Donna Trimm

Pronouns : she / her / hers

Donna has been passionate about advocating for others by putting pen to paper throughout her career. This led her to a career in Social Work, where she focused on writing to serve individual clients combating disease, injustice, and poverty. As a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program Officer at Americares, Donna wrote over a dozen mental health trainings for frontline COVID-19 healthcare workers and helped administer a grant program for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Free and Charitable Clinics.

Donna currently volunteers as a grant writer for a small NGO called “Together We Can Guatemala” and a rescue farm called K-Stone Rescue Ranch. She is also a member of the NYC branch of “Shut Up and Write!” and her local Rotary Club. Donna earned an MS in Social Work from Columbia University and a BS in Social Work from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. She has published articles in Grief Digest and First Things.

When she is not writing for causes, Donna enjoys working on her memoir with a hot mocha, architecture walks in Manhattan with her Great Pyrenees (and a hot mocha), and writing in the café at the American Museum of Natural History. She also loves building custom shelves and furniture from used pallets, fueled by, of course, a hot mocha.

Pronouns : he / him / his

Alexander is a lifelong learner with seven years of technical knowledge and a passion for technology. Prior to joining the Elevate Team, Alex worked at Apple Inc as a Technical Expert, and mentor for new technicians. While at Apple, he also led Apple’s summer tech camp as the lead counselor. With over 80 campers ages six -13, the program curated modules and videos to teach children the importance of technology. Alex particularly enjoyed creating lessons, activities, and games with a technical focus to engage the campers. Alex’s passion for technology extends beyond Apple Inc. One of his most exciting projects was collaborating with a middle school in Greensboro, North Carolina where he curated an evidence-based Technology focused curriculum that taught the students coding, problem-solving, and basic IT troubleshooting. 

Alex attended Southern Connecticut State University majoring in Computer Science, he later moved to the DMV area to further his education. Alexander is an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician and a Certified IT Support Technician. 

Outside of the working world, he enjoys cooking, traveling with his Miniature Poodle, gaming, and hiking.

Pronouns : he / him / his

Theo is passionate about writing and facilitating the distribution of wealth to organizations working to uplift marginalized communities and create artistic beauty in the world. His work in the field of grant writing includes jobs with the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, a Black civil rights history and civic engagement organization, and Stories Without Borders, a nonprofit that uses the power of personal narrative to effect positive social change in areas of immigration and mental health. Previous to his nonprofit development work, he was a Digital Crisis Counselor with The Trevor Project, where he provided compassionate support and resources to LGBTQ+ youth on their text-based crisis hotline. 

He is a curious person and lifelong learner who has studied grant writing through Prescott College and holds a self-designed BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Psychology from Naropa University. 

Outside of work, he enjoys many pursuits, including cooking, working out, reading vast numbers of books, and sharing quality time with his loved ones, including his beloved dog, Nomi.

Pronouns : she / her / hers

Raquel has always felt drawn to public service and charity and spent almost a decade at a free dental clinic, first as the Director of Institutional Advancement before being promoted to Executive Director. She has experience working with nonprofits in public health, education, and libraries. As a Supervising Director at Elevate, she ensures the staff’s alignment to company goals, priorities, and expectations for client services.

Raquel is a long-time volunteer with her local Tots for Tots campaign, donating her time as its social media presence coordinator. Raquel earned an MS in Library & Information Science at Drexel University and a BA in Political Science at East Stroudsburg University.

When unplugging from helping to save the world, Raquel enjoys trying local coffee brewers and shops, walking along the canal towpath with her boyfriend and rescued black lab with a cold brew coffee, and renovating her late 1800’s historic home.

Pronouns: he / him / his

Chris brings his passion for social justice and experience in fundraising to Elevate after coming from the world of higher education. After earning his Ph.D. in US History and Native American Studies from Indiana University in 2016, Chris taught and wrote as a faculty member at Harvard University until 2021. In that time, he published historical writing on race and racism in modern America with an eye to police bias and the development of mass incarceration. He taught courses on Native American history, social movements, race, gender, and sexuality. His teaching duties also included teaching poetry and fiction. Throughout his time in higher education, he earned several competitive grants and fellowships and honed his skills as a grant writer.

Chris has a wealth of volunteer and organizing experience. This has included campus anti-war and pro-democracy organizing as an undergraduate, delivering free breakfast to kids in Bloomington, Indiana, volunteering as a faculty ally with Native American student groups, joining water protectors at Standing Rock, and organizing to protect DACA recipients at Harvard. Before relocating to the midwest for graduate school, Chris earned his BA in History from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Before relocating to the midwest for graduate school, Chris earned his BA in History from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Chris loves spending time with his partner, Devon, and his senior dog, Lucy, when he’s off the clock. You’re also likely to find him cooking, playing music, and reading fiction.

