Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)

The Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) distinction is an internationally-recognized credential that attests to the executive's knowledge, skill, and achievements as a fundraising professional based on current and valid practice-based standards.

I earned this credential, and continue to recertify every three years, as a confirmation and promise to my donors that I am a skilled, knowledgeable, and ethical steward of their generosity.

Puzzles, Relationships, and Stories

Over the past decade-plus of success in the non-profit sector, ​I have honed my specialization in developing and implementing comprehensive institutional grant relations systems, strategy assessments, project management and coordination, proactive grant tracking, and corporate/foundation relationship management.

In this role, I am able to marry my love of identifying and unifying separate pieces of the same solution -- whether that is by identifying and illuminating the similarities between two organizational mission statements that can better move ahead together, or whether it is pairing passionate and philanthropic people with the particular cause they treasure -- with my desire to puzzle words together in just the right way so the resulting story is meaningful, persuasive, and inspiring.

Truly, I have formed my life around collecting misplaced pieces in all their different forms, joining them, and thereby creating art and meaning.
​Here are the fabulous organizations for which I have worked writing grants and success stories to fund their vital programming:
Rediscovery at JRI:
Rediscovery leads a therapeutic group home with a focus on independent living skill-building for males between the ages 16-21, as well as the YouthHarbors program, which serves homeless, unaccompanied high school students to help them stay in school and graduate.
Chimes:
Chimes' mission is to empower people with disabilities and behavioral health challenges to achieve their fullest potential so they can be confident and comfortable in work, family and community settings.
Gilchrist Hospice Care, Inc.:
Working for Gilchrist is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences I have had.  The opportunity to translate the everyday work my incredible colleagues do into beautiful stories that help potential donors understand the positive impact their support can have on the people we support is a joy.

Gilchrist is a Maryland-focused organization that provides quality compassionate care, counseling and support to people at every stage of serious illness, so they may live life to the fullest. A nationally recognized, nonprofit leader in serious illness and end-of-life care, Gilchrist is deeply committed to giving people the loving support and clear information they need to make informed choices about their care.

Gilchrist provides a continuum of wrap-around  geriatric and hospice care  service options in Maryland to support the medical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those living with serious illness as they age-in-place at home, care for their and their families' varied needs as they progress through end-of-life and hospice support, and finally provide a wide range of bereavement services for their families (and bereavement events for the community at large).

Supplementary programs to further support the specific needs of patients and their families include Gilchrist's Jewish Care and Support Program, Music Therapy, Child Life Specialists through the Gilchrist Kids pediatric hospice program, and various We Honor Veterans salute-to-service pinning and remembrance ceremonies.

If you are in Maryland and being a part of this work sounds interesting, we are always looking for volunteers!

(For security purposes, links have not been provided, but additional information on any and all of these fabulous programs can be found via internet search engine.)