Melanie R Sabelhaus

Melanie R. Sabelhaus has more than 30 years of successful small business, corporate, and nonprofit experience.

For 15 years Melanie worked in a variety of management positions with IBM Corporation. She became their leading Sales Manager. She then founded and served as chief executive officer of Exclusive Interim Properties. The company, after a merger, did an IPO and went public on the NASDAQ. It is one of the largest interim housing companies in the world. Melanie was selected to serve as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. She was second in command in managing an agency with more than 80 offices across the country, dedicated to encouraging startups, innovation and job growth.

Melanie is dedicated to assisting non-profits with whose mission she identifies. Melanie served as the Vice Chair of the National American Red Cross. She co-founded and organized the Tiffany Circle that has now raised over $100 million for the Red Cross. She twice co-chaired the National United Way’s Summit on Women in Philanthropy.

She currently serves as trustee of the Johns Hopkins Health Systems and the Nantucket Cottage Hospital board of trustees. Melanie is an emeritus trustee of the Ohio University Foundation. While living in Maryland, she was on the boards of the United Way of Maryland and the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Maryland. Melanie participated on the boards of the Kennedy School of Government Harvard University, and the Women’s Philanthropy Institute Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Recognition for her accomplishments and service have been numerous. A few include: the 2002 Outstanding Fundraiser Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals; the College of Notre Dame of Maryland’s Pro Urbe Award for her contributions to the community and as a successful small business entrepreneur; the Girl Scouts Outstanding Woman of the Year; and Ohio University’s School of Business Award for Achievement in Business.   She gave the 2010 commencement address at Ohio University, her alma mater. In March, 2020, she received the American Red Cross Harriman Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service.

Melanie is also a recipient of the Artemis Award presented by the European-American Women’s Conference, and the Senator William Proxmire Award from the Copper Ridge Institute for her support of the model of care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s.

Melanie Sabelhaus is passionate about Women in Philanthropy. She leads that practice. She couples her marketplace knowledge with business expertise. This creates a synergistic energy and creativity that motivate board members and staff to new levels of achievement. She resides in Naples, Florida and Nantucket, Massachusetts.