Experience

Cloudbreak Collective

• United States
• Fundraising
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Grant Writer and Consultant

  • Jun 2021 - Present

  Crafting smart, winning grant proposals for small to mid-sized nonprofits and providing technical assistance to organizations applying for King County Best Start for Kids funding. Cloudbreak Collective specializes in building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to achieve their missions through clear and effective fundraising and grant writing. Read more at www.cloudbreakcollective.com. Crafting smart, winning grant proposals for small to mid-sized nonprofits and providing technical assistance to organizations applying for King County Best Start for Kids funding. Cloudbreak Collective specializes in building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to achieve their missions through clear and effective fundraising and grant writing. Read more at www.cloudbreakcollective.com.



Blais & Associates (B&A)

• Washington, United States

• Grant Writer, Associate

  • May 2021 - Apr 2023

  • Wrote federal and state grants for municipalities and government agencies. • Conducted research, wrote cover letters, and developed supplemental materials as needed to create strong, competitive proposals. • Coordinated with municipal clients to develop programs and advance projects according to agreed upon timelines. • Wrote federal and state grants for municipalities and government agencies. • Conducted research, wrote cover letters, and developed supplemental materials as needed to create strong, competitive proposals. • Coordinated with municipal clients to develop programs and advance projects according to agreed upon timelines.



Conservation Northwest

• United States
• Environmental Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Development

  • May 2019 - May 2021

  • Led five-member development team comprised of Major Gifts Director, Grants Manager, Events Manager, and Development Associate to raise funds to sustain CNW programs • Supported staff with executing fundraising campaigns, writing grants, soliciting donors, and planning special events that raised over $2.4 million in revenue annually for CNW • Wrote mail and email fundraising appeals, membership renewal letters and other development content that contributed to 30% increase in individual giving revenue in 2020 • Hired and managed staff, initiated contracts, tracked revenue and expenses, ensured compliance with CNW fiscal procedures, evaluated and improved systems, and presided over $500K+ budget to maintain efficient operations of development department • Oversaw planning and execution of CNW’s annual Auction & Dinner. In March 2019, successfully transitioned the event to all-virtual during onset of pandemic to raise over $360K • Facilitated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee consisting of board and staff tasked with helping CNW better align with DEI values and objectives Show less



Lutheran Community Services Northwest

• Development Manager

  • Nov 2017 - Jan 2019

  Raised funds to grow LCSNW's FamilyBuilders Foster-Adoption program.• Planned and executed fundraising strategies to sustain FamilyBuilders Foster-Adoption Program• Developed individual giving program to increase donations from small, medium, and major donors• Met one-on-one with donors and prospects to build relationships, plan fundraising activities, and solicit donations• Planned special events, including 1st annual Spring Celebration with 70+ attendees, to raise awareness about FamilyBuilders and increase constituent engagement • Met with donor and community leadership to plan house parties and small events, 6 planned to date, with goal of raising $30 - 40,000 in new funds for fiscal year 2018-19 • Created newsletters, brochures, monthly e-news blasts, and Facebook posts to increase engagement with FamilyBuilders and drive new donations• Conveyed appreciation for donors through hand-written thank you cards, phone calls, gifts, and other forms of thoughtful engagement• Maintained donor records and analyze donor data • Researched and wrote grants to increase revenue for FamilyBuilders and sustain core programming Show less

• Program Manager, Grants Program Manager

  • Sep 2015 - Jan 2019

  • Supervised 12 member staff and dozens of volunteers to sustain operations of Familias Unidas Latino Family Support Center, Everett Family Support Center, and the Family Support Center of South Snohomish County• Presided over $450,000 budget to deliver human services programming that served over 4,000 low-income, vulnerable, and homeless participants annually• Managed diverse, multicultural, bilingual, and multiethnic team to carry out programming for Snohomish County’s Latino community and other diverse populations• Oversaw reporting, evaluation, outcomes measurement, and data management for Family Support Centers• Developed partnerships with community organizations, churches, schools, medical clinics and governmental agencies including Snohomish County Homeless Housing, Verdant Health Commission, Catholic Community Services, Edmonds School District, Citrine Health, YWCA, and Denny Juvenile Justice Center in order to enhance programs of Family Support Centers• Worked with Director of Family Support, North Puget Sound Fiscal Director, North Puget Sound Area Director and other members of Family Support Leadership Team to shape budget, strategic direction, organizational culture, fundraising strategy, and operational capabilities of department• Researched and wrote grant proposals that raised over $800,000 to sustain operations of LCSNW Family Support Centers in Snohomish and Clallam Counties• Oversaw planning and coordination of special events such as National Night Out Against Crime Block Party, Celebrating Our People Cultural Celebration, and Holiday Toy Give-away that served over 1,000 participants annually• Built relationships with Program Officers at foundations such as Komen Puget Sound, United Way of Snohomish County, and Community Foundation of Snohomish County to secure funding, maintain compliance, and align programs with foundation strategic priorities• Oversaw social media, marketing, and communications activities for Family Support Centers Show less



