William Decker Email & Phone Number

Park Ridge, Il

The music coordinator helps provide the music of faith for those who participate in the mission of Messiah Lutheran Church, a Christian community in Park Ridge, IL. It accomplishes this in conjunction with the pastor of the congregation. As a part-time position, it focuses mainly on assisting the congregation to sing the music of faith at Sunday worship and other worship services planned throughout the year. It is also responsible for directing the adult choir and promoting its ministry and… Show more The music coordinator helps provide the music of faith for those who participate in the mission of Messiah Lutheran Church, a Christian community in Park Ridge, IL. It accomplishes this in conjunction with the pastor of the congregation. As a part-time position, it focuses mainly on assisting the congregation to sing the music of faith at Sunday worship and other worship services planned throughout the year. It is also responsible for directing the adult choir and promoting its ministry and seeking guest musicians, both vocal and instrumental, to assist in the music ministry. It administers the program in conjunction with the staff and executive committee. Show less

Des Plaines, Il

Play piano for worship services, weddings, and funerals. Familiarity with traditional liturgical styles, as well as contemporary music. Play keyboard for adult praise and worship band. Currently learning to play the pipe organ for worship services.

Greater Chicago Area

Grant Writer, Editor, and Journalist with experience in seeking grant funding for non-profit agencies. Skilled at identifying, researching, and pursuing local and national funders which fit the goals of the agency. Works collegially with funder’s program managers and administrators during application process. Employed key writing skills developed as trained and experienced journalist and newspaper and magazine editor.

Metro Chicago

I wrote grant proposals to foundations who fund 501(c)(3) non-profit agencies in the areas of food/shelter, homelessness, and housing assistance. Journeys' clients live in the north and northwestern suburbs of Cook County in metro Chicago. Journeys is a multi-funded, comprehensive service agency providing emergency shelter through PADS sites at local churches, the HOPE Center that provides clinical services (case management, mental and substance abuse counseling, and vocational rehabilitation… Show more I wrote grant proposals to foundations who fund 501(c)(3) non-profit agencies in the areas of food/shelter, homelessness, and housing assistance. Journeys' clients live in the north and northwestern suburbs of Cook County in metro Chicago. Journeys is a multi-funded, comprehensive service agency providing emergency shelter through PADS sites at local churches, the HOPE Center that provides clinical services (case management, mental and substance abuse counseling, and vocational rehabilitation, and housing assistance) and the Pathways Housing Readiness Program, a temporary/supportive housing assistance program.Approximately one out of every five funders I've successfully applied to were new funders among private foundations and corporate funding programs. Overall, I raised more than 1 million since October 2010 from new and renewal funders.I also worked with corporate match gift program, securing gifts that are based either on a certain number of hours that the employee volunteered at the agency or on matching gifts to financial contributions. Show less

Grant Writer with experience in seeking grant funding for non-profit agency which serves low-income elderly. Utilizing the Foundation Center’s Online Directory database, skilled at identifying, researching, and pursuing local and national funders which fit the goals of the agency. Worked collegially with agency’s program managers and administrators during grant application process. Employed key skills developed as trained journalist and newspaper and magazine editor.

• Planned, edited, and produced 6 issues per year that reflected themes pertinent to reading audience’s and advertisers’ interests, in cooperation with graphic designer, advertising representative, copyeditors, authors, and advisory committee members.• Wrote editorial comments for each of the six annual issues since becoming Editor• Sought reader opinion through focus groups and surveys and incorporated into content.• Added 5 new columns in response to reader interest including… Show more • Planned, edited, and produced 6 issues per year that reflected themes pertinent to reading audience’s and advertisers’ interests, in cooperation with graphic designer, advertising representative, copyeditors, authors, and advisory committee members.• Wrote editorial comments for each of the six annual issues since becoming Editor• Sought reader opinion through focus groups and surveys and incorporated into content.• Added 5 new columns in response to reader interest including video and web resource reviews, religion/science, historical photo feature, and collection of personal narratives from readers on issue’s theme.• Redesigned magazine in 2007 in cooperation with the advisory committee in terms of purpose, editorial content, graphic design, and advertising strategy. Redesigned magazine published on schedule and within budget for the inaugural January/February 2008 issue.• Collaborated closely with graphic designer during pre-press production stage for each issue, as well as during the strategic redesign process in 2007 which dealt with paper weight and quality, font size and design, and introduction of 4-color.• Planned in cooperation with advertising representative how to promote each issue’s theme with advertisers. • Strategized to attract the attention of advertisers by establishing annual thematic issues of interest to advertisers and readers, including themes such as higher education, youth, music, and stewardship of life.• Covered majority of production-related costs through ad revenues that totaled $2M+.• Successfully resolved U.S. Postal Service challenge to restrict advertising by changing mailing status from non-profit to commercial rates. • Initiated orderly process of integrating web site and print versions, developed web resource columns in both print and web versions, sought web advertising, and began archival project to post all editorial content from 1988-2010. Show less

• Wrote and published news and feature articles for in-country use and developed relations with news agencies inside countries.• Produced and mailed regular newsletters and annual reports to persons in U.S. and Australia who were interested in linguistic and translation work.

• Developed from its start a weekly newspaper as directed by publisher, and wrote editorial content, photographed and developed prints, and designed page layout. • Built relationships with towns’ leadership in school districts, town governments, and religious institutions.

Worked in international administrative setting in Manila, providing news and feature articles for in-country and overseas audiences

B.A., English

Activities and Societies: Chapel Choir, Bucknell Christian Fellowship, school newspaper, Spent my junior year, 1972-73 in London, England.

M.A., Systematic Theology And International Mission

Activities and Societies: Worked with international students throughout academic program, planning events and assisting them in various.

M.S., Graduate Program In Communications/Journalism

Activities and Societies: Directed the Graduate School's chapel program for one year. Learned the basics of journalism--writing, editing.