The Sarasota Ballet New Chief Strategy and Advancement Officer

September 7 – Sarasota

The Sarasota Ballet is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa L. McCoy, CFRE, CFRM to its newly expanded role of Chief Strategy & Advancement Officer. McCoy most recently served as Chief Advancement Officer at Abilities First, Inc., a non-profit in New York where she was instrumental in growing the brand from $27 million to $40 million through organizational realignment, community engagement, and innovative strategies in diverse aspects of the corporation.

On the addition of Melissa to The Sarasota Ballet, Executive Director Joseph Volpe states “We are pleased to have Melissa McCoy joining the Company as its new Chief Strategy and Advancement Officer. Highly regarded and respected in various fields, Melissa brings years of industry experience, a passion for community, and strong leadership skills to The Sarasota Ballet that will enable the organization to reach greater heights.” The newly expanded position will lead strategies for Philanthropic initiatives, Marketing, Box Office, and Community Engagement for Education while contributing to the overall mission.

McCoy is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE) and certified fundraising manager (CFRM), a certified master trainer, and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) for which she has been actively involved locally and nationally, presently serving on the AFP Global Marketing & Communications Committee. She has maintained an ongoing commitment to community service, actively serving and leading Boards with which she has served. She was most recently a member of the Board of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, having pioneered the corporation as the first non-profit to become a member.

“I am honored to accept The Sarasota Ballet’s invitation to join the executive leadership team, and its Board leadership, in furthering its mission as an exceptional arts organization, and significant contributor to arts education in the community.” Drawing on a life-long passion for dance and her professional accomplishments, McCoy stated, “I see the organization poised for significant growth and impact, as a performing arts organization and significant contributor to arts education in communities, both regionally and nationally.”