications 

Melanie began her career in advertising agencies, leading account management teams for McDonald’s, Pepsi-Cola, and Royal Caribbean. Her decade-long volunteer commitment to a small grassroots organization that supported people with HIV/AIDS connected her to a deep passion for service, which led Melanie to shift her professional focus to nonprofits.

As Chief Strategy Officer for United Way of the Greater Triangle, Melanie conceptualized and led the marketing, programming, and partnerships for a new community engagement approach, Innovate United, an equity-based investment fund. Initiatives included: a public-private partnership Social Innovation Challenge in a historically underserved community with training and funding for BIPOC nonprofits and small businesses; 100K Kids Hungry No More, human-centered design community challenges focused on creative solutions informed by lived experiences; and GenerationNext, college innovation challenges to connect students in HBCUs with entrepreneurial skills, contacts, and seed funding. 

In her work with the North Carolina Museum of Art, United Way, and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Melanie led task forces and developed strategic plans that identified and operationalized DEAI initiatives for the organizations. 

Melanie is an alumna of Duke University and is based in Los Angeles, CA.