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).
Johnisha’s approach to collaborating with Elevate clients is informed by her prior diverse experiences working alongside and at nonprofits. As the former Development Manager for The Nashville Food Project, she successfully secured foundation, corporate, and government grants to support programming that alleviates food insecurity, builds community, and creates a more just and sustainable food system. Prior to that, Johnisha managed a community-based culinary nutrition program active in 10 major cities that focused on the health of individuals of African descent. In addition to forging vital new community partnerships and conducting trainings for community leaders, she wrote and piloted a children’s version of a six-week culturally relevant curriculum. As a practicing attorney at a top 50 law firm in DC, she devoted hundreds of hours to pro bono legal work to a host of nonprofit causes. During law school, she also worked on behalf of incarcerated individuals seeking post-conviction relief, including with Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative.
Johnisha thrives as a generalist, and has therefore relished the opportunity to collaborate with a range of impressive nonprofits with missions that seek to promote or improve early childhood education, child welfare, environmental justice, racial justice, health equity, and adult literacy. As a Grants Specialist at Elevate, she advises clients on funding strategy, and works to strengthen existing language and develop language for new and innovative programming.
Johnisha has also contributed to Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at her workplaces. Largely due to her efforts, The Nashville Food Project launched a standing committee composed of both Board and staff members to drive a comprehensive, organizational approach to DEI. She also served on Elevate’s Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessibility and Justice (IDEA + J) working group.
Johnisha was a recipient of the Center for Nonprofit Management’s Sam Howard Empowerment Fund for emerging leaders of color in the nonprofit sector and a LongHouse Food Media Scholar. She has published articles focused on social and racial justice in Yes! Media and is working on a memoir. She holds a JD from New York University School of Law, a BA from Harvard College, and an AAS from Johnson & Wales University.
Pronouns : she / her / hers
Letese has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources. As the VP of Personnel at Elevate, Letese is responsible for leading the Personnel Department and managing organizational development projects that enhance Elevate’s talent and culture management. She has a strong desire to strengthen the Elevate culture by focusing on inclusion, diversity, and equity.
Before joining Elevate, Letese was an HR Manager at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, where she managed employee relations for 8500 employees.
Letese has served as a board member of the NAAAHR (National Association of African Americans in HR) and NAHSE (National Association of Health Services Executives). Letese is an active member of the Southwestern PA United Way Women’s Leadership Council. Letese is a Tuskegee University graduate, where she received s BS in Business Administration. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from Trinity University and is SPHR and SHRM – SCP certified.
You can find Letese binging-watching movies, listening to audiobooks, taking a dance class, or being silly with her kids when she is not working.
Pronouns : she / her / hers
Amy comes to Elevate with diverse experience in education and the private sector. In these roles, Amy has worked on collaborative teams to achieve various types of goals including, reaching financial milestones and exceeding learning objectives. Amy is passionate about advocating for those with unheard voices, including individuals with disabilities and those negatively affected by the criminal justice system.
Amy holds a master’s degree in Grant Writing, Management, and Evaluation from Concordia University Chicago. Additionally, she has a master’s degree in Education from the University of South Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Troy University. Amy volunteers with animal rescue shelters to secure funding to reduce pet overpopulation and euthanasia rates.
During Amy’s off hours, you can find her tending to her cat sanctuary, currently numbered at 21 furry felines. She also enjoys exploring bookstores with her daughter and diving into comic
book movies with her partner.
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: she/her/hers
Kirsten has a background in project management and process improvement in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. She has a passion for working with others and supporting their ability to bring their aspirations to life. Kirsten has used this experience to assist small businesses with planning and marketing to begin their entrepreneurial journey.
Kirsten is also deeply passionate about youth advocacy. She has coordinated events focused on improving literacy & art education in her hometown. Kirsten is dedicated to creating pathways to success for those that need it most. She earned her Master of Public Administration from Capella University.
During Kirsten’s free time, she enjoys exploring, music, cooking, and anything else that feels joyful.
Pronouns: She/Her
Kate brings a natural inquisitiveness to Elevate and is passionate about learning new things about grant-makers and grant-seekers to develop successful narrative proposals. Before joining Elevate, Kate worked as Lead Grant Writer with Brockport Research Institute, where she managed grant portfolios for nonprofit clients and developed narratives to state and federal agencies for higher education institutions. Her nonprofit grant work focuses on human services and special population support. Before that, she worked as a professional writer in B2B and B2C markets, developing product descriptions and catalogs, print and web marketing collateral, and external communications. Kate also spent over ten years serving as a college professor instructing introductory and advanced composition, integrated humanities, world literature, African/ African American Studies, and Women’s Studies.
Kate earned a Ph.D. in English from Michigan State University in 2013, where her work focused on contemporary literature, postcolonial theory, and women’s studies. She holds an MA and BA in English from the University at Buffalo. Kate also volunteers with a nonprofit organization in Buffalo, NY, supporting grant writing and management activities.
Kate is a lifelong Trekkie and enjoys cooking (and eating), reading, and hanging out with her cat, Pepe.
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.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
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 : she / her / hers
As an experienced project coordinator, Claire brings a passion for increasing educational equity to the Elevate team and its clients. In her former role with Americorps, she managed a maker-focused education program and associated grants for an Oakland, California school.
She has also contributed her skills to various education nonprofits in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, most recently, serving as a teaching artist at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, where she designed and implemented a middle school-making course.
A Bay Area native, Claire holds a BA in Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley, where she graduated with honors. Outside of work, Claire enjoys hanging by one of Pittsburgh’s many rivers, cooking meals with friends and taking her dog Rollo out on the town.
