MEET MARISSA HATTEN (they/she) OUR NEW SENIOR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ADVANCEMENT
We are excited to highlight the incredible talent and dedication of our team at Sadie Nash Leadership Project. Our investment in staff is at the core of what makes us the organization we aspire to be. We’re so excited to introduce you to Marissa Hatten, our new Senior Director of Strategic Advancement.
For the next installment of our staff interview series, we were lucky enough to sit and chat with Marissa, and learn more about her new role here at SNLP.
Marissa Hatten is a data-driven, people-centered fundraising professional with over eight years of experience in nonprofit development. As Senior Director of Strategic Advancement at Sadie Nash Leadership Project, they bring a passion for equity and community-centered philanthropy to every aspect of their work.
Marissa has a strong track record of building sustainable giving programs and cultivating trust-based partnerships in service of social change. They combine analytical expertise with a deep belief in authentic relationship-building to mobilize resources in a way that reflects the values of both organizations and supporters.
Outside of work, Marissa finds joy in art, movement, reading, and experimenting in the kitchen.
“Being from New Jersey and living in Brooklyn makes this work feel especially meaningful to me. I see so much of myself in the young people in Sadie Nash programs; I truly could have been one of them.”
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Marissa Hatten and I'm really excited to join the team. I’m from Montclair, New Jersey and I live in Brooklyn, so when I saw the job posting I knew this role was perfect for me. My Dad’s family is from Newark but moved to Montclair where he met my Mom. Although I spent most of my childhood in Montclair, I took college courses at Essex County College during my senior year of high school so I actually spent some formative time in Newark as a young person. Being from New Jersey and living in Brooklyn makes this work feel especially meaningful to me. I see so much of myself in the young people in Sadie Nash programs; I truly could have been one of them.
My relationship with my hometown is complicated. As a Black girl growing up in Montclair, I often struggled with my identity. It had plenty of resources like honors classes, clubs, and APs, but what was missing for me was a place for me to ground myself in my identity and see myself as a leader. I often struggled with self-image and belonging. In places like Montclair, there’s an assumption that students are already set up for success, so deeper support isn’t always prioritized. In my previous role, I fundraised for girls & gender expansive youth education programs and I saw their impact firsthand. I often found myself thinking, I wish I had access to this growing up. I feel the same way about Sadie Nash. The tools Nashers receive around identity, belonging, and leadership would have made a profound difference for me.
Ultimately, what truly helped find and feel affirmed in who I am was my family. I was fortunate to grow up with a radical Black Feminist Aunt, Fasaha Traylor, who helped me understand my relationship to my Blackness. Her love, perspective, and gentle guidance helped shape me in powerful ways, but not every young person has someone in their life like that.
On a less serious note, I’m a jokester. I'm very silly. For those of you who are into astrology, I am a Leo sun, Virgo rising and an Aries moon. I think that the world should know that about me. I love to move and create things. I believe that we are on this planet for so little time and we're supposed to enjoy being here, so I center joy and creation in my personal life. And… I love dogs and cats! I don't believe in the war between the two.
“As a Black Queer person, being in fundraising holds deep personal significance.”
2. What brings you to Sadie Nash Leadership Project?
Prior to Sadie Nash, I’ve worked in movement and education fundraising for the past eight years. Working in service of Sadie Nash was the perfect marriage of those experiences. It felt kind of like kismet, you know?
As a Black Queer person, being in fundraising holds deep personal significance. I have strived to be in positions where I represent the work with authenticity, because it is rare for those impacted by the issues I work to support to have someone who looks like them—someone who could have been one of them—serving as a voice and translating their experiences in the philanthropic space. It means a lot to me to have a seat at the table and to help share the stories of the communities I’ve supported through my work.
“My role is to take the incredible work happening on the ground and translate it into messages that move people. Everyone inside the organization knows our programs matter. I am striving to make sure the world knows it too. ”
3. Can you tell us more about your role as Senior Director of Strategic Advancement?
As Senior Director of Strategic Advancement, I’d explain my role as the bridge between fundraising and communications, two focus areas that shape how the world sees and supports SNLP. My role is to take the incredible work happening on the ground and translate it into messages that move people. Everyone inside the organization knows our programs matter. I am striving to make sure the world knows it too. In fundraising, it means building meaningful partnerships with supporters that sustain the work. In communications, it means crafting narratives that not only keep our community engaged but also invite new people in.
Being able to tell Sadie Nash’s story to inform and help shape its future is an honor. SNLP has been around for years and it’s at a point where it’s intentionally growing. This organization has a deep-rooted history. I feel grateful to be able to be part of co-creating its next chapter and moving the organization forward.
4. What are you excited to dive into?
I just touched on the importance of storytelling, and that’s the through line of it all for me! Whether we’re working on grants, newsletters, social media, or any PR work, it’s all storytelling. You have to ask: How do we frame this? Whose voice are we centering? How does this shape the story?
I’m also a huge nerd, and I really enjoy building systems and processes. I love a spreadsheet…a database… project management software…. I love it all! I deeply believe in experimentation, so I’m interested in learning more about what has happened before me and seeing how we are going to co-create new processes that’ll move things forward. I want to do things in a way where it takes a weight off of everyone’s back.
“That’s why it’s so important to have adults who are patient, who can explain things in a way that really lands, and who remind young people that they matter.”
5. What do you think young people need to thrive?
This is really more of a question for young people, and listening to what they need. I guess I can think about when I was younger. I was very smart, but I was not intrinsically motivated to perform in school. In middle school, I failed English Class because I never turned in any of my assignments– even though I loved to read. Which is hilarious now, because such a huge part of my work now is writing. Little Marissa needed space and understanding. They needed someone who really took the time to explain why certain things really mattered. Honestly, it clicked for me in high school. I started to understand that school wasn’t just about grades, but about setting yourself up for future opportunities. It was such a sharp turn-around from needing to go to summer school to being an honor roll student.
But, not everyone is going to have that moment by themselves. Watching the young people in my family grow up, I’ve realized just how important it is to give them space to figure things out and to make mistakes. I messed up plenty, and I turned out just fine. When I was failing in middle school, I had a teacher tell me I wouldn’t amount to anything. That was decades ago, but I still remember it to this day. That’s why it’s so important to have adults who are patient, who can explain things in a way that really lands, and who remind young people that they matter. They need love, patience and support.
“I know that I am the “Senior Director of Strategic Advancement” but like, [Nashers] will be the ones advancing things. It will be your voice!”
6. When you think of the Sadie Nash community, what comes to mind?
For me, the community is young people. Social justice and wellness also immediately come to mind. I know those are just buzzwords but they all have a weight to them.
7. Do you have a message for Nashers?
I can't wait to talk to you. You're literally why I'm here. You're literally why we're all here and like, I know that I am the “Senior Director of Strategic Advancement” but like, y'all will be the ones advancing things. It will be your voice! And here is my other message: If anyone wants to be on the Sadie Nash TikTok let me know! If you guys wanna do something, let me know!