Melissa Thompson is a connector, a community advocate, and a firm believer in the power of generosity to shape a better world. As a longtime team member at the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, Melissa brings heart, humor, and a deep sense of purpose to her role—helping generous people invest in causes they care about most. She describes her work as having a front-row seat to the good happening in our community, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.A Huntsville transplant by way of Arizona (and before that, North Carolina and Georgia), Melissa's journey has included many titles: attorney, PTA president, volunteer extraordinaire, and now, one of the most respected voices in Huntsville’s philanthropic landscape. After earning her law degree from Arizona State University College of Law and practicing in several legal fields, Melissa stepped away from the workforce to focus on raising her son, Sam—filling the gap with years of impactful volunteer work in education and local nonprofits.When a conversation at a school board meeting unexpectedly led to an opportunity at the Community Foundation, Melissa saw the perfect intersection of her passion for people and love for service. Since then, she’s been working side-by-side with donors to turn generosity into meaningful community impact.Melissa’s story is one of heart and hustle, balancing family, faith, and a commitment to public service—while never losing her quick wit or love for sparkling water.Fun facts? She’s a former state champion basketball player, a semi-finalist in the Miss Liberty pageant, and the proud mom of a Guinness World Record holder (her son, Sam, helped set a math record involving Pascal’s Triangle!).In this episode of SheBoss, we sat down with Melissa to talk about the power of philanthropy, lessons from her winding career path, and how women can embrace every chapter—even the ones with resume gaps.Follow Melissa and the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville:🌐 Website: https://givehsv.org/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-thompson-02941b20/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfhuntsville/
