I work with organizations helping them assess their grants readiness. Once they are grants ready, I help them develop their language and project budgets to tell their story in a way that resonates with funders. I can also assist organizations with prospecting funders, creating their grants strategy, and executing the grants strategy. I have experience working at the intersection of faith and justice in the Pacific Northwest. Over the last two years, I have written over $1,000,000 in successful grants. This funding included operational support, program support, along with support for capacity building activities. I have written successful grant proposals for the following funders:The MJ Murdock Charitable Trust Joseph E. Weston Public FoundationThe Autzen FoundationZera FoundationThe Swigert FoundationCare OregonJuan Young TrustThe Robert D. and Marcia H. Randall Charitable TrustBess Spiva Timmons FoundationHerbert Templeton FoundationHillman Family FoundationStorms Family FoundationBraemar Charitable TrustRE/MAX Equity Group FoundationMarie Lamfrom

Safe Families is an organization that helps vulnerable families stay intact. When placing parents need support due to mental illness, addiction, lack of housing or medical issues, Safe Families host families step in to host children while their parents are taking the steps they need to be able to safely parent again. As a Volunteer Family Coach, I meet weekly with both the host family and the placing parent to ensure that that the host family is adequately supported and that the placing parent is making progress on their goals.

Created and managed grants program, which included prospecting grant leads, cultivating relationships with funders, developing language to be used in proposals and creating a list of funders to approach, along with a timeline of when to approach each funder. Implemented grant strategy, resulting in over $240,000 in funding. Reported to funders.Managed fundraising campaigns, which secured $390,000 in funding. Created campaign plan; wrote and sent appeals, along with follow-up communications and updates for campaign; wrote scripts and FAQs for board to empower them in communication with champions. Worked with families we serve along with clinical staff to sensitively tell stories which communicate impact.

As a Volunteer CASA, I advocated for three different sibling sets in foster care. Investigated all aspects of how the children were doing. Worked with all community members in children's orbit to advocate for their well being. This included DHS Case Workers, doctors, therapists, parole officers, teachers, school administrators, birth parents, foster parents, attorneys, group home case workers and police officers. Acted as a party in the case and attended quarterly hearings. Wrote court reports for hearings, which included information for the Judge on how the child was doing and recommendations for placements and services that were in the child's best interest.

Worked on a team of six volunteers to help a family of Iraqi refugees get settled in Portland. Worked with caseworker at Catholic Charities to assist the family of six in quickly getting on their feet. Assisted in budget creation; getting school-age children registered in school; navigating public transportation; sorting mail and paying bills; getting vaccinations up to date and attending doctors appointments with the family.

Motivated by frustration that poverty is a driver of human trafficking in the developing world, I created this fair trade company to try to intervene in extreme poverty. Sourced organic, fair trade ingredients from Palestine, Uganda and Kenya and created body care products (soap and salve) to drive demand for fair trade raw ingredients. Created, marketed and sold first on Etsy and then thru a company website.

Taught all subjects in fourth and fifth grade classrooms. This included sheltered instruction for 30% of students, who were second language learners.