Melissa Bruney grew up in southeastern Ohio and has called New Mexico home since 2000 (a few short years in the early 2010’s saw a quick move back to Ohio between 2010-2014).  She joined the Albuquerque Community Foundation in June 2025 after 30+ years of nonprofit work with the American Red Cross in Ohio & New Hampshire, The Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico, Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, and faith-based work in Ohio.  

Melissa earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Public Relations from Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio) in 1993.  In her free time, she loves to read, travel, and binge watch crime-related shows like Law & Order, Dateline, and Criminal Minds.  She also enjoys spending time with her husband Jim and their young adult sons.

• Red or green? Red
• Mountain or River? River
• Comedy Club or Dance Club? Comedy Club
• Hometown: Cambridge, Ohio
• High School Mascot: Muskie
• If you could have lunch with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?My paternal grandfather. He died when I was 3 years old, so there are very few memories I have of him. I'd love to know more!
• If you didn’t work for the Foundation, where would you work? Anything in nonprofit -- it's what I know and have loved for the past 30+ years!
• Name three songs you would include on your soundtrack of life: "Livin' on a Prayer" (Bon Jovi), anything by Pink Floyd, and "It is Well with my Soul" (hymn) -- (one extreme to the other, I know!)
• What’s your favorite time of the year in New Mexico? Fall -- hot air balloons, smells of roasting chile, and cooler temps
• What is a skill you’d like to learn? Speaking Spanish (my husband is fluent, so I want to pick up on the language better)