Melody Moody Thortis, Grants Director
As MAC’s grants director, Melody Moody Thortis provides oversight of the agency’s grant programs and program staff. Prior to her role as grants director, she served as MAC’s arts-based community development and visual arts program director and executive director of Bike Walk Mississippi. Melody has over 15 years of experience working with nonprofits and municipalities across Mississippi as a professional fundraiser, advocate and consultant specializing in the fields of nonprofit management, advocacy and community engagement. In her career as a professional grant writer, she has secured over 2 million dollars in grant funding and as a facilitator, has led over 100 workshops, seminars and trainings.
A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Melody moved to Mississippi to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Belhaven University in 1999 and went on to receive a master’s degree in International Development, Advocacy and Human Rights from Eastern University in 2009. She also holds a post-graduate Certificate in Creative Placemaking from the New England College Institute of Art and Design. Melody is an acrylic painter as well as a vocalist and musician who plays claw-hammer banjo, guitar, percussion and washboard.