our founder.

Melinda Steffy

Founder & Principal

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Melinda Steffy (she/her) loves when creative practice and social impact collide. Her 20-year career in the nonprofit sector has been deeply shaped by her perspective as a visual artist and musician. She brings innate creativity and nimbleness to her work, making complex ideas come to life through careful process, attention to detail, and abundant empathy.

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In 2020, Melinda founded Concentric Strategy LLC, working with clients from across the arts, education, and philanthropic sectors. From 2021-2022, Melinda co-hosted the podcast "So, where do we go from here?", speaking with Philadelphia's creative community about resetting as we emerge from the pandemic. 

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Previously, Melinda served as Executive Director of Philadelphia music nonprofit LiveConnections for 8+ years. From start-up phase through significant growth, Melinda built infrastructure and expanded programming, fundraising, communications, and operations. When long-time partner venue World Cafe Live approached LiveConnections about a possible merger, Melinda was instrumental in the decision-making, due diligence (legal, financial, operational), and planning processes that led the two organizations to combine into a single nonprofit.

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She previously held staff positions at The Music School of Delaware, SteegeThomson Communications, and Woodland Montessori School; was a founding board member of the Wilmington Classical Guitar Society; and served on the board of the Chestnut Street Singers. Melinda has an MFA in painting from University of the Arts and a bachelor's degree in religious studies from Eastern Mennonite University.

 

Melinda is a LEADERSHIP Philadelphia alum and Standards for Excellence Pennsylvania Licenced Consultant.