Pronouns: she/they
Emma came inspired by Elevate’s mission to lift up nonprofits working to make the world a better place. As Human Resources & Operations Associate, she ensures that staff have the support they need to thrive. As a part of the Operations team, she cares for the day-to-day details of the office and the Gallery. She is also the go-to person for questions about work culture, recruitment, and benefits. Prior to joining Elevate, she worked in human resources at a natural foods co-operative in Vermont and provided operational support at a sports media company in NYC. She is drawn to work that prioritizes communication and connection in order to improve organizational sustainability.
Emma earned her BA in Communication and French from Boston College; however, she credits her true education to the countless hours spent in a windowless basement as the Program Director for the College’s nonprofit radio station, WZBC-Newton. Her radio show “Fry It Grrl Refried” celebrates liberation, decolonization, and queerness—all to the tune of a post punk bass line.
Emma enjoys playing bass, growing basil in her windowsill, and exploring the DMV area with her partner for funky arts, inspiration, and sustainable vegan food. After spending a summer on a lavender farm, she continues to look for ways to support the work of local farmers. She will never turn down an opportunity to learn more about human rights advocacy and centering care in our communities.
Emma came to Elevate with a particular interest in educational equity and reform, and in the role nonprofits can play in the world of education. She previously served as an AmeriCorps member at 826 Boston, where she worked in the Writers’ Room at Boston International Newcomers Academy, a public high school in Dorchester for recently arrived immigrants. She has also worked for a film company in Mexico City and in outdoor education in New Mexico.
Emma is an alumna of the United World College of Costa Rica and holds a BA in Comparative Literature from Brown University. She is a writer and a translator, and is currently working on a translation of Chilean author Pedro Lemebel’s collection of short stories and essays, De perlas y cicatrices (Of Pearls and Scars), for which she won a 2018 PEN/Heim Translation Grant.
In her spare time, Emma enjoys making a big mess in the kitchen trying new recipes, obsessing over the New York Times Spelling Bee, and drinking coffee she didn’t make.
Ren leads Elevate’s capacity planning and staffing function within the Client Services department to ensure each client receives high-quality services. Ren also specializes in writing grants for clients on a range of issues, primarily focusing on health services, policy and advocacy, youth development, and services for individuals experiencing homelessness. Ren’s clients report that they have a knack for learning deeply about their programs and funding landscape to develop strategic grants that are highly competitive for funding. Ren draws from their own experiences as a Grant Writer to support the career development of Elevate staff.
Ren has followed a passion for promoting access to health services in the United States and abroad throughout their career. While pursuing their Master of Social Work, Ren saw how access to high-quality physical and mental health care plays a vital role in enabling individuals to achieve their fullest potential.
Before joining Elevate, they worked as a Graduate Assistant for the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program, where Ren assisted with writing grants for their programs in Liberia and Haiti. Ren was also an intern with Georgia State Representative Shelly Hutchinson, where they conducted research and wrote policy briefs related to improving access to health services, immigrant rights, and criminal justice reform.
Ren graduated from the University of Georgia with a Master of Social Work and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. They also have a BS in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University.
In their free time, Ren loves doing anything outdoors! In particular, they enjoy hiking and playing ultimate frisbee.
Elena brings to Elevate a passion for nonprofits and nonprofit leadership as a catalyst for social change. Prior to joining Elevate, Elena worked for nonprofits in Denmark and the US, in the global health, environmental, civic engagement, and democracy sectors. Her development experience includes direct marketing, building fundraising capacity, major gifts, and grants at organizations such as Indivisible, League of Conservation Voters and League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, and Greenpeace.
Elena holds an MSc in Technological and Socio-Economic Planning from Roskilde University, Denmark, and a BA in History and Russian Studies from Bucknell University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Transformative Social Change.
When not wrapped up in the world of grants, Elena loves to read, spend time with the family dogs and cats, and stream British TV and movies while enjoying a cup of Yorkshire Gold tea. She also enjoys growing wildflowers and native plants, reformer Pilates, and interrupting her husband whenever he watches YouTube videos.
Nate wants to use his grant writing skills to support community-oriented social change, especially with organizations that support marginalized youth. He most recently interned at The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan, where he ran much of their grant writing and program evaluation efforts. Prior to that, Nate spent two years working as a residential counselor in Massachusetts, supporting kids dealing with suicidal ideation at an inpatient treatment program. It was there that Nate first discovered his passion for working with at-risk youth and witnessed the power that nonprofits and community workers have to change people’s lives.
