usionFood banks across the country watched federal dollars disappear in 2025 while demand at their doors grew faster than reserves could absorb. The organizations keeping programs funded through this year are not the ones doing the most work or running the largest operations. Each of the three trends now shaping how food insecurity funding flows […]
Nichole plays a key role in ensuring a smooth, organized, and well-managed experience for KG clients throughout the funding process. Drawing on her background in administrative work within the judiciary circuit court system, she brings a high level of structure, attention to detail, and follow-through to every engagement.
She works directly with clients to gather required documentation, clarify requests, and ensure all materials are complete, accurate, and submitted on time. Nichole coordinates closely with internal teams to keep timelines on track, communicate updates, and ensure nothing is missed at any stage of the process.
Serving as a day-to-day point of contact, she helps clients stay informed, prepared, and confident as they move through each funding opportunity. Her proactive, solutions-oriented approach minimizes friction and keeps projects progressing efficiently.
Drawing on hands-on administrative work in the judiciary circuit court system, Nichole excels at coordinating with clients to gather all required documentation for each grant. She collaborates closely with the team to equip clients with what they need, ensuring a smooth and stress-free process.
Cheri Sanzi is a nonprofit executive with nearly 20 years of experience leading mission-driven organizations through growth, operational transformation, and long-term sustainability. She joined KG Strategic Consultants in 2026, bringing expertise in grant writing, strategy, leadership, and human services administration.
Hugh Kelly, JD, is a veteran grant writer and strategist specializing in securing multimillion-dollar federal and state awards. With a background in higher education and nonprofit leadership, he is a persuasive advocate for healthcare and community development initiatives.
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Hugh designs strategic mission-driven proposals with a portfolio focused on disability studies, behavioral health, and vulnerable populations. He holds a longstanding commitment to public service and fostering lasting community outcomes.
Hugh Kelly, JD, is a veteran grant writer and strategist specializing in securing multimillion-dollar federal and state awards. With a background in higher education and nonprofit leadership, he is a persuasive advocate for healthcare and community development initiatives.
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Hugh designs strategic mission-driven proposals with a portfolio focused on disability studies, behavioral health, and vulnerable populations. He holds a longstanding commitment to public service and fostering lasting community outcomes.
Adam has a natural gift for storytelling, which he brings into his grant writing to help turn complex missions into clear, compelling proposals that resonate with funders. He balances empathy with a sharp attention to detail, making sure each application not only shows real impact but also stays closely aligned with funder priorities and guidelines.
At KG Strategic, Adam focuses on strengthening each client’s case for support through thoughtful research, well-organized structure, and precise, accessible language. His goal is simple: create proposals that are credible, engaging, and easy for funders to follow.
He holds a Liberal Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Outside of work, Adam is usually reading, experimenting with a new recipe, or running a Dungeons & Dragons campaign as a Dungeon Master. He’s also a big fan of board games of all kinds.
Adam brings a strong storytelling instinct to the grant writing process, helping turn complex missions into clear, compelling proposals that connect with funders. He combines empathy with an eye for detail, making sure each application highlights real impact while staying closely aligned with funder priorities and guidelines. At KG Strategic, Adam’s role is to help strengthen our clients case for support through thoughtful research, clear structure, and precise language. His goal is to create proposals that are credible, engaging, and easy for funders to understand. Adam holds a Liberal Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. You’ll often find Adam with a book in hand, or learning a new recipe. He is also D&D Dungeon Master and loves all types of board games.
Matthew is a grants and philanthropy professional with over five years of experience securing foundation, government, and community funding for initiatives spanning affordable housing, food security, resident services, community development, and youth programs. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and an MBA with a focus on leadership and team development.
Known for translating complex program needs into clear, funder-aligned proposals, Matthew builds strong relationships that support long-term, sustainable impact. His strategic, research-driven approach to funding helps organizations strengthen outcomes, expand capacity, and scale their work with confidence.
Matthew is a grants and philanthropy professional with over five years of experience securing foundation, government, and community funding for initiatives spanning affordable housing, food security, resident services, community development, and youth programs. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and an MBA with a focus on leadership and team development.
Known for translating complex program needs into clear, funder-aligned proposals, Matthew builds strong relationships that support long-term, sustainable impact. His strategic, research-driven approach to funding helps organizations strengthen outcomes, expand capacity, and scale their work with confidence.
Maggie was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Governors State University, providing a strong foundation in understanding complex systems, people, and organizational dynamics. She brings over 12 years of experience in business development, specializing in driving strategic growth across manufacturing, technology, and government sectors. She excels in leadership and consistent partnership development with her clients.
In her current work, Maggie partners with nonprofit leaders across the Midwest to solve one of their most critical challenges: securing consistent, strategic funding. She works alongside mission-driven organizations to identify the right funding opportunities, strengthen their positioning, and build sustainable growth strategies. Her focus is not just on winning grants, but on creating long-term funding success that allows organizations to scale their impact with confidence. Maggie enjoys fitness and being a dog mom.
Maggie was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Governor State University, providing a strong foundation in understanding complex systems, people, and organizational dynamics. She brings over 12 years of experience in business development, specializing in driving strategic growth across manufacturing, technology, and government sectors. She excels in leadership and consistent partnership development with her clients.
In her current work, Maggie partners with nonprofit leaders across the Midwest to solve one of their most critical challenges: securing consistent, strategic funding. She works alongside mission-driven organizations to identify the right funding opportunities, strengthen their positioning, and build sustainable growth strategies. Her focus is not just on winning grants, but on creating long-term funding success that allows organizations to scale their impact with confidence. Maggie enjoys fitness and being a dog mom.
Donald is a veteran nonprofit and community development professional with more than three decades of experience building relationships, growing fundraising efforts, and advancing mