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“Meaningful bridging—like real integration—must acknowledge, respect, and appreciate difference… Bridging requires…listening empathically and holding space for the other within our collective stories.“

John A. Powell, UC Berkeley Othering and Belonging Institute

My Work

As a social impact strategist, I provide in-depth organizational development facilitation to build capacity in fundraising, organizational culture and strategic direction. I offer expertise on resource generation, philanthropic partnerships, team coaching, strategic planning, proposal research and writing, giving circles as well as 360° organizational development. I work at the intersection of social justice, environmental justice and human rights by coaching and strategizing with changemakers and their staff members. I facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and international cooperation. All of my work with Indigenous Peoples is guided by The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday the 13th of September, 2007.

My Focus

I provide philanthropic and strategic consultation on a variety of issues: Indigenous rights, women’s rights, empowerment for women and girls, gender equity, youth empowerment, human rights, environmental and climate justice, as well as ecological and regenerative design.

Select Partners

I have successfully led comprehensive consulting projects for a diverse range of client partners. Puente Southwest (PSW) is dedicated to advancing philanthropic efforts that address critical social issues such as climate justice, gender equity, Indigenous and LGBTQI+ rights and economic justice. 

International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) is the only global funders network dedicated to fostering partnerships among Indigenous Peoples and funders around the globe. PSW supported IFIP’s efforts between 2021-2023 for their bi-annual conference in Merida, Mexico. PSW raised conference funding and ongoing general operating funds, created new relationships with family foundations and increased IFIP’s membership.

Calala Fondo de Mujeres is an organization based in Barcelona, Spain, supporting women’s rights in Central America. PSW recently completed a detailed mapping of funding in the region for the period 2014-2024. 

DisCO is a small group of radical thinkers working to develop and implement a methodology based on distributed, cooperative, anti-capitalist, commons-oriented communities. In the spring of 2024, PSW provided a short but in-depth report recommending potential funding sources and funder language strategies. 

Political Research Associates (PRA) has been fighting the Right’s new governing coalition, including the Christian Right/theocrats, White nationalists and the “alt-right,” economic libertarians, and Patriots and other right-wing forces for the last 40 years, publishing extremely well researched information on the Right’s activities and intended actions, often with the result of hindering those actions. From 2021 to 2023 PSW provided staff coaching and leadership development, as well as prospecting and grant writing leading to the securing of over a million dollars from funders.

About Melissa

Melissa Stevens is a senior level social profit philanthropic professional with local, national, and international NGOs. She has a focus on philanthropic relations, youth, Indigenous rights, women’s rights and gender equity, education, community health, climate justice, cross-cultural dialogue, human rights, the environment, ecological design principles and arts & culture. She has extensive experience in executive direction, social profit (nonprofit) consulting, fundraising, organizational/community development, social entrepreneurship, social impact, program direction, international nonprofits and social enterprises.  After living and working abroad and around the country for ten years in Quito, Ecuador, New York, San Francisco, Boston and Berkeley she returned home to Santa Fe, NM in 2003. There she became the executive director for Permacultura America Latina focusing on the funding and building of ecological schools in Latin America.  In 2015 she became the Executive Director of MATCH New Mexico which focused on working with 3rd graders and college student mentors focused on building reading literacy.  She has worked in transformative education with the Academy for the Love of Learning and served as the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships at Cultural Survival with Indigenous peoples around the world. She is an active member of Nexus Global and was part of the 2021 OTC365 Opportunity Collaboration cohort focusing on building flourishing partnerships within the social profit and social enterprise sector. Melissa was chosen as a fellow with The Break fellowship for women entrepreneurs, funded by the European Union. Melissa has worked in seven countries over the course of her twenty-five year career, is Latina with Jewish roots from Spain, speaks Spanish, and is currently learning French. She graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in Comparative World Literature, lives in southern France with Piers and his two (very tall) teenage boys. Melissa has two adult children, Santiago and Iliana who share her love of art, social impact and travel.

“Puente Southwest is our go-to consultancy!”
Orlisha Fox, Development Director, Political Research Associates

“Melissa’s passion and dedication to working toward Indigenous rights gives me hope that, through collaboration, we can make culturally appropriate changes in the daily lives of Indigenous peoples.“
Kathryn Harris Tijerina, Santa Fe, New Mexico (citizen of the Comanche Nation)