Melissa Villagomez: Empowering Others through Nonprofit Leadership

“In 2025, I will become the 1% of former foster youth to obtain a master’s degree.”

Melissa Villagomez made this definitive statement in her 2024 TEDx Talk, in which she recounted her own experiences in the foster system and how far she’s come. And it’s true — Melissa is a member of the first graduating class of the online Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership and Management (MSNP) program at the University of San Diego.

“I’ve always wanted to try to break different barriers,” she says. “That was always a thing for me.” As a former foster youth, Melissa is determined to disrupt the all-too-common cycle of foster children falling through the cracks as they age out of the system.

Today, Melissa works for Walden Family Services, a nonprofit organization that provides foster care and adoption services to youth and families throughout Southern California. As the Development & Special Events Manager, Melissa has the unique advantage of understanding her clients’ experiences and needs on a fundamental level. Her personal journey also provides a powerful foundation for her future as a nonprofit leader — but articulating those experiences wasn’t easy at first.

“Ten years ago, I didn’t think I’d ever be in front of a bunch of people doing a TEDx talk, because I could barely get through my story,” she says. “It took a lot of professional growth — you know, going into rooms of strangers, telling my story, being confident and connecting with people that were, in my eyes, from entirely different realms of life.”

Storytelling is a key component of nonprofit fundraising and development, an area that Melissa has taken a keen interest in. In the MSNP program, she’s been able to hone her skills in cultivating donor relationships, writing grant proposals and communicating a nonprofit’s value proposition. She understands that the ability to effectively “sell” a nonprofit’s impact to funders is a critical leadership competency, but that it can be almost impossible to quantify a donor’s impact on a foster child.

“The work that we’re doing [at Walden] is hard to measure — what can be impactful for someone who is receiving services is completely different than what a donor might think is impactful, right?” she explains. “I could tell a donor that their contribution is making the biggest difference in a child’s life, but the donor can’t see it yet, and sometimes won’t for years, until the child is much older. Trying to build that bridge of understanding is one of the biggest challenges [of this work].”

In addition to learning the art of crafting a compelling, mission-oriented narrative, the MSNP program has given Melissa a comprehensive view of best practices in nonprofit governance, from the legal, to the financial, to the operational aspects. One of the courses that stood out for her was Developing Human Capital, which focuses on strategies for retaining and nurturing top talent in the nonprofit sector. In this class, Melissa learned how to build a positive, supportive organizational culture that attracts and keeps high-performing employees, even with limited budgets.

“I think there’s a lot of scrutiny against nonprofits, that they aren’t using their money correctly,” she says. “[That scrutiny] is usually on the big nonprofits, but it gives a bad reputation to a lot of smaller and mid-level nonprofits. I’m learning more about [financial management] and how we can retain good employees, for example, while also staying ‘out of the red.’”

Perhaps one of the most crucial assets in maintaining financial solvency is cross-sector collaboration. Melissa explains that the MSNP program emphasizes the importance of building cross-sector partnerships and coalitions to drive social change. She’s learning strategies for aligning diverse stakeholders around common goals, a skill that will be invaluable as she continues to champion for policies that direct more resources toward the foster care community.

In addition to her work and studies, Melissa is a member of the Torero Renaissance Scholars Program at USD, which supports former foster youth or those who have experienced homelessness. Along with providing access to resources such as food assistance and professional attire, the program also offers the Catalyst Scholarship, a prestigious award only available to USD students. Melissa has received this scholarship for the past two academic years, which has enabled her to pursue a full-time class schedule in addition to her job at Walden.

For someone considering the online MSNP program, Melissa recommends getting some real-world experience before applying. The curriculum covers many of the fundamentals of nonprofit management and leadership, so having foundational knowledge beforehand will help students get the most out of the curriculum.

“The program is fast-paced and requires a lot of motivation, so it works best for those who already have some experience and familiarity with the nonprofit world,” Melissa says. “If you’re new to nonprofits, the online format may be more challenging compared to an in-person program where you can get more one-on-one support and learning with your cohort.”

Even if that entry-level experience is an internship or volunteer role, she explains, the hands-on exposure will make the content in the online program much more accessible and relevant.

Looking ahead, Melissa plans to leverage her nonprofit management and leadership training to pursue higher-level roles, where she can directly influence policy and funding decisions. Being in a leadership role will allow her to drive real, systemic change and have the kind of impact that a younger Melissa might not have thought possible.

If you’re eager to become a catalyst for change in your own community, take the first step by exploring the online MS in Nonprofit Leadership and Management program today.