MELANIE ZEITLER
Bridge House Senior Director of Philanthropy
Melanie Zeitler was named Bridge House Senior Director of Philanthropy in May 2024 and will oversee fundraising, marketing, community relations, and outreach.
In her role, she will lead a small team to lead a department of five to leverage Bridge House’s “Bridge of Opportunity” spanning basic needs, employment, and housing to support mission-driven programing and operations, including capital campaigns and events in Boulder, Aurora, Englewood, and surrounding areas.
Melanie joins the 25-year-old human services nonprofit after seven years of successfully stewarding support for preventative health at Denver-based 365 Health, the nation's largest volunteer-driven health and education non-profit program.
During her tenure at 365 Health, Zeitler was an executive team leader of the $5m non profit that improved community access to preventative healthcare, health, literacy, education, and telehealth statewide. Among her accomplishments as vice president of philanthropy, she:
- Co-led the beginning phase of a $5m capital campaign from 2021-23;
- Raised $3.7m in grant revenue from 2022-23;
- Co-negotiated a contract to provide preventive telehealth services to uninsured, underinsured and low-income individuals.
- Co-managed the next generation of 365 Health Emerging Leaders group;
Prior to her role at 365 Health, Zeitler was the director of development at Plains Conservation Center in Aurora, Colo.. There she created Trailblazers, a citizen science and fundraising program, increased support for cross promotional environmental science programs with the Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science, and Zoo; and spearheaded a unique on-property campaign to support the restoration of the short-grass prairie and bison to the eastern plains.
At the South Bend (Ind.) Museum of Art she built the organization's first development department; led, the first and subsequent annual fund campaigns, launched The Contemporaries, a philanthropic giving group for young professionals, creating pathways to life-long membership, art education, collection, and donorship, and led the museum’s rebranding efforts.
She has also served as Michiana Jewish Historical Society Executive Director, University of Denver Hillel Director, and Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley Program Director.
The South Bend, Ind. native has lived in the Denver metro area for more than 25 years. She is concurrently pursuing her Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) with a community health and environmental focus.
