Melissa Steimer, Capital Campaigns Manager

As the capital campaigns manager for Best Friends, Melissa Steimer develops and executes capital campaigns (which could be new buildings or new programs) to financially support the growth taking place at the sanctuary and in communities across the country.

Before accepting the job at Best Friends, Melissa spent 15 years fundraising for various nonprofit organizations in Omaha, Nebraska. She initially fell into fundraising through a job on campus at Creighton University in which she called alumni and parents of students asking for their support. That experience led her to make fundraising her career. She has raised funds for a history museum, a performing arts center, a hospital system and the Nebraska Humane Society, where she was given the opportunity to be the first director of development and help the society realize the dream of a new building that safely houses and provides programs for the animals and citizens of the Omaha community.

In her new position at Best Friends, Melissa looks forward to outlining a vision for our donors and, through their support, building a wonderful future for Best Friends and our communities around the world. She says, "I love that I am finally getting the opportunity to use all of my various fundraising experiences on something I am really passionate about - animals, their welfare and how we as humans interact with and respect our furry friends."

After living in Omaha, Nebraska, for the past 20 years, Melissa was ready for a move out of state. She had heard about Best Friends in the late 1990s while working for the Nebraska Humane Society, but had never visited. When she became aware of development positions available at Best Friends, she knew it was meant to be. She spent three days in Kanab interviewing and fell instantly in love with the area, the people, the animals and the heart of the organization. She says she could not have asked for a better opportunity and life purpose.

Melissa received her bachelor's degree in political science, international relations, from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and her master's degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

She lives in Kanab with her husband, Scott, son Charlie and daughter Grace, along with two dogs, Addie and Dachs, and a parrot, Bogey. In their leisure time, the family looks forward to experiencing the surroundings of Kanab, from Lake Powell to Brian Head, and exploring all the wonderful national parks in the area.