MelissaKaye Shekoski

Vice President, Fund Development & Strategic Advancement

As vice president of fund development and strategic advancement at CAEL, MelissaKaye Shekoski plays a key role in CAEL’s grant and governmental funding process and is responsible for planning and strategic alignment efforts related to fundraising. Passionate about ensuring that families are able to enjoy the promise of economic security through dignified career paths, Shekoski has significant experience in project implementation and partnership development around grant funding opportunities, particularly in the federal grants arena. Focused on developing strategically aligned cultures that value and nurture talent and cultivate innovative thinking, Shekoski has overseen numerous executive staff and board leadership transitions and searches.  

Shekoski most recently served as director of fund development, communications, planning, and policy at WRTP | BIG STEP, a nationally recognized equity intermediary and director of fund development and strategic initiatives at Employ Milwaukee, WI’s largest public workforce board. She also has postsecondary education experience at Bryant & Stratton College, where she led relationship management projects with local business and community leaders to aid in placements for the institution’s graduates, oversaw local accreditation of programs, and served as the operations manager for its more diverse WI campus. Shekoski also worked for the Fund Development Corporation as a consulting associate on capital campaign planning and readiness, annual campaigns, board re-alignments, and organizational assessments.

Shekoski holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She resides in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area and is an avid outdoor adventurer, enjoying time in nature with her two dogs, Utah and Dylanger. She loves spontaneous road trips, live music, and gardening.