Purpose Built Communities is proud to announce the hiring of two outstanding professionals with deep and diverse experience. Melissa Devereaux, who joins the organization as Vice President based in California, brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, development and volunteer/partner engagement to her work with Purpose Built Communities. She is a creative fundraising strategist and an expert in all aspects of nonprofit formation and management, and loves inviting and engaging volunteers and partners into the work of improving the community for all who live there. She began working with Purpose Built Communities in 2015 as a consultant in the California Bay Area, where she advised the Oakland Purpose Built Network Member, Castlemont Renaissance, and was an independent consultant with several other organizations.
Previously, Melissa spent the bulk of her career in Atlanta, where she served in a range of leadership roles in local nonprofit organizations. As Development Director for The Georgia Justice Project (GJP), Melissa was responsible for raising 100% of the organization’s revenue and led an innovative and successful 25th anniversary campaign that capitalized GJP’s five-year strategic growth plan. As Senior Deputy Finance Director for the Michelle Nunn for Senate Campaign, Melissa was part of a team that raised money and directed volunteers across the state. Previously, she served as Development Director for Hands On Atlanta where she launched the organization’s individual giving efforts. She has provided consulting services to a range of nonprofits including Points of Light, The New School, Hands On Georgia, and the Atlanta Women’s Foundation.
Melissa currently serves on the Selection Advisory Council of GreenLight Fund Bay Area. Prior to relocating, she served on the Board of the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School and The Odyssey Family Counseling Center. She founded The Friends of the Grant Park Pool. Melissa holds a B.A. in Psychology and History from Emory University and an M.S. from the College of Education at The Florida State University.
Damon Bailey is a seasoned education professional with deep experience serving low income communities. He joins Purpose Built Communities as a Community Development Advisor supporting Network Members and prospects across the country who are implementing holistic neighborhood transformation initiatives.
Prior to joining Purpose Built Communities, Damon worked in roles of increasing responsibility in the Metro Atlanta Region of Teach for America, culminating in his role as Managing Director on the Teacher Leadership Development team. In that role, Damon led and managed the execution of secondary math and science strategy while coaching and developing a small team of teacher coaches. With his colleagues, he was also responsible for analyzing data on teacher performance and satisfaction and developing high impact interventions to address those areas with the ultimate goal of improving student achievement. Damon was a 2009 Teach For America corps member and served for three years at his placement school, Ralph J. Bunche Middle School, as a science teacher. He later spent years coaching and developing new teachers as a Manager, Teacher Leadership Development with Teach For America.
Damon is a proud alumnus of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia where he earned a B.S. in Biology and resides in Atlanta.
