Melanie Allen

Melanie Allen is the Co-Director of the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, a philanthropic initiative focused on supporting organizations led by women of color in the southern United States that are addressing climate issues. She has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, with a strong emphasis on community-based solutions that prioritize those most affected by policy decisions.12

Professional Background

Before co-founding the Hive Fund in 2019, Allen served as the Diversity and Equity Director at the Conservation Trust for North Carolina. In this role, she developed programs aimed at enhancing access to conservation resources for rural communities, including initiatives to help families manage land assets effectively.12 Additionally, she worked with the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, where she was responsible for strategic grant-making focused on energy equity and community development throughout the Southeast.24

Education

Allen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and African American Studies from Columbia University, which she completed in 2006.16

Current Role

At the Hive Fund, Allen collaborates with a team to provide multiyear grants to grassroots organizations working towards an equitable transition to renewable energy. The fund emphasizes trust-based philanthropy and seeks to empower communities that have historically been marginalized in environmental decision-making processes.34 Allen is also active in broader philanthropic circles as co-chair of Grantmakers for Southern Progress and serves on the board of the Environmental Grantmakers Association.56

Personal Commitment

A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Allen expresses a deep commitment to her region's potential for creativity and resilience. She aims to leverage her expertise to foster sustainable community development and address systemic inequalities within climate justice initiatives.12