Pronouns : she / her / hers

Jaime has worked in the nonprofit development sector for over a decade, specializing in grants consulting for most of her career. She’s passionate about helping organizations achieve their missions, developing systems that increase efficiencies and impact, and supporting colleagues to achieve shared goals. Jaime brings project management and strategic grant program planning expertise to Elevate and has worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from multi-state hospital systems to small social service agencies.

Jaime graduated from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) with a BA in Political Science and Environmental Conservation. While in college, she worked at the UNH Writing Center as a writing fellow and academic writing tutor, solidifying her love for the written word. She currently volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem, advocating for children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect.

While not working, Jaime enjoys trying to replicate recipes she discovered on TikTok, traveling with her family, and spending countless hours singing to her dogs (even though she can’t carry a tune).

Pronouns : she / her / hers

Nicole has several years of grant writing experience for human services and nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about health, mental health, environment protection, and sustainability, and social services. Prior to working within the nonprofit sector, Nicole worked for films/television/documentaries as a coordinator and producer for more than eight years in Colorado and Los Angeles.

Nicole earned her BA in Communications from Elon University with a minor in Psychology. She has volunteered on multiple organic farms in Maui, Kauai, Massachusetts, and Habitat for Humanity in Cambodia.

Aside from grant writing, Nicole enjoys working on her creative writing projects, traveling, cooking, organic gardening, hiking, biking, and spending lots of quality time with her Old English Sheepdog, Rupert.

Pronouns: he/him/his

Christian comes to Elevate with over a decade of experience serving nonprofits in education, housing, health and mental health, the arts, and social services. Prior to joining the team at Elevate, he served as the Executive Director of Care to Learn, a nonprofit providing funding to address students’ emergent health, hunger, and hygiene needs throughout Missouri. Growing up in a family that valued volunteerism and community engagement, he has seen countless examples of the difference that nonprofits make in their communities and is excited to help Elevate’s clients increase their impact. Before entering the nonprofit arena, Christian worked (briefly!) as an attorney and professor, teaching courses on animal law and criminal justice.

Christian earned his JD from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and a BA in Philosophy from Washington University in St. Louis.

When not serving Elevate’s clients, Christian enjoys spending time with his fiancé, Serena, and their daughter Keener, reading, gaming, playing guitar, or watching any horror movies he can find.

Sam’s drive to strengthen nonprofits comes from her desire to build and support more loving communities, everywhere. At Elevate, she has played multiple roles on client teams with experience working as a Project Coordinator, a Grant Writer, and a Director. She has worked on a wide range of direct service and advocacy clients, demonstrating particular strength working with clients in the education space. She brings client relationship management, leadership skills, and a passion for Elevate’s work to her role as Supervising Director.

Prior to joining the Elevate team, Sam spent time working in international development, education, and housing services spaces. She executed multiple research projects in Uganda and worked as a Research Assistant for the Ford Family Development Program at the University of Notre Dame, where she supported the program’s maternal health initiative in Kenya. Sam served as a 2014 Teach For America corps member in Colorado taught both 1st grade and 3rd grade Special Education. She also spent five years in various management roles at the Root Cafe in Cleveland, whose mission is to provide accessible, local, and organic food to its community members in addition to supporting community building through music, the arts, and conversation.

Sam received her BA in Political Science and Poverty Studies from the University of Notre Dame and completed a Specialization in Fundraising and Development through UC Davis in 2022.

Sam spends the bulk of her free time outside with her husband and three babies. She loves learning about herbalism and gardening, hiking, yoga, and drinking sparkling water.

Pronouns : He, Him, His

Ben has a decade of experience in development, fundraising, nonprofit project management, and a lifelong passion for international development. Prior to Elevate, Ben worked with Canine Partners for Life (CPL), a small nonprofit that provides service dogs for people with disabilities. Before working at CPL, he worked in a rural area in South Sudan, developing and subsequently managing a large donor portfolio for two schools and a clinic.

Ben has a Masters in Public Administration with a focus on International Development from the University of York (UK), a BS in Biology from Eastern University, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification. He volunteers with several nonprofit organizations, and has served on nonprofit boards, working to improve their impact and fiscal sustainability, furthering his personal belief that people can do good in the world when they use their strengths and work together.

Although a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Ben has spent much of his life overseas. He enjoys volunteering, reading, cooking, spending time with loved ones, traveling, and trying to keep up with his high-energy border collie, Buna.