grant research and writing support for nonprofit organizations
grant research and writing support for nonprofit organizations
I am a southern California native who migrated to the Midwest after earning my bachelor's degree (1998) from the University of Notre Dame and my law degree (2001) also from the University of Notre Dame. Go Irish! I resided in the Chicagoland area with my husband and four children for many years before relocating to the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan in 2018. Prior to taking a "mom sabbatical" from law, I worked as a litigation attorney downtown Chicago and later volunteered my time as a legal aid attorney and board member for a local nonprofit.
Twenty-five years ago, I started my journey in grant writing as a volunteer to local start-up nonprofits in Chicago as I found the work to be a fulfilling form of volunteerism in the midst of my busy life. Turning it into a business several years ago has been a welcome mid-life career shift which continues to offer much fulfillment. Nowadays, when I'm not writing proposals or connecting with clients, I'm rooting for my kids on the sidelines or backstage, reading a novel, or, on occasion, tap dancing.
Since Jennifer launched her grant/fundraising freelance and consulting business in the fall of 2015, she has served 40 client organizations and written over 400 proposals/LOIs for them. While a freelancer's success rate is challenging to calculate because each client organization presents unique strategies, she has collectively raised several million dollars in that time.
[offers innovative and accessible digital mental health support resources to parents and caregivers trying to manage the challenges brought about by the pandemic;]
[provides a lifetime residence in small family-style homes for adults living with intellectual or developmental disabilities using a 1:1 live-in assistant model of care]
[support institutional nonprofit clients of Evolve by offering grant support assistance. Supported clients include a social services community center, a summer camp for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities; an education enrichment program, a social entrepreneur support organization for Jewish ventures; and a home-based primary healthcare education and training center]
[among the many facets of the organization, the targeted support is focused on Laudato Si - the environmental and social justice awareness and action campaign known as Care for our Common Home, which was introduced by the Vatican]
"I have worked with many grant writers in the past and Jennifer is the VERY best that I have ever worked with. She is hard working, prepared, and our staff really felt she took the time to understand our organization as she was putting the grant together. Really good grant writers are hard to find and I think we hit the jackpot with Jennifer."
Jimmy Lee, current Managing Partner of Ion Jets, former President of Mission Create; Former Executive Director White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Special Assistant to the President
Jennifer: Thank YOU! You really made this process very easy – you were great to work with; very organized and meticulous on follow-up. I would love to work with you again.
Elizabeth Mason, CFRE, V.P. of Development, SGA Youth & Family Services
Past Vice President and Volunteer Legal Aid Lawyer at Pro Bono Network, a Chicago-area nonprofit, 2015 - 2020
Executive Director of Pandemic Parenting, a start-up 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, 2021-2022
Member Nonprofit Leadership Lab, 2018-current
Member Grant Professionals Association, Chicago Chapter, 2016-2019
Member Association of Fundraising Professionals, Chicago Chapter, 2017-2018