Cambridge, MA — The Schott Foundation for Public Education is pleased to announce that Ellen Meltzer has joined our team as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Ellen will guide collaborative efforts with philanthropic partners, help leverage resources for grantee partners and support other efforts to increase the growth and sustainability of the foundation.

Ellen has 20 years of experience enhancing the visibility and increasing the resources available to several leading non-profits, working collaboratively with leaders to translate organizational objectives into fundraising strategy. This includes identifying, recruiting, and managing talented staff, and developing and sustaining relationships with external funders and partners.

As the first Chief Development Officer at Roca, Inc., she worked closely with the executive management team and board to formulate strategic initiatives that would significantly increase revenue, visibility, and recognition. She initiated a comprehensive and integrated philanthropic, corporate and institutional growth program to create a cross-sector network of committed Roca advocates.

Under Ellen’s direction as the Vice President of Development, Marketing, and Public Relations, Nurtury, Inc. achieved the culmination of a $17.5 million capital campaign to create a state-of-the-art learning center at Bromley-Heath, Boston’s largest public housing development.

Her prior experience also includes serving as Partners in Health’s (PIH) first Chief Operating Officer and Associate Director of the Program in Infectious Diseases and Social Change (PIDSC), PIH’s-affiliated program at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. As PIH’s first Director of Development and COO, she established a comprehensive funding strategy for the organization.

As Associate Director for Foundation and Government Relations at Facing History and Ourselves, she established a track record of helping this international educational non-profit organization reach its annual budget of $15 million.

Active with a number of non-profits, she currently serves on the Board of EVKids and chairs its governance committee.

“We are thrilled to have Ellen on our team in such a crucial role,” said Schott President and CEO John H. Jackson. “Her extensive experience in development, partnership-building and strategy will be key in growing Schott’s capacity and ability to advance our mission both as an organization and as part of a larger education justice network.”