Founder & Executive Director

Melissa Watson Erickson is a detail-oriented, results-driven leader at the intersections of art, innovation, business, and philanthropy. As the founder and principal consultant of The Funding Studio, she has supported creative and mission-driven organizations nationwide in building sustainable funding ecosystems. Melissa brings over a decade of experience in strategic fundraising, organizational development, and capacity-building, empowering creative professionals and social entrepreneurs through education, fiscal sponsorship, and hands-on consulting.

Her career includes leadership roles at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In both roles, she supported the entrepreneurship centers and led fundraising strategy, major donor portfolio management, and professional development initiatives. Melissa has secured major gifts, built and trained high-performing teams, and developed programs that have increased capital, visibility, and community engagement for a wide range of organizations.

Melissa holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University, a BA from University of the Arts London, a credential in fundraising (CFRE), and certifications in women’s entrepreneurship (Cornell), digital marketing (Columbia Business School), diversity & inclusion (USF), and professional coaching. She is a frequent speaker and panelist at universities, conferences, and festivals on philanthropy, fiscal sponsorship, and nonprofit leadership, and is recognized for her transparent, accountable, and solutions-oriented approach.

Chris Erickson is a highly accomplished banking professional with over 25 years of experience in the field of finance and fraud prevention. He has a proven track record of developing and executing successful data analytics strategies sand has consistently delivered measurable results and driven business growth.

Throughout his career, Chris has held leadership positions at Bank of America, where he has led cross-functional teams and collaborated with stakeholders at all levels to achieve organizational objectives. He is known for his exceptional analytical skills, strategic thinking, and ability to adapt to rapidly evolving market trends.

In addition to his professional achievements, Chris is a strong advocate for community engagement and social responsibility, leveraging his skills to make a positive impact on society.

His passion for arts and innovation combined with his drive for excellence, makes him a valuable asset to The Funding Studio. 

 Renee King, Deputy Legal Defender at Maricopa County Office of the Legal Defender. Specializing in juvenile dependency and severance actions. Renee has a love of musicals, botanical gardens, animals including her two dogs, and traveling with her husband and daughter.  

 Amy Yackowski is the Founder and Chief Evolution Officer at Painted Porch Strategies, a stoically-based training and advisory team dedicated to guiding current and emerging leaders and organizations in becoming change ready and resilient in their life, work, and anywhere in between. Amy is an active member of the Junior League of Phoenix, serves on the executive committee for the Junior League of Phoenix Toastmaster's club, and is currently a Toastmaster Area Director for the greater Phoenix valley. In addition, she has served in volunteer roles for charitable organizations including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, A Stepping Stone Foundation, and St. Vincent de Paul. Amy is thrilled and honored to be a part The Funding Studio and its mission to provide funding strategies and fiscal sponsorship to help turn bright ideas and passionate storytelling into shining achievements. 

 Alicia Jenkins has been a lover of the arts since she was a toddler. As a true theatre nerd, she is honored to be a founding member of The Funding Studio. She is also a freak in the spreadsheets, and can’t wait to use her budgeting expertise in service of such a great organization as treasurer. Her free time is spent with her amazing niblings, attending as many live performances as she can, and following the whims of her husband and dog.  

 Kelly Smith, MA, has been a project and change management leader for 20 years, supporting nonprofit organizations and companies in achieving success. She has a passion for grant-funded programming and provided oversight to many initiatives in the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors, holding the position of Vice President of Health Promotions for the Western United States (American Lung Association).

 In this role, she navigated a team through organizational structure transitions. In addition, Kelly has served as a consultant in the corporate arena and taught Psychology, Bioethics, and Nonprofit Management courses at the collegiate level. 

Kelly has loved fine arts since she was a child and won the Excellence in Art award in her high school class. In graduate school, she completed expressive and art therapy coursework on her journey to an MA in Psychology.

 Mary Rivera dedicated her career to Uhaul, where she served as the executive assistant to the President before transitioning to lead their finance team. Throughout her tenure, she brought a wealth of administrative expertise and financial acumen to her roles, contributing significantly to the company's operations.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Mary is a passionate advocate for the arts, with a particular affinity for live theatre. Her advocacy extends to supporting local arts organizations and initiatives, believing strongly in their power to enrich communities and inspire creativity.

In retirement, Mary continues to be actively involved in promoting the arts, leveraging her extensive professional experience and personal passion to make a meaningful impact in cultural sectors.