President & CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara
As an executive search and recruiting firm which works exclusively with nonprofits and public agencies, Blair Search Partners (BSP) cares about people and purpose. When we’re able to successfully match the right people with the right organization at the right time, the impact resonates throughout all of our communities.
In our Project Impact series, we’re taking the time to connect with candidates who have recently been placed in positions with mission driven organizations about their experience with Blair Search Partners.
Follow along as we learn more about their professional journey and the ways they’re influencing change and making an impact in their new roles.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Melinda Cabrera, President & CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.
Meet Melinda
Melinda Cabrera has had a long and dedicated career supporting her community through nonprofit work. Before stepping into her new role as CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, Melinda worked with United Way of Santa Barbara County as the Vice President, where she led initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes and addressing community needs.
Her personal experiences as a single mom fueled her dedication to advocate for equitable access to education, particularly for children from lower-income households.
“Having dedicated much of my career to creating educational opportunities for underserved communities, I am well-acquainted with the challenges and barriers that many in my community encounter,” Melinda shared. “I believe that providing access to post-secondary education is not only essential—it is a fundamental right.
Melinda learned about the CEO role through an email she received from Shira Jacobs, who is a Director of Executive Search & Recruiting at Blair Search Partners.
“I hesitated at first, and then I just went for it,” Melinda recalled. “Shira and I had a brief 30-minute chat, and the process went fairly quickly after that.”
A Personalized and Supportive Hiring Process
For Melinda, the transition into her first CEO role was a significant leap—both professionally and personally.
“It was a scary experience,” she shared. “Leaving behind self-doubt and stepping into this leadership role was daunting.”
Since stepping into her role as CEO, Melinda has made it her mission to continue her advocacy in educational equity. These days, she’s especially focused on expanding access to post-secondary education and career pathways for underrepresented students.
“Education has the power to change the trajectory of a person’s life,” Melinda emphasized. “Being part of an organization that helps lift individuals and families out of poverty through education is a true honor.”
Because of her focus and commitment, Melinda and her team were able to overcome significant challenges and usher some great improvements and opportunities this past year. They’re focused on finishing their strategic plan and deciding as an organization what the future for the Santa Barbara Scholarship Fund looks like.
“Examining our strengths and weaknesses as an organization is not always a comfortable conversation,” said Melinda, “but we’ve been able to do it, and do it well.” She also added that there’s much to do especially in identifying where the Scholarship Foundation can be more supportive and more impactful to students and families of all demographics, and of all backgrounds throughout the country.
Choosing Blair Search Partners
Melinda recalled her first few meetings with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, “As I advanced through the process, I was introduced to the search committee and some additional members. Shira helped prepare me every step of the way, so I was ready to take on important questions.”
For Melinda, it was BSP’s human-centered approach to recruitment that made all the difference. She highlights the personal connection she felt with Shira:
“Shira was phenomenal, and I can’t say enough about her and how fond I became of her and how professional she was. The support, encouragement, and guidance I received was just overwhelming. I’ve been in other processes similar to this one, where you just felt like a number… and that was not the feeling I received with Blair Search Partners.”
We’re incredibly proud of the impact Melinda is making for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. It’s inspiring to hear about all the ways she’s creating change to make education accessible to all. Congratulations, Melinda!
If you’re an organization striving to make a difference by hiring a team of changemakers, or an individual looking for your next career move in the nonprofit sector, visit us at blairsearchpartners.com and let’s see what we can do together.
We’d love to help you find your next great hire.