Nate received an MSW at the University of Michigan, where his studies focused on grant writing, program evaluation, social justice issues, and community organizing. Nate received a BA in Sociology from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. There he was the editor in chief of a campus pop culture magazine and a leader in the cooperative housing community.
Having only recently moved to DC, Nate hopes to use his free time to learn more about his new community. He is a big board game and karaoke enthusiast, and is often willing to be the butt of the joke if it brings people closer together. Nate frequently overstates his love of hiking, but genuinely does love spending time outside with friends and loved ones.
Adrienne is passionate about art and social justice. She is particularly interested in the role of art in peacebuilding. Adrienne has worked with various indigenous communities. She has volunteered with the Snowbird Cherokee tribe in Tennessee and participated in an ethnographic field school in the Brazilian Amazon with the Kayapo People. She has also attended the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Adrienne graduated with an MA in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University. During her time there she served as the Director of Outreach & Media for the Journal of International Service. She worked at the Institute of World Affairs as a program assistant for the Program on Trauma Healing and Community Resilience. She earned a BA in Studio Art and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
In her leisure time, Adrienne can be found frequenting the District’s amazing museums, exploring a new restaurant, or plotting her next vacation.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
As an undergrad, Katherine’s (Kate’s) university required students to run simulated businesses “selling widgets” to reinforce best practices. She quickly learned that simply “selling widgets” was not a career path she wanted for her future. Searching for more mission driven work, she was drawn to fundraising. She has a background in fundraising for a variety of cause areas: including human services, early education, advocacy, as well as higher education institutions. Kate understands strengthening the nonprofit sector has a ripple effect across communities that can bring powerful change. She is excited to work for Elevate whose mission so strongly aligns with these values.
Prior to joining the Elevate team, Kate managed the stewardship of endowed funds at Georgetown University Law Center. She also spent five years working for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey supporting the nonprofit sector in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. Kate earned her BS in Business Administration from Drexel University with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Sociology. Additionally, she holds a certificate in Social Responsibility in Business from Drexel University.
Outside the office, Kate enjoys teaching yoga, exploring new studios to expand her own yoga practice, and spending time with friends and family – especially at the beach!
Dylan’s brings a passion for writing, the arts, and social justice to Elevate. Prior to working at Elevate, he worked as a grant writer for Oakwood Arts and Dogtown Dance Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. During this time he also taught creative writing workshops for students at Mark Twain Middle School, focusing storytelling through creative nonfiction. He went on to serve as the Marketing Coordinator at Departure Media, where he helped promote the Richmond International Airport’s advertising program.
Dylan graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in English. During his tenure at VCU, he hosted Speaking Sounds on the university’s radio station, pairing a diverse array of music with album reviews and commentary. Dylan also cofounded a writing collective that provides developing writers with workshops, public readings, and publication opportunities for their work.
During his free time, you can find Dylan hiking, enjoying live music, or planning his next travel adventure.
Emily brings to Elevate a passion for research, writing, and philanthropy. Her wide-ranging experience includes working as a development professional for both small community-based nonprofits and prominent international institutions such as the International Rescue Committee and World Food Program USA. Emily specializes in grant composition, management, and prospecting, with an emphasis on researching and securing new funding sources. She is knowledgeable about issue areas concerning human rights, food security, refugee resettlement, and sexual assault victim advocacy.
In 2013, Emily graduated from Berry College with a BA in International Studies. Most recently, Emily earned a Master of Science in Human Rights and International Politics at the University of Glasgow. While in graduate school, Emily conducted original research on applied human rights theory and food insecurity in Central Appalachia.
In her spare time, Emily is an avid artist, extrovert, online shopper, television viewer, and yarn enthusiast.
Gena came to Elevate with a background in international relations and an interest in conflict resolution. Prior to joining the Elevate team, she interned at a nonprofit focused on promoting gender equality and peace through community-based projects in the Middle East and North Africa. She has experience conducting in-depth research, and enjoys turning ideas into action and supporting the administrative work needed to bring them to fruition.
Most recently, Gena earned a MPP from George Mason University. Before that, she earned a BA in Global Security and Emergency Management from Arcadia University. As an undergraduate student she had multiple chances to go abroad, and one such opportunity led her to Cyprus where she met with nonprofit leaders to discuss the challenges of reconciliation and daily life in a divided city. This experience solidified her interest in conflict resolution and encouraged her to pursue a higher degree.
During her free time, Gena enjoys writing short stories, browsing National Geographic, and playing multiplayer games with friends. (Except Uno, because that ruins friendships.)
