The Funding Studio is an Arizona-based national philanthropic practice and fiscal sponsor for arts and innovation.
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.
Director of Digital Innovation for The Funding Studio, helping projects use technology in practical, affordable, and responsible ways. This role fits well with my background leading enterprise technology, cybersecurity, AI governance, vendor partnerships, and digital transformation. I have spent my career helping organizations turn technology into business value, reduce risk, and build the right partnerships to move ideas forward.
I see this role becoming a practical resource for mission-driven leaders who need guidance on digital tools, AI, cybersecurity basics, storytelling, audience growth, and access to technology partners.
Dana Kline is an accomplished technology and business leader with extensive experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and complexity. As Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at Cordia, Dana leads enterprise technology, cybersecurity, data, collaboration platforms, and vendor governance, with a strong focus on reliability, risk reduction, and value realization.
In addition to his executive role, Dana leads Cordia’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, where he advocates for inclusion, belonging, and equitable workplace practices. His leadership reflects a strong belief that inclusive cultures strengthen organizations and communities.
Throughout his career, Dana has supported organizations across multiple industries, helping leadership teams modernize operations, strengthen governance, and make disciplined investments that align strategy, technology, and mission. He played a key leadership role in the carve-out of Cordia from Clearway Energy Group, leading the greenfield build-out of the company’s entire IT organization, operating model, and core systems.
Dana brings a practical, outcomes-oriented perspective to board service, with particular strengths in strategic planning, risk oversight, and financial and vendor accountability. He also serves on the Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation committees for the Arizona Technology Council and is an active member of the Arizona chapter of the Society for Information Management (SIM) and ArizonaCIO, where he engages with peers on leadership, innovation, and responsible technology adoption.
Dana holds an MBA with a concentration in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of Dayton. He has been recognized with the ESGR Patriotic Employer Award for his commitment to leadership and service.
Sarah Muench is a Phoenix-based strategic communications professional and founder of Muench Strategic Communications, where she helps nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and social-impact initiatives strengthen fundraising narratives, donor engagement, and public-facing storytelling. Her work focuses on translating values-driven ideas into compelling cases for support that attract philanthropic investment and expand impact.
Before launching her firm, Sarah spent seven years at Marts & Lundy, a national philanthropic consulting firm, partnering with a wide range of nonprofit organizations on fundraising communications, donor engagement, and institutional advancement.
She also brings nonprofit leadership experience as the former co-founder and Chief Communications Officer of a national nonprofit startup focused on advancing women into leadership roles in sports. She currently serves on the board of the Phoenix Women’s Sports Association, where she collaborates with organizational leadership on strategy, fundraising communications, and growth, particularly in early and evolving stages.
A film podcast co-host, cinephile, and former journalist, Sarah is deeply committed to documentary and narrative work that elevates voices too often overlooked. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she is especially drawn to mission-driven storytelling across art, film, music, and social innovation, and to organizations that help bring those stories to life.
Based in Roanoke, Virginia, Sarah Allison (she/her/hers) has spent over 10 years building organizational capacity for nonprofits advancing environmental and social justice. Her work centers on strengthening internal systems, supporting thoughtful leadership, and helping teams carry out their missions with efficiency and joy.
Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Sarah’s love for the outdoors started early, with time spent near the Chesapeake Bay and camping with her family. After earning her B.A. in Spanish Language and Culture from Valdosta State University, she developed a love for backpacking and hiking while working as an English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher. Seeking a deeper connection to the outdoors, she relocated to Colorado and earned her M.A. in Nonprofit Management from the University of Denver in 2015.
Her career has taken her abroad as a consultant for organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Rise Against Hunger, and through operations roles with United Way of Larimer County, CASA of Larimer County, TEAM Wellness & Prevention, and Justice Outside, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Operations. She pursues ongoing learning including a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional credential and brings experience with a wide range of financial, CRM, and project management systems.
Outside of work, Sarah can be found cycling through the Blue Ridge Mountains and pointing out cool plants; hiking and foraging with her foster dogs; snuggling with her cat, Pavement; serving on the Board of Directors for PedalSafe Roanoke; and volunteering in mutual aid roles throughout her community.
Oversees The Funding Studio’s financial operations while also sharing her expertise with our sponsored projects, supporting project leaders in understanding their finances, strengthening their operations, and making informed decisions.
Keeps projects organized, supports the team and clients, and makes sure the many moving pieces behind the scenes stay on track.
