My Story

Each of us have life experiences which shape us and have guided us to our place in life today. 

Mine started almost 10,000 miles away from my current home in Texas. I was born and raised on a sunny Indian ocean island called Sri Lanka—a place of eternal summer, bustling cities, ancient architectural marvels and breathtaking natural beauty— but most significantly, a country of people who love a good laugh! 

Mingled into my living in an island paradise was the reality of two decades of a civil war punctuated by violence. A war, I noticed, which also had markedly different impacts on people depending on their race and social class. 

I carried this discomfort and awareness which wove into my writing as an English writing major, and led me to my graduate studies in international development. I was thrilled to launch my career as a program officer at a large international nonprofit in Washington, DC.

Soon enough, I was faced with a challenge not uncommon to many newer immigrants, as immigration paperwork delays led to a career hiatus. During this challenging season of life, I received what I now recognize was the gift of time to volunteer at an organization serving individuals who were unhoused.

Spending significant time with people who had no permanent place to shelter, gave me the context to understand what the “social determinants of health” I had learned about in the classroom truly meant. I saw for myself the complexities that link poverty, mental health, unemployment, and chronic disease. Every time I finished volunteering for the day, I left with gratitude for the staff on the frontlines of this seemingly impossible challenge. 

In many ways this experience changed the trajectory of my career, as I gradually realized that I no longer found fulfillment in supporting large scale international development efforts.

I had found my passion in using my grant development skills to resource nonprofits meeting needs in their local communities. 

What I’ve Learned and How I Approach My Work

Over the last 15+ years I’ve been fortunate to work with nonprofit clients who understood the value of taking the time to have in-depth conversations with me, and allowed me to watch their work in action. I’ve seen how access to shower and laundry facilities can help rebuild human dignity. I’ve gained deeper insights into the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals, and the power of writing and the arts to create transformation in the most difficult circumstances.  I’ve come to realize the sheer magnitude of how important safe spaces, community, and belonging are to every type of healing. 

I rely on my clients to inform my writing just as they depend on me to produce quality work. Working collaboratively is the core of my grant writing practice and the main reason I can craft grant narratives that are clear and compelling.  I truly believe that we are better together.

Reach out to me if your nonprofit needs a grant consultant to write your grant applications or a grant coach to build your in-house grant development capacity. Send me a message or go right ahead and schedule a free consultation.