Previously, Merenda spent 13 years at CFLeads, a national network of community foundations committed to community leadership. She most recently served as Chief of Staff and advanced the organization’s efficiency, success, and impact. She also led the development, onboarding, and launch of new partnerships and programs, managed key stakeholder relationships, refined program strategies, and ensured the effective use of program resources.

Merenda co-facilitated the CFLeads Gun Violence Prevention Network and the CFLeads/Welcoming America Community of Practice and was a member of the CFLeads/Connecting Communities in the Americas (CCA) Steering Committee.

Prior to joining CFLeads, Merenda was senior program officer at Rochester Area Community Foundation, where she advanced early childhood and out-of-school time strategies through grantmaking, community partnerships, and advocacy.

Merenda earned a bachelor’s degree from Marist College (Poughkeepsie, NY) in communications with a concentration in journalism and a minor in political science. While at Marist College she did polling/research for the Marist Institute of Public Opinion and interned for political reporter Gabe Pressman at WNBC-TV New York.