Melissa Greenberg

Melissa Greenberg is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute for Religion. In this role she is responsible for the vision, strategy, and implementation of a comprehensive institutional advancement program to significantly increase alumni engagement and constituent involvement, philanthropic investments, and financial resources. Overseeing HUC-JIR’s global institutional advancement work, she will build a collaborative model with the directors of all schools, academic programs, the library, and archives, strengthen engagement with all alumni, and identify new sources within the Jewish and secular communities to support HUC-JIR’s vital future.

Prior to joining HUC-JIR in December 2021, Melissa led the philanthropy efforts and campaigns at leading Jewish, civic, cultural, and educational institutions in Philadelphia. She was Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the senior professional responsible for creating and directing an integrated and comprehensive approach for philanthropy and community engagement. Prior to that she was Vice President of Development for the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation where she designed Building Inspiration, the capital campaign for the Free Library System; Chief of Staff at Temple University where she directed Access to Excellence for Temple University’s first comprehensive $400 million campaign; and Director of Development for the $265 million Campaign to Build the Kimmel Center. 

A native Philadelphian, her career was launched when she worked with Mayor Ed Rendell to build initiatives to position Philadelphia as a destination city. She lives in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania with her husband Peter, their Bernedoodle, and between them five adult children. She is an active member of the community, currently serving on the boards of The Lantern Theater and The Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and was a former member of the boards of the Fleisher Art Memorial and Adath Israel Synagogue.