With more than 25 years of dedicated service to The Junior League, Merilou Gonzales has already made a profound and lasting impact on the Association. Merilou prioritizes making genuine, meaningful connections with her peers and is always willing to lend a hand where needed to ensure Leagues are receiving the leadership they deserve. For her, The Junior League is more than just an organization—it is a place where ideas come to life through the power of collective action.
Merilou began her Junior League journey with the Junior League of Washington (JLW) before transferring to the Junior League of Milwaukee (JLM) in 2000, where she currently serves in the role of Executive Vice President (EVP). She has held many leadership roles in JLM, including President, Chair of the New Member Orientation Committee, Communications Chair, and Vice President of Community. As President, Merilou supported the community involvement of 97 women who completed 353 hours of direct service to impact the lives of more than 160 children. She also implemented the first-ever online membership survey to invite feedback on community involvement and backed an annual giving campaign that resulted in 70% participation and exceeded the revenue goal. As the two-time Chair of Community Program Planning, she led the request for a proposals process, which resulted in a three-year commitment of volunteers and $90,000 to support Kids Matter, an organization that helps abused and neglected children. In recognition of her dedication to the League, she recently received the JLM President’s Active Member of the Year Award.
In addition to her work with JLM, Merilou served as an At-Large Director on the AJLI Board of Directors and has served on numerous committees and task forces within the Association, including chairing the Issues Committee. She is a past member of the Nominating Committee of the AJLI Women of Color Affinity Group (2010) and the AJLI Nominating/Governance Committee (2011-2013). Beyond The Junior League, Merilou is Director at Large for the Northwestern University Club of Milwaukee, a Board Member of the senior care organization Lutheran Home & Harwood Place and serves on the Program/State-Wide Conference Committee of the Wisconsin Philanthropy Network.
Professionally, Merilou has over 30 years of experience working in nonprofit, philanthropy, and government. She serves as the Communications Director of Bader Philanthropies, Inc., a foundation that has awarded more than $500 million in grants and investments to organizations across Wisconsin and abroad. She was instrumental in the organization receiving three Public Relations Society of America Paragon Awards for its media coverage and annual reports.
Merilou earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from DePaul University, her Master of Arts in Political Science from American University, and her Master of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. Her ability to bridge vision with action and uplift those around her has made a lasting mark on The Junior League and beyond. With her invaluable expertise, Merilou continues to shape the future of the Association and protect the interests of its Members.
