Kendra Hessel
Wilmington,NC
Summary
Passionate and results-driven Grant Writer with a proven history of leveraging grants as tools for advancing social justice and equity initiatives. Skilled in strategic planning, persuasive proposal writing, and relationship building, I excel at fostering collaboration and overcoming challenges in the pre- and post-award processes. With a strong commitment to ethical stewardship, I ensure compliance and reporting standards consistently exceed funder expectations. Resourceful in navigating complex funding landscapes, I am dedicated to securing impactful resources to drive meaningful change.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Grants Coordinator
Family Eldercare
04.2023 - Current
- Oversees processes to track and manage grant prospecting, qualifications, submissions, stewardship, and reporting.
- Cultivates relationships with funders, and other community partners.
- Collaborates with program staff to collect success stories and performance metrics, as needed, for grant reporting and funder stewardship.
- Supports the implementation and execution of the organization's development strategy to meet year-end goals.
- Maintains agency-level boilerplate for grants reporting and compliance processes.
- Draft, revise, and maintain a case for support and written agency content in alignment with the brand message, application requirements, and reporting metrics.
- Liaise with program leadership and teams to develop narratives.
- Compose and revise grant proposals, contract narratives, touchpoints to funders, blog posts, presentation remarks, and advocacy materials.
Financial & Housing Stability Case Manager
Family Eldercare
09.2019 - 04.2023
- Assist older adults and adults with disabilities in achieving housing stability, free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- Create referrals for community resources, providing additional support for clients.
- Supervise client/volunteer relationships through monthly check-ins, trainings, and consultations.
- Conduct contract reporting within required parameters.
- Develop and maintain a tracking system for client physical and electronic files.
Crisis Counselor
Foundation 2
05.2018 - 09.2019
- Provided walk-in, telephone, chat, and text suicide intervention, grief/loss support, and counseling services.
- Assisted in crisis de-escalation and suicide prevention through suicide risk assessment, and actively worked with law enforcement to ensure client safety.
Enrollment & Matching Specialist
Big Brothers Big Sisters
02.2018 - 04.2019
- Conducted comprehensive interviews and matched support recommendations for participants based upon the assessments of each child and individual volunteer.
- Created community partnerships with schools, companies, and youth-serving organizations in order to better serve the needs of children in the program.
- Ensured a high level of proficiency and skill in applying child safety and risk management knowledge, policies, and procedures throughout all processes.
AmeriCorps Family Shelter Advocate
SAFE Alliance - Front Steps
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Provided counseling, case management, and advocacy services to survivors of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking.
- Assisted with systems advocacy (law enforcement, safety planning, protection orders, and housing).
Education
Master of Arts - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett, NH01-2028
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
California State University, Chico
Chico, CASkills
- Ethical storytelling
- Persistence
- Detail-oriented
- Leadership Experience
- Strategic thinking
- Relationship building
- Project management
- Attention to detail
- Multitasking capacity
Publications
- Opinion | America's Other Front Line, The New York Times, 01/24/2021
- Juneteenth: A Reflection, Family Eldercare, 06/16/2023
Professional Development
- Professional Certificate in Grantwriting, University of Georgia
Volunteer Experience
- Urban Slum Development, Center for Social Action, Bangalore, India, 2014-2015
- Child Development Project, Department of Defense, Manama, Bahrain, 2015-2016
Affiliations
- Scuba Diving
- Conservation
- Travel
- Poetry
- Yoga
- Indigenous Land Stewardship
- Community Building
Timeline
Grants Coordinator
Family Eldercare
04.2023 - Current
Financial & Housing Stability Case Manager
Family Eldercare
09.2019 - 04.2023
Crisis Counselor
Foundation 2
05.2018 - 09.2019
Enrollment & Matching Specialist
Big Brothers Big Sisters
02.2018 - 04.2019
AmeriCorps Family Shelter Advocate
SAFE Alliance - Front Steps
01.2016 - 01.2018
Master of Arts - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Southern New Hampshire University
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
California State University, Chico
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