Baltimore, Maryland, United States
I am more than just a grant writer; I am a strategic force in development and fundraising who thrives on creating impactful, community-centric solutions. Throughout my career, I have worn many hats within development and fundraising departments, mastering the intricacies of strategic planning, donor relations, and project management. My expertise extends beyond grant writing to encompass every facet of fundraising, from crafting compelling proposals to managing complex campaigns. My work is driven by a commitment to elevate organizations and amplify their missions. I am passionate about leveraging my skills to not only secure funding but to also empower nonprofits to achieve their goals and drive meaningful change. My journey is defined by a dedication to excellence and a relentless pursuit of impact. As I transition into a new phase of my career, I am excited to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to consulting, helping nonprofits and development professionals reach their full potential. Let’s connect and explore how we can make a difference together; www.danifaulkner.com
Where collaboration meets clarity in grant writing and fundraising. Founded by Dani Faulkner, a seasoned grant professional, she empowers communities and amplifies BIPOC voices through impactful storytelling. We offer tailored grant services and workshops, championing equity and justice. Join us to leverage creativity and make a tangible difference.
Served as Client Manager across 15 clients and 20 projects; averaged 61 hours per month (183 per quarter) at 96.6% billable while staying under the 100-hour cap. - Embedded with six to eight client teams each quarter; 93% renewal rate (14 of 15 clients) - Owned prospecting and the grants pipeline for every account; sourced opportunities, ran the grant calendar, and handled edits from first draft to final - Mentored two grant writers by having them lead parts of biweekly calls and take edit passes, building their client-facing confidence
Educated the organization and board on community-centric fundraising: - Introduced principles of community-centric fundraising, fostering a culture shift in fundraising strategy. - Developed a code of conduct and visitor protocol to align with these principles. Hiring Manager for key grant writer roles: - Led the recruitment and hiring process for essential grant writing positions, strengthening the development team’s capacity. - One offer was made and accepted, new hire started in September; second offer was declined Restructured development committee meetings: - Transformed meetings into more productive, solution-based sessions, increasing efficiency and collaboration among committee members. Created a comprehensive revenue plan for Arts for Learning’s 75th anniversary: - Focused on corporate sponsorships and strategically leveraged the anniversaries of several programs to drive revenue growth. Drafted FY25 departmental budget + funding projections - Generated revenue projections and created plans for future event budgets - Calculated possible growth in grant funding for programs and services
Morgridge Family Foundation Fellow at Public Knowledge: - Spearheaded research efforts resulting in the identification of $1.6M in possible new grant funding. - Evaluated and selected an optimal donor research tool by conducting comprehensive demos of three software solutions (Wealth Engine, DonorSearch, Candid) - Drafted compelling Letters of Intent (LOIs) for grant proposals, contributing to successful fundraising efforts and organizational growth.
The CCF Global Council drives the work of the CCF movement forward. Community-Centric Fundraising is a movement to evolve how fundraising is done in the nonprofit sector. Its goal is to support fundraisers and other nonprofit professionals to re-examine every fundraising philosophy and practice they have been taught, engage in vigorous ongoing conversations, and explore doing fundraising in ways that reduce harm and further social justice.