Lacia Coons
Indianapolis,Indiana
Summary
Accomplished in increasing and diversifying organizational funding sources. Exceptional writer and proofreader with perfect grammar and an in-depth understanding of non-profit needs.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Grant Writer - Development Consultant
Midnight Riot
08.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: An Environmental Justice Initiative
- Compose compelling and concise grant proposals and letters of intent to secure funding for environmental and social justice initiatives
- Instituted an organization-wide budget, set fundraising goals, and implemented a grant management system
- Cultivated a long-term sustainability strategy for the environmental and social justice collective of HBCU students, artists, community organizers, and grassroots activists
- Successfully secured $5,000 in funding within the first month of the contract by demonstrating the organization's ability to deliver tangible results
- An Environmental Justice Initiative
Development Officer – Grant Writing Consultant
Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
02.2024 - 07.2024
- Company Overview: Reach Out and Read Indiana
- Wrote persuasive grant proposals and letters of intent to secure funding from foundations, major donors, and other grant-making organizations, submitting proposals totaling over 1.6 million dollars
- Established a development strategy for organizational sustainability and a major gift database and tracking system
- Advanced a compelling donor relations strategy and a robust donor pipeline with local foundations and major donors
- Identified and prospected new funding sources from major donors, foundations, and government grants, resulting in invitations to apply for grants from six new foundations
- Reach Out and Read Indiana
Director of College and Career Readiness
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2020 - 03.2023
- Collaborated to raise over $2 million annually through major donors, grant writing, fundraising events, and corporate partnerships, increasing organizational funding by 20%
- Developed comprehensive grant reports and confirmed adherence to compliance guidelines for restricted and unrestricted funding sources, resulting in 100% compliance and timely funding allocation
- Evaluated community partner feedback and applied a new feedback system to enhance engagement and inclusion
- Achieved a 90% satisfaction rating and doubled community partner retention
- Engaged closely with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to identify funding targets and goals, integrating inclusive language and strategies into project elements
- Expanded an impactful communications strategy that engaged more than 3,000 volunteers annually, maintaining active involvement, securing ongoing support, and ensuring sustained funding
Senior Program Manager
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2016 - 06.2020
- Managed grants and operational logistics, led interdepartmental and external communication, ensured seamless program execution, and initiated a comprehensive volunteer training program that reached over 2,000 volunteers a year
- Guided the development and execution of an inclusive recruitment process, employing targeted outreach and impactful awareness campaigns to achieve a 40% growth in volunteer diversity
- Expanded partnerships with over ten industry-leading companies and secured over $500,000 in funding to support program expansion and development, resulting in a 30% increase in program reach
- Executed a more efficient onboarding process, reducing new volunteer training time by 30% and allowing individuals and groups to make a meaningful impact sooner
Education Program Manager
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2013 - 06.2016
- Established and strengthened relationships with 15 local businesses to co-create a curriculum aligned with state education standards, enhancing hands-on learning opportunities for over 35,000 students within three years
- Coordinated with funders, state department of education, school district leadership, and community partners to launch work readiness education programs for over 35,000 students, resulting in a 60% increase in student engagement
- Crafted and applied a data-driven strategy to expand program reach by targeting and engaging underrepresented communities, resulting in a 65% increase in program diversity
- Directed a project to automate data entry tasks using RPA tools, reducing manual data entry time by 75% and enhancing team efficiency
Grant & Special Events Coordinator
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2011 - 06.2013
- Orchestrated various fundraising initiatives, including galas, in-person and virtual campaigns, engaging board involvement, and securing corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations for each event
- Directed grant prospecting and research, created outreach materials, and submitted grant proposals to foundations, state institutions, and corporate partners
- Conducted research to identify potential RFPs supporting company goals, analyzed opportunities, and reported findings to the Development Director
- Contributed to successfully raising over $250,000 in the first fiscal year
Outreach Officer - Aftercare in Indiana Through Mentoring (AIM)
Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force
05.2008 - 05.2010
- Managed multiple state and federal grants, programs, and funding sources to ensure compliance and timely reporting
- Managed the distribution of state grant funds for the Youth Employment Services (YES) program and approved expenses for programming
- Employed in-depth research and prospecting strategies to obtain funding for the program successfully
- Tracked and evaluated the progress of juvenile case plans and court orders, providing regular updates to adjudication courts and staff
- Implemented data-driven approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of outreach initiatives, making necessary adjustments for continuous improvement.
Education
Criminal Justice -
Indiana University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Indianapolis, INAmeriCorps/ Promise Fellow Alumnus
Indianapolis, INSkills
- Data Management (CRM)
- Survey and Email Marketing
- Grant Management and Reporting
- Strategic Research and Program Development
- Program/Event Planning and Implementation
- Campaign Organizing and Fundraising
- Zoom-Microsoft Teams-Google Meet -WebEx -Slack
- Communications and Social Media Management
- Program Sustainability and Expansion
- Major Gift and Proposal Management
- Donor Prospecting and Cultivation
- Power BI and SAP Crystal Reports Data Management
- Compliance and Reporting
- Non-Profit Organization Funding and Management
Timeline
Grant Writer - Development Consultant
Midnight Riot
08.2024 - Current
Development Officer – Grant Writing Consultant
Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
02.2024 - 07.2024
Director of College and Career Readiness
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2020 - 03.2023
Senior Program Manager
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2016 - 06.2020
Education Program Manager
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2013 - 06.2016
Grant & Special Events Coordinator
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
06.2011 - 06.2013
Outreach Officer - Aftercare in Indiana Through Mentoring (AIM)
Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force
05.2008 - 05.2010
AmeriCorps/ Promise Fellow Alumnus
Criminal Justice -
Indiana University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
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