Independent

• Bellingham

• Writer, Teaching Artist

  • Oct 2011 - Sep 2015

  • Created and directed the Whatcom Juvenile Justice Creative Writing Project with two local teaching artists which at time of departure had clocked over 130 hours with approximately 65 incarcerated teens in Whatcom County’s Juvenile Detention Facility. www.wordfromtheinside.com • Raised funds through grants, crowdfunding, and fundraising events that brought in over $15,000 for teaching artist projects • Secured contracts with Whatcom Young Writers, Bellingham School District, and City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department teaching creative writing to students in Bellingham and Whatcom County schools and people experiencing homelessness • Organized and facilitated Kintsugi Writers Circle for People Experiencing Chronic Medical Conditions, a fourteen week therapeutic writing circle with 6 members • Served as board member of Whatcom Young Writers, a nonprofit devoted to providing creative writing opportunities for students in Bellingham and Whatcom County Public Schools • Performed poetry regularly throughout Pacific Northwest and beyond Show less



Opportunity Council

• Opportunity Council, Bellingham, WA

• Outreach and Development Coordinator

  • Mar 2014 - Mar 2015

  • Organized Summer School Supply Drive and participated in special event planning and appeal letter writing teams for Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn and Dorothy Place Luncheon that combined raised over $80,000 for OC programs • Researched and wrote grants and participated in grant writing teams that raised over $420,000 for Opportunity Council (OC) programs (over a dozen total grants) • Gave presentations on Maple Alley Inn programs that helped successfully secure grants from United Way of Whatcom County and City of Bellingham totaling over $25,000 • Assisted Associate Director with managing OC communications writing press releases, managing Facebook page and website, and serving as liaison with radio stations and other media outlets • Conducted outreach in the community at events, fairs, concerts, schools, and social service agencies, raising community awareness about Opportunity Council programs • Utilized Giftworks software to manage volunteers and donors • Operated as Project Supervisor for Americorps VISTA Project providing supervision, support, and training to over two dozen VISTA volunteers and site supervisors at 12 different organizations • Coordinated OC volunteer program ensuring that volunteer policies were upheld, all volunteers applicants were properly screened, and that qualified candidates were connected with relevant programs • Managed Basic Food Outreach and Community Voicemail programs ensuring contract compliance with USDA and Washington State DSHS and Commerce Departments • Participated in Opportunity Council Communications Committee developing strategy for coordinating agency communications to the public and increasing internal communications and collaboration between departments Show less



Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank

• Pike Place Market, Seattle

• Food Bank Manager

  • May 2009 - May 2010

  • Conducted outreach to over 50 businesses in Downtown Seattle to bring in between 5,000 to 10,000 additional pounds of food and other supplies per month • Assisted with planning and execution of The Great Figgy Pudding annual holiday fundraiser • Supervised two part-time employees to help carry out operations of food bank, distributing over 500,000 pounds of food to 2,500 clients annually • Recruited, trained, and managed a diverse team of over 50 volunteers comprised of college students, business professionals, community members, and others to follow safe food-handling techniques and warehouse safety practices, and provide professional customer service to clients • Wrote successful grant applications to the United Way of King County and Rotary First Harvest that led to the acquisition of new computers and $10,000 worth of consulting services • Maintained accurate records and submitted reports to Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and City of Seattle to fulfill contracts and ensure steady supply of food and funds Show less



Bloodworks Northwest

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Materials Management Department Administrator

  • Jul 2008 - Apr 2009

  Temporary office administration and customer service position while I resettled myself in Seattle. Temporary office administration and customer service position while I resettled myself in Seattle.



Capital Area Food Bank

• Washington, DC

• Agency Relations Manager, Community Anchors Coordinator, Agency Outreach Coordinator

  • Sep 2004 - May 2008

  • Coordinated the 2008 Metropolitan Area Hunger Conference for food bank community partners with over 300 participants • Created and administered the Agency Achievement Academy, a no-cost training program that at the time of departure had trained over 530 participants in areas such as volunteer management, food distribution best practices, grant writing, and building business partnerships, resulting in food bank partner agencies being better equipped to feed clients • Designed materials, procedures, and controls for Agency Achievement Academy (AAA). Managed AAA logistics including registration, promotion, data maintenance, evaluation, and outcomes assessment • Recruited, trained, and managed diverse teams of volunteers to complete the 2005 Hunger Study, Voices of Hunger, and other food bank projects • Facilitated Agency Advisory Panel, a 12 member committee of top partner agency leadership that advised the food bank on effective procedures and strategies for common food pantry challenges • Conducted outreach and monitoring visits to Food Bank partner food pantries and soup kitchen in order to train partner agencies and ensure compliance Show less