As Senior Director of Philanthropy, Melissa Weakley Zenaty leads World Food Program USA’s Major Gift program. Melissa and her team engage major donors and philanthropic partners in advancing WFP’s mission to end global hunger. Her work focuses on building strong relationships and helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals.
Melissa brings over a decade of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and international development. Before joining World Food Program USA in 2020, Melissa held fundraising roles at Living Goods and The Asia Foundation and focused on human trafficking prevention and women’s empowerment programs in Thailand at the Center for Girls Foundation. Melissa has lived and studied in Bangkok and Chiang Khong, Thailand and Leiden, the Netherlands. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from Webster University, Bangkok, a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from San Diego State University, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
Melissa lives in Oakland, California and has two adorable rescue dogs.