Messellech Abebe
Chief Operating Officer
Messellech Abebe serves as Chief Operating Officer of First Focus on Children. In this role, Ms. Abebe oversees strategy and operations. She also works to improve and expand donor relationships and strategic partnerships. Ms. Abebe brings valuable experience building strong relationships with philanthropic foundations, corporations and individual donors and is working to strategically move First Focus forward in each of these areas.
Before joining First Focus, Messellech served as the Director of Development at The Constitution Project and was responsible for creating and implementing a strategic development strategy. Prior to joining The Constitution Project, she worked as a Fundraising Consultant at WealthEngine where she managed a portfolio of 80 clients ranging from universities and hospitals to national nonprofit organizations and high-end luxury brands. Messellech also served as Development Manager for the Cancer Support Community HQ where she worked to secure funding for critical programs that support cancer patients and their caregivers. While at the CSC, she served as Chair for the National Development Committee where she worked closely with affiliate fundraising leaders from across the country to support their development efforts.
Ms. Abebe earned her BA in Political Science with a minor in Professional and Technical Writing from the University of Hartford and her MA in International Affairs from Georgetown University. She serves on the board of District Motherhued, a DC based nonprofit that works to support, connect and empower mothers of color. Messellech resides in Maryland with her three children.
