Melanie Kahl

Melanie Kahl is a boundary-spanning innovation leader who believes in the power of community to shape services, programs, and portfolios. Her practice— Meld—advises, partners, and designs alongside leaders in philanthropy, government, purpose-driven businesses, and the social sector.

She is passionate about the ways capital can unlock creative change— big and small. At Meta she pioneered the community residency program, investing $5M in community leaders and is a trustee for Awesome Foundation, giving $1,000, no-strings grants to NYC neighbors. For 15 years, she’s led social innovation projects across five continents on issues of urban resilience, health, gender, and education. Her clients include Gates Foundation, Rockefeller, USAID, USA for UNHCR, Patagonia, HP, Georgetown, and The David Prize.

She studied policy at Northwestern University. She is faculty at Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design and SVA— and regularly lectures at NYU, Columbia, and beyond.

She's an avid pedestrian, potluck enthusiast, and possibilitarian.