Melissa Santee serves as the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, a role to  which she was appointed in 2018. As a member of the Museum’s senior leadership team, Santee oversees all  aspects of philanthropy for the Museum and has been instrumental in driving forward its $150 million Transforming the World of Discovery campaign—the largest fundraising initiative in the Museum’s history— raising more than $30 million in the last two years alone. This campaign supports a complete reinvention of  the Museum’s campus and exhibits to make it a natural history museum unlike any other, with an inquiry based, audience-centered approach that tells a unified story of life and the forces that shape our planet.  

Santee’s record of successful campaign leadership and her expertise in strategic planning and execution  make her a vital asset to the Museum’s overall mission. She has successfully led significant fundraising  initiatives at each of the organizations she has served, and her career has been highlighted by numerous  record-setting campaigns.