Dr. Krista Kurlinkus, founder of Grant Writing Made Easy and CEO of Krista Kurlinkus, LLC, has an impressive background as a Ph.D. in English-Rhetoric, Composition & Literacy Studies. Her nine years in grant writing consulting and education have established her as a nationally recognized expert in the field of grant writing. She is also a GPA-approved grant writing trainer.

Through her groundbreaking online course,

Grant Writing Made Easy, Dr. Kurlinkus has revolutionized grant writing education, equipping over 10,000 students with the skills to effectively articulate their organizations' mission and programs, secure crucial funding, and bring their transformative projects to life.

Dr. Kurlinkus has written winning multi-million dollar federal grants; global development grants; state grants; multiple six-figure research grants; and corporate, private, and community foundation grants for over 100 nonprofit, government, and academic clients.

As a sought-after educator and consultant, she continues to be at the forefront of grant writing and technology, providing aspiring grant writers with the tools they need to succeed.

Stephanie is a grant writing associate and has a PhD in rhetoric and writing studies and a passion for effective and engaging communication. She’s written everything from scholarly articles and college-level curriculum to grants and permit applications to novels and TTRPG campaigns. Besides writing, she loves knitting, playing ukulele, and watching noir films from around the world.

Nichole is a grant writing associate with decades of experience helping nonprofit organizations increase revenue. She has successfully raised millions through government, foundation, and corporate grant funding opportunities. As a previous director of development, she led funding initiatives for a voluntary healthcare foundation and an agency comprising a homeless shelter, after-school program, food pantry, and mental health and substance use disorder programs. 

Nichole also worked for the American Women's Economic Development Corporation (AWED), one of the first nonprofits established to help women start and run businesses in New York City. While there, she managed AWED's entrepreneurial training and grant programs.

She is a member of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) and past president of the New York City Chapter. Nichole successfully earned her Grant Professional Certified (GPC) in 2023. In addition to working with us, Nichole has owned her own consulting business for 13 years. She specializes in Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, and Economic Development Administration grants.

Nija is a seasoned public health professional with over 10 years of expertise in nonprofit program management, grants management, and proposal development. She is the lead consultant at Gritty Grants. Nija earned her undergraduate degree in biobehavioral Health from Penn State University, laying the foundation for her multidisciplinary approach. She furthered her education by obtaining a master’s in public health from Temple University.

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Nija's passion lies in creating impactful grants proposals that address the well being of under resourced communities. Nija owns her own consulting business, Gritty Grants, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She specializes in Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development grants.

Daniel is an experienced grant writer and development professional who brings expertise in grant administration and program management to support organizations in winning and getting the right grants for their programs. He has worked intensively with underserved communities of color across the state of Oregon to secure funding to advance programming for ultimate community benefit, primarily in the fields of health, workforce development, small business technical assistance, youth development with a focus on STEAM, and the social determinants of health. 

Daniel holds a B.A. in International Relations with a specialization in International Development, a passion which has led him to work internationally with organizations such as “America Solidaria Internacional”, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, and Institute for Mexicans Abroad. This experience, and a strong academic background in writing and research, enables him to turn complex ideas into words that can be turned into actionable community projects. 

He serves as Secretary of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Oregon & SW Washington Board and holds a Certificate in Grant Writing from Portland State University (PSU). Throughout his career, Daniel has helped organizations secure significant awards from state and national entities.

Jen is a grant writing associate who brings to the team expertise in academic and scientific writing. She earned her PhD in Rhetoric and Composition at the Ohio State University, with a focus on scientific writing and argumentation. Her approach to grant-writing and working with clients is influenced by her experiences as both a teacher and a writer.

In addition to teaching technical and research communication courses at Ohio State University, Jen has experience consulting with clients on writing, revising, and editing research journal manuscripts and grant proposals. Jen loves working with clients to distill complex ideas and make compelling and engaging arguments for funding.

Maira is a professional grant writer and program manager of over 4 years. She has had various roles surrounding social entrepreneurship, philanthropy, program development and grant writing that center the delivery of public service through equity, inclusion, and diversity. She is a creative leader with in-depth knowledge and expertise and holds two CSU Certificates-one in Nonprofit Leadership and the other in Grant Writing and Administration in addition to a master’s degree in Public Administration. 

Maira has served in both the public sector and the non-profit world in areas pertaining to public health, housing equity, homeless advocacy, mental health, and workforce development for many years. She has been actively involved in all aspects of developing programs for the underserved since 2007 and was actively involved in the formation of the Inland Empire Grant Collaborative, a coalition designed for grant writers and grant makers that is in partnership with the Academy for Grassroots Organizations. To date, Maira has managed grant funds to the tune of over $35 million and has had a hand in writing dozens of foundation, State (California), and Federal grants.  

In her current role, Maira serves as the sole grants professional for a Southern California local government. In her free time she enjoys soaking up the sunshine while playing with her dogs or spending time with nature.

Liz brings over a decade of specialized expertise to the table as a grant writer and fundraiser. For more than 10 years, she has dedicated her skills to bolstering small to mid-sized nonprofits and municipal entities with their grant writing endeavors. With an impressive 15 years spent in the nonprofit sector, Liz has a holistic understanding of the field, ranging from hands-on direct service to leadership roles. Her academic credentials include a Masters of Public Administration, and she's also recognized as a Certified Nonprofit Manager.

Throughout her distinguished career, Liz has showcased a keen aptitude for securing vital funding, accumulating a remarkable portfolio of successful grants amounting to over $15 million, including those she has written alone and as part of a team. Her proficiency spans a broad spectrum of sources: from corporate and foundation grants to more intricate state and federal applications. She's adept at navigating the complexities of notable federal agencies like SAMHSA, NIH, and DOJ, as well as several state agencies. Liz's extensive grant-writing experience is a testament to her commitment, expertise, and the impactful change she champions for the organizations she serves.

Driven by an array of social issues, Liz is especially passionate about behavioral health programming, youth advocacy and development, supportive housing, and initiatives that prioritize equity. A native of Southeast Appalachian Ohio, Liz now enjoys the warmth of Northeast Florida and being closer to her grandparents nearby.

Will is lead UX designer and technical writer. He is also a professor of rhetoric, digital media, technical communication, and user-centered design, with research that seeks to democratize and humanize technological design, improving the ways in which designers and their users communicate—from web UX, to hospital forms, to digital writing classrooms.