Pronouns: he/him/his
Max came to Elevate after nearly a decade in the nonprofit field, with a focus on helping political and advocacy organizations build modern, responsive fundraising programs. Most recently Max worked as Development Manager at Common Cause, working to build and diversify their funding, and previously worked for People For the American Way, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and his alma mater George Mason University, where he received a BA in Government & International Politics, with minors in History and Religious Studies in 2011.
In his free time Max can be found performing comedy in DC venues large and small, taking elaborately staged pictures of his girlfriend’s cat, and curating an ever-growing list of podcast recommendations.
Kai brings passion and experience in community organizing, environmental justice, and food access to Elevate. Before joining Elevate, they interned with DC UrbanGreens where they worked to enhance and implement new methods for their Community Supported Agriculture program providing Southeast DC residents with fresh, locally grown produce. Throughout their undergraduate career, Kai also served as a core campus organizer of Virginia Student Power Network where they and their fellow organizers built grassroots power to fight for more accessible, affordable, and democratic higher education. Their experiences with nonprofits and community organizing have solidified their interests in nonprofit work and social change.
Kai earned their BA in Integrative Studies with a concentration in International Studies from George Mason University. This interdisciplinary degree program allowed them to focus their studies on globalization as it relates to race and class. During their time at Mason they led a funded undergraduate research project titled Food Deserts: Exploring Local Perceptions of Washington D.C.’s Ward 8 Food System where they interviewed Southeast DC residents regarding their experiences with food access in one of the most food insecure wards of the city.
Outside of work, you can find Kai at a local show supporting DC musicians, at the record store looking to add to their collection of Fleetwood Mac vinyl, rewatching the Office for the fifth time, or volunteering with urban gardens and farms in the DC area.
Gabie joined the Elevate team in 2018 as a Grant Writer with a passion for sustainable development and gender equality. During her time at Elevate, she has supported the expansion of her clients’ grant calendars through her strong prospect research skills as well as played a key strategic role in their program developments. Gabie specializes in working with direct service, nonprofit clients that focus on family services, youth development, and post-secondary education access and persistence.
Prior to joining Elevate, Gabie worked in the research department of the Advisory Board Company, which combines research, technology, and consulting to improve over 3,000 hospitals and healthcare networks across the globe. She also worked with Women Empowerment Link, a grassroots organization in Nairobi, Kenya, where she supported survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Kenyan communities.
Gabie graduated from American University with a BA in International Service and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Active in her campus community, Gabie was a recipient of the Eagle Involvement Award and the Founder’s Senior Excellence Award, one of the highest university campus awards granted to undergraduate students.
Outside the world of writing, you can most likely find Gabie at her spin studio where she teaches cycling.
Rachel is driven by the desire to be part of positive social change. She came to Elevate after honing her passion for nonprofit work at various organizations in Rochester, NY as a volunteer, an intern, and a fellow. In these roles, she gained firsthand experience with advocacy and community engagement as well as nonprofit development. Having always loved the written word and how powerful it can be in bringing people together, she is excited to use her writing to further the work of nonprofits whose work is invaluable to communities and the individuals they serve.
Rachel earned her BA in Public Health with a concentration in Health, Behavior, and Society and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Rochester. As her studies largely focused on maternal and child health and global health, she also designed and conducted her own anthropological research in Malawi and was a research assistant on multiple public health research projects at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
When Rachel isn’t writing grants, she likes to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends and listen to music. As a newcomer to the DC area, she can be found exploring the city looking for good food and visiting the botanic gardens.
Molly comes to Elevate from the National Council of Nonprofits, where, she worked in communications, network support, and policy research. At the Council she was immersed in work and conversations around policies affecting the sector, national and local advocacy, as well as capacity building and governance best practices. She loves that she gets to work with a broad array of nonprofits and causes at Elevate. She has a constitutive desire to write and write well, and she is deeply invested in conveying her client’s missions persuasively.
Molly holds an MA in Literature from American University in Washington, D.C., where she graduated with the Outstanding Academic Achievement award. In her graduate studies she focused on 20th and 21st century American literature, theories of social change, and cultural studies. She has a BA in Journalism, with a minor in history.
Outside of work, Molly can be found fretting over a To-Read list with a mind of its own, finding something to do outdoors, or getting offended by the “Are You Still Watching?” Netflix prompt. It is one of her lifelong goals to have a black lab named Pongo.
Tessa brings an avid and long-time interest in working with and supporting nonprofits to her role at Elevate. She is chiefly interested in the ways organizations and their funders can collaborate to most effectively achieve their goals. Over the last several years, Tessa has explored many aspects of the food world from working on a dairy farm in Australia, to running a CSA program for SNAP recipients in Boston. Prior to joining the Elevate team, Tessa worked as a Program Associate at the Center for Food Safety, a national nonprofit and environmental advocacy organization. There, she supported legal and policy work on a diverse range of environmental issues including climate change, soil health, and pollinator protection.
