Melissa DeLaet, M.S.

Chief Executive Officer

Melissa DeLaet has been the Chief Executive Officer at Greater Grand Island Community Foundation since 2016. She received her Bachelor's degree from Hastings College in 2005 and a Master's degree in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2008. She also holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management from The Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Melissa has a background in human services, fundraising, sales, and marketing and has worked with nonprofits for more than 20 years. In 2014 and 2015, she co-managed the Hope Expanding Capital Campaign for Hope Harbor, a local homeless shelter for women, children, and families. The campaign raised more than 1.9 million dollars to expand the shelter campus and programming.

Since taking the reigns at Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, Melissa has successfully implemented a rebranding initiative, has grown the assets of the Foundation from $17 million to more than $31 million, has worked with her team to develop a Youth Philanthropy program, has implemented and expanded the Foundations Nonprofit Excellence Institute, and has guided the Foundation to permanency with the purchase of their own location.

Melissa has volunteered for various boards, organizations, and committees in the Grand Island community, including Leadership Tomorrow, Rotary, Central Nebraska Child Advocacy Center, Make-A-Wish, AOK Ladies, Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, and others. She currently sits on the CEONet board of directors. Melissa sat on the Governor-appointed commission on housing and homelessness from 2012 to 2015 and was named Young Woman of Achievement in 2014 by the YWCA. Melissa was a Grand Island Chamber's Top 35 under 35 in 2010 and is a class 24 Hall County Leadership Tomorrow graduate.

Melissa and her husband, Nathan, are owners in the MainStay Suites, where her husband is General Manager. They are blessed to have three children-- Keith, Kyle, and Kollin. Melissa enjoys golf, Husker football, cooking, travel, and spending time with her family and friends in her spare time.

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