New Horizons Welcomes Melissa Puls as Chief Development Officer
North Hills, CA (October 8, 2025) – New Horizons proudly announces the appointment of Melissa Puls as its new Chief Development Officer.
Melissa Puls is a nonprofit executive with deep expertise in fundraising, strategic leadership, and team development. Most recently, she served as Chief Development Officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, where she supported a $20 million fundraising program across ten sites. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach, Melissa is passionate about building partnerships that expand access to essential resources for children, families, and individuals.
"I am honored and deeply committed to supporting New Horizons' mission to empower every individual with intellectual or developmental disabilities to succeed and thrive," Melissa said. "The leadership team’s clear vision to serve their clients at the deepest level possible is inspirational, and I am excited to contribute to its continued growth and impact. I look forward to joining this talented team and applying my nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience to help expand access to the resources and opportunities that make a meaningful difference for the individuals New Horizons serves."
With Melissa’s appointment, New Horizons continues to strengthen its mission-driven development programs that ensure inclusion, access, and opportunity. Her leadership will help advance the organization’s growth, build philanthropic partnerships, and expand fundraising programs that transform lives.
"We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Puls as New Horizons’ new Chief Development Officer," said CEO John Brauer. "Melissa brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, along with a strong reputation for turning vision into action. Her proven track record of building partnerships and delivering results will be a HUGE asset as New Horizons continues its mission of empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. We would also like to extend a special thanks to Envision for connecting us with such a wonderful candidate and member of our senior leadership team!"
About New Horizons
Founded in 1954, New Horizons is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their dreams, build independence, and thrive as fully included members of the community. Through employment services, residential programs, training, and advocacy, New Horizons provides critical resources and opportunities that improve quality of life for hundreds of individuals and their families each year. The organization’s mission is to create a world where everyone, regardless of ability, can reach their full potential.
About Envision Consulting
Envision Consulting is a boutique firm that specializes in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration, and executive leadership transitions exclusively for nonprofit organizations. With offices in New York, Denver, and Los Angeles, Envision’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is integrated throughout its practices, which include a structured hiring process and anti-biased decision making. In 2023, Envision was named by the Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy as a Top 10 Search Firm that Works for Women of Color for the third year in a row.