Melissa Wetzel, CFRE

Melissa Wetzel brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership to Wetzel & Associates. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2016, one of just 486 in Florida, she also holds a Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Throughout her career, Melissa has helped raise more than $200 million from small nonprofits to large institutions.

Her firm works with causes spanning healthcare, wildlife and conservation, arts and culture, elder affairs, and social justice. Through Melissa’s leadership and pragmatic step-by-step approach to fundraising these organizations have enjoyed significant success in annual and major gifts, capital campaigns, and expanding planned giving initiatives, while building programs to further their mission and impact.

An active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Miami Chapter since 2003, Melissa has served as President (2023–2024), Executive Committee (2020-2025), and chaired numerous committees over her eight-year tenure, bringing her expertise and leadership to every role.

Passionate about elevating the nonprofit sector, Melissa helps organizations turn their vision into action, building stronger communities and boldly working to make the world a better place, together.