Melissa Horste - Development Director

Melissa Horste is the Development Director for Voters Not Politicians and Voters Not Politicians Education Fund. Her primary responsibilities are to cultivate relationships with VNP and VNPEF’s funders and to facilitate the financial resources the organizations need to achieve their mission.

Melissa is a Michigan native and graduate of James Madison College at Michigan State University. After graduating from MSU, Melissa worked in the Lansing field office of Senator Carl Levin and managed constituent relations and community outreach for the Senator until his retirement. Melissa worked as the Legislative Director for then State Representative Andy Schor before attending the Maxwell School in Syracuse New York. In graduate school, Melissa focused on conflict studies and democracy in the western hemisphere, and interned for a nonprofit in Chile aiming to improve civic participation in decision-making forums. She is excited to be back in Michigan to support organizations that are leading the charge on democracy reforms in the state that improve civic engagement and the health of our political system.

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys knitting, cycling, brewing beer and playing board games with friends and family.