Melanie Brandston, MA (she/her)

Melanie joined Gould Farm in early 2017 having previously served as a senior development executive or capital campaign consultant for over 35-years. She recalls when she visited the Farm for a job interview. “I walked onto the campus and within 5-minutes said to myself, ‘I can’t think of an organization that deserves $2+ million in philanthropic funding for a community center more than the Gould Farm community. Let’s get to work!” Melanie became the coordinator of the Farm’s first capital campaign, the $2.6 million Harvesting Hope Capital Campaign for the Red Barn Community Center (Now the Price Community Center.). The campaign successfully finished June 30, 2019 having reached $2.8 million, all the funds required to build the new center.

Now as the Farm’s Development Director, Melanie oversees the Farm’s annual Community Fund, and the Farm’s new major gifts initiatives for capital building projects and establishing its first endowment. She enjoys every aspect of her role in meeting and inspiring the Farm’s many friends about the ways they can show their appreciation for Gould Farm.

Melanie is a graduate of Colgate University. In 2016, she earned her Masters of Arts at Skidmore College studying organizational culture and the role of philanthropy. She was on Skidmore College’s adjunct faculty teaching Philanthropy and the Arts before coming to the Farm. She served on Colgate’s Planned Giving Committee, and the Board of Directors of Women in Development/NY and the Columbia Land Conservancy until turning her energy to serving Gould Farm in any way her circumstances allow.

Melanie and her husband, Howard reside just over the Massachusetts/NY border in Columbia County.