Annapolis, MD – Today, the Chesapeake Conservancy announced that Melissa Ehrenreich has joined the staff as the organization’s new director of development to oversee fundraising and development efforts. Ehrenreich brings years of fundraising expertise supporting marine conservation progress.

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Most recently, Ehrenreich served as the executive director of the D.C. Social Innovation Project, a small social enterprise and innovation incubator focused on tackling the root causes of poverty in Washington, D.C. She also served in numerous roles with the Ocean Conservancy from 2006 to 2013, including capital campaign manager, director of program effectiveness and acting director of the Trash Free Seas initiative.

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“Melissa has a stellar track record in fundraising and developing new strategies with foundations and nonprofits. Her passion and experience for the environment and conservation will make her a key addition to our team,” Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn said.

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“I am thrilled to work for Chesapeake Conservancy and develop new opportunities to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This organization is an emerging force in conservation. We have the talent, vision, and the partnerships to power the next generation of conservation,” Ehrenreich said.

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Ehrenreich has extensive experience in designed fundraising and marketing programs for community-supported initiatives, program strategy development and impact evaluation, new venture development, and collaborative implementation of sophisticated policy solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland at College Park. Ehrenreich lives in Greenbelt, MD with her husband and three sons.