Brittany Merritt is a champion for children, and as Chief Development Officer for Friends of the Children, she brings all of her passion, experience, and leadership in mission-driven work to bear for the organization and those we serve. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, her commitment to improving and elevating the whole-life well-being of today’s youth is evidenced by the work she has done throughout her career, as well as her involvement in the community.

A recipient of the Michigan Chronicle Women of Excellence Award in 2017, Brittany joined Friends of the Children after serving as the Founding Midwest Executive Director for Springboard Collaborative, where she secured funding and fostered strong partnerships with stakeholders to support children’s literacy initiatives. Prior to this role, Brittany held leadership positions at the American Heart Association (AHA), among them Director of Youth Market Fundraising for the Greater Southeast and Midwest regions, and Regional Vice President, Michigan Youth Market – roles in which she and her teams consistently ranked within the AHA’s Midwest Top 5 for their millions of dollars raised. And as the first Black woman to hold the position of Vice President, Metro Executive Director for the greater Detroit area of the AHA, she and her team secured the single largest gift donation in Detroit’s history – a milestone in her long list of fundraising accomplishments.

Brittany is also an ambassador for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. During her tenure at the AHA, she served on the CEO Diversity Advisory Cabinet, representing 400 people in the organization’s Midwest Affiliate.

In 2021 Brittany served as a member of the Michigan Student Academic Recovery subcommittee under Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She brought her demonstrated experience to the committee’s important charge in recommending policies for reopening schools in Michigan due to the pandemic.

A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Brittany, a Dean’s List student, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Technology. She is the Vice President of Programs for the Michigan Renaissance chapter of the international non-profit organization The Links, Incorporated, and serves on the Health and Social Welfare Committees of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.