Provides one-on-one mentorship, coaching, and career planning to EMU students pursuing a Graduate degree in Business & Organizational Leadership

Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry (WARM) is a 501c3 non-profit that provides emergency shelter, temporary housing, and community outreach to community members experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in Waynesboro and Augusta County, Virginia.

Assisted with non-profit formation & board development; IRStax exempt filing; created program content; implemented company policies; created case management and resident procedures; conducted fundraisers and donor campaigns; and led all marketing, public relations and communications efforts. In less than one year, Ms. Burns was able to assist the company in growing from 1 residential placement serving 12 men to 5 residential placement settings serving over 40 men overcoming substance abuse. Ms. Burns is still involved with the work of The Lifehouse in a contractual manner. (The program has expanded to serve over 150 men and women in 8 residential placements as result of its progressive formation and the sustainable practices set in place during its 2012-2013 conception.)

HHA: Researched grant opportunities and developed grant proposals for housing and support programs for low-income families in Huntington, WV in support of the agency’s executive team; funded grants ranged from $500 to multi-million dollar projects; for larger funded projects I assisted a team of executives and a grant writer with over 50 years of combined experience on complex multi-million dollar projects including LIHTC new construction projects; independently completed small funding ($250,000k or less) proposals ranging from simple to complex formats; received 2 years of one-on-one mentoring from nationally recognized community service executives with lifelong non-profit/grants management experience FSS/SPC: Managed federally funded housing programs for individuals and families with SMI, SU, and/or HIV/AIDS as well as self-sufficiency support programming for all Section 8 Voucher recipients; responsible for program delivery, management of over $700,000/yr. federal funding, and funding/program reporting; coordinated Section 8 waiting list, briefings, and processes for special need populations and housing related crises; led and participated in various community committee meetings, provided case management and non-clinical treatment team planning; point of contact for American Red Cross housing partnership; assisted in Hearth Act related transitions and program implementation CCYP:Independently researched grant funding opportunities, assisted in expanding operating programs and developed grant proposals to support the organization's programs that focused on removing barriers to success for at-risk youth in Cabell County, West Virginia; supported program development and evaluation needs(briefly worked as a temporary clerk performing basic and complex clerical and support duties prior to fulfilling grant writing duties)

Assisted in overseeing the daily functions of RCA including oversight of staff; developed new programs for staff, students, and parents; managed both accounts recievables and accounts payable, coordinated all fundraising and special events, and produced marketing and communications materials