Vanessa Seltzer is a nonprofit executive and philanthropic leader with more than 15 years of experience connecting communities to meaningful causes through strategic fundraising and mission-driven leadership. A New Jersey native who has called South Florida home for over 20 years with her two kids, Vanessa has built her career around strengthening organizations that provide healing, dignity, and long-term impact.

Vanessa currently serves as Chief Development Officer at Children’s Harbor, where she leads strategic fundraising, community engagement, and philanthropic growth to ensure teens experiencing trauma have the stability, housing, and long-term support they deserve. Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Heal the Planet, guiding organizational growth, strengthening governance, expanding fundraising strategy, and advancing environmental education and youth leadership initiatives. Prior to her CEO role, she held senior development positions with Arc Broward, Gilda’s Club South Florida, YMCA of South Florida, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. During her tenure at Gilda’s Club, she doubled corporate partnership revenue and tripled the number of corporate partners, helping ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

Vanessa is recognized as a thought leader in the nonprofit sector and serves as a Thought Leader for The Daily Drip. Her volunteer leadership includes serving as a board member of the Planned Giving Council of Broward, as well as in the past she has held leadership roles with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council, and other civic and nonprofit organizations.

She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University and completed advanced professional training through Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.