Emily has been involved in fundraising for six years. In her current position, she is responsible for writing and editing grant proposals for private, corporate, and government funding agencies. She is also responsible for researching potential funding sources and creating/managing contacts with grant program officers, and reporting on grant-funded programs. Previously, she worked as Director of Resource Development and Major Gifts at United Way of Rock River Valley. Here she was responsible for managing a team of fundraisers, creating and implementing a strategic donor communications plan including direct mail, brochures, presentations, and foundation proposals. Before that, she worked as a Grant Proposal Specialist at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, where she was responsible for writing and editing a variety of funding proposals. Emily also currently serves as a Volunteer Consultant for Severson Dells Nature Center, Natural Land Institute, and Winnebago County Pheasants Forever. She earned B.A. in Communications from The College of St. Scholastica and a M.A. in Communications from Washington State University. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Rockford Chapter and obtained Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) licensure in March 2009.

Eric has been involved in development for three years. In his current position, he is principle grant writer for corporate and foundation proposals and additionally manages relationships with major donors. In this role, Eric has lead the creation of several multi-year grant awards ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 supporting infrastructural growth of the organization along with new programmatic initiatives including a collaborative program designed for single mothers and the development of a new charter school. Before that, he worked as Multicultural Marketing Specialist at Newspaper Services of America, where he advised various national retail clients on engaging Latina/o consumers. Eric currently serves as VP of Membership for Latinos in Development, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of fundraisers through professional development and by serving as a voice to advance philanthropy and promote social equity within communities. He earned Bachelor's of Arts in Anthropology and Latina/o Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Chicago Chapter, Latinos in Development, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association. Eric is completing a dual Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications and an MBA at Loyola University Chicago.

Joyce has been involved in helping organizations create winning, innovative, and pioneering proposals for 18 years. Her most recent accomplishment was authoring one of only two Children¹s Health Insurance Program proposals funded in Illinois by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, while Executive Director at Community Health, Joyce created a proposal which received funding for Med Access Chicago, a free pharmaceutical access program for the uninsured. And earlier, as Vice-President of Outpatient services at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Joyce created a proposal that raised $225,000 for the Pediatric Community Re-Integration Program, an initiative that brought collaboration among three major Chicago rehab hospitals. Equally significant, Joyce had an important role in initiating Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago first therapeutic day school for children with autism. Currently, Joyce is the immediate President of the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Illinois University, her Master’s Degree from the George Washington University, and attended the University of Chicago and Northwestern University where she completed coursework toward her Ph.D. in curriculum.