Pronouns: she/her/hers
Erin is Elevate’s Associate Director of Technology & Data, managing our data and technology teams. She brings several years of experience in building out Elevate’s internal infrastructure to this role, as she has held several positions in the operations department since first joining the company in 2019. Prior to joining Elevate, Erin worked for a trade association in Washington, DC where she focused on providing excellent administrative support.
Erin graduated from The University of Vermont, where she received a double BA in Political Science and Economics. During her time at UVM, she spent three semesters performing research on the relationship between politics and the entertainment media. She also spent her last semester working as a Student Researcher for the Vermont Legislative Research Service, examining complex policy issues and providing research reports for State Legislators.
Outside of Elevate, you can find Erin volunteering as an election judge, taking her rescue dog, Carmela Soprano, for walks, and watching a lot of reality tv.
Pronouns: she / her/ hers
Hallie is Elevate’s Supervising Director of Finance and Operations, leading our finance, data, and technology teams. She brings several years of experience in building out Elevate’s internal infrastructure to this leadership role, as she has held several positions in the department since first joining the company in 2018. Hallie was introduced to Elevate during her time as a fund development intern at the TGR Foundation – a previous client. She also brings experience as the Operations Manager at the American Immigration Council, supporting their Immigration Justice Campaign that works to provide legal representation to immigrants and end immigration detention. She has also worked with Olympic athletes as a Communications Intern at USA Water Polo and as a Corporate Partnerships intern with the Los Angeles Football Club.
Hallie earned her BS in Business Administration from Chapman University in Southern California with a minor in Philosophy, and has a financial leadership certification from Harvard Online Business School. In college, Hallie played NCAA softball for one year, and has a long history of volunteering with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Epilepsy Foundation, two causes near and dear to her. While she enjoys walking around DC with a coffee in hand, her heart is on the West Coast as she hails from the Pacific Northwest. In her free time, Hallie is enjoying live music and taking care of her many plants.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Elevate’s Vice President of New Client Partnerships, Jessica is responsible for all marketing and new business development at Elevate. She also supports the company’s Specialized Grant Services department. Leaning into her own experience as a grant writer and her background in nonprofit strategy, program design, and management, Jessica brings a deep understanding of the “pain points” nonprofits face and a strategic approach to addressing these through smart grant programs.
Jessica joined Elevate in 2016 as a team Director, and held roles within Elevate’s management and business development teams before joining the executive team in 2022. She is an experienced nonprofit professional with a background in corporate and foundation fundraising, program design, strategy, and partnerships. Prior to Elevate, Jessica worked in development and program management roles at the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Environmental Education Foundation, both based in the DC region. She also spent two years in her early career teaching high school biology in Northern Virginia.
A native of Atlanta, Jessica earned an MEd in Secondary Science Education at Georgia State University and a BS in Applied Biology at Georgia Tech.
When not at work, you may find Jessica on the tennis court, in her kitchen, buried in an e-book, or traveling to Brooklyn to play “auntie.” Jessica works from her home in Falls Church, Virginia, where she lives with her husband, their middle schooler, and Georgie, a special needs pup that regularly features on Elevate social media.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Alayna has been a grant writer and nonprofit consultant for her entire career. She founded Elevate in 2013 to work with a team of grant writers and to make the highest-level development expertise accessible to nonprofit organizations around the country. Since then, she has overseen Elevate’s growth to one of the country’s leading grant writing firms, serving hundreds of nonprofits since its founding, and employing over 80 staff around the country. Today, Alayna sets the organization’s vision and purpose; leads Elevate’s Executive Team; and oversees its core departments. She also works closely with her staff to develop new products and services that will improve the lives of nonprofit leaders.
Alayna graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Philosophy and Public Policy and Honors in Ethics in Society in 2006. In 2015, she became a licensed consultant by the Standards of Excellence in 2015, was named ‘40 under 40’ by Leadership Arlington, and became a member of EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization), the global thought leader on entrepreneurship. Alayna is proud that as a women-owned business, Elevate has been named one of the country’s fastest growing businesses by Inc. 5000 every year it has applied. Alayna is also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and American Grant Writers Association.
Alayna has two adorable dogs, both pittie rescues: Tucker Q. Buckner and Greyson Rex Buckner, who like to make a vocal appearance during Zoom calls. She is an avid baker, reader, and podcast aficionado. She can most often be found at Wydown Cafe or one of DC’s other local coffee shops.