Tessa graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a BA in Sustainable Development and Sociology and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Association of New York. While at Columbia, she tailored her studies towards sustainable food systems, spending a semester in Dublin at the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.
As a newcomer to DC, Tessa can often be found exploring different areas of the city and trying out every dining establishment she comes across. When she isn’t sampling tacos from her favorite neighborhood spot, Tessa satisfies her love of museum wandering by taking full advantage of the Smithsonian’s free entry–the best deal in town! Now if she can only adopt a dog…
Ngaire was born in Harlem, raised in Gaithersburg, and calls Baltimore home. With a lifelong passion for human rights and equity, they have dedicated their educational and professional careers to producing social change. They come to Elevate with a track record of organizing around advocacy through grassroots fundraising, diversity and sensitivity training, leadership development, and administrative services. They most recently worked with Food & Water Watch in an administrative capacity supporting the nonprofit’s efforts in lobbying for a fracking ban. They have a vested interest in the success of nonprofits and radical countercultures that uplift and maintain community. Their specific areas of interest include the politics of race, gender, class, sexuality, ability, and environmental justice.
Currently, Ngaire works with the Baltimore Transgender Alliance in creating a zine on the politics of LGBTQ identities and geographic location. They continue to engage in restorative justice and accountability in the Baltimore queer community through their interpersonal and working relationships. This work is informed by their BA in Gender and Women’s Studies obtained at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where they were actively engaged in LGBTQ organizing on campus.
When Ngaire isn’t working, you can find them knee-deep in memes and all things internet/pop culture, working on creative writing projects, binge watching TV shows, or finding ways to soak up as much sun as possible.
Davita is passionate about driving revenue and advancing organizational goals for her clients. She brings a diverse range of proven expertise in consulting, business development, nonprofit management, strategic partnerships, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement to Elevate.
As a Senior Director, Davita directs strategy for a portfolio of nonprofit clients working in youth development, college access and persistence, adult education, workforce development, empowerment-based solutions, economic development, and human services. Prior to Elevate, Davita served as the Partnership Development Director for the nonprofit EveryoneOn, overseeing the organization’s fundraising strategy, as they work to eliminate the digital divide in the United States. She was also the Director of Business Development and Consulting for the vertically integrated food incubator Union Kitchen, where she was brought on to drive growth and partnerships through local and federal grants as well as innovate and refine the organization’s consulting program, working with both domestic and international clients looking to open incubators and create economic opportunity in their local communities. Prior to entering the social sector, Davita worked in the fashion industry as an editor for the trend forecasting consultancy The Doneger Group and taught pre-college fashion journalism workshops at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Davita holds a BS in Fashion Merchandising Management and a minor in English from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management is from the SIT Graduate Institute and is a convoluted way of saying her schooling took the form of an “MBA for the social sector.”
An avid traveler, nothing makes her happier than meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. When not on the road or in the air, Davita can be found hiking, attending concerts, reading, dancing hip hop and bachata, boxing, volunteering with College Bound, and hanging with her dog Harley.
Prior to joining Elevate, Morganne ran Ghana in-country operations for Saha Global, a clean water nonprofit based in Boston. While in Ghana, she doubled Saha’s staff, updated several monitoring and evaluation and operations systems, and hosted donors from the US to get the nonprofit on its current expansion path. Using this operations knowledge and funding experience from her time with the Key Relationships department at charity: water in New York City, Morganne is excited to bring her expertise to Elevate and support innovative nonprofits as they strive for social change.
Morganne received her BA from Colby College, studying Economics and French. While at Colby she served as captain of the women’s swimming and diving team and was a member of the Colby Leadership Academy.
Outside of Elevate, Morganne can be found trying new coffee shops, exploring farmers’ markets, and fostering dogs until they are matched with permanent parents.
Pronouns: she/her
As President & Chief Operating Officer, Katy ensures Elevate’s growth strategy, operational processes, financial planning, and personnel and performance management are highly effective, coordinated, and aligned with our broader purpose of serving the nonprofit sector. She leads our Executive Management Team, manages all day-to-day operations, and oversees The Gallery at Elevate.
Katy is committed to establishing Elevate as a hub for nonprofits. Since joining the firm in 2017, she has overseen the launch of Elevate’s twice-annual Conversation Series, invested in our training and education division, and restructured or Client Partnership team to drive continual learning and improvements in our client services and staff experience. In the process, her fiscal leadership has reinforced Elevate’s core values, prioritized equity, and promoted sustainability.
Katy came to Elevate after two decades of public service, including eight years of leadership in the Obama Administration. She served as Assistant to the President for Management and Administration, Director of White House Operations, and Chief of Staff of the US General Services Administration.
An advocate of leadership and wellness, she founded the President’s Leadership Workshop and the Executive Office of the President’s Health and Wellness Council. She was a member of the White House Council on Women and Girls, and a mentor in several Washington, DC youth programs. Prior to joining the Administration, she spent close to 10 years in the United States Senate working on operational and legislative issues.
A long time runner, Katy has completed 7 marathons, including the NYC and Marine Corps Marathons. She is a graduate of George Mason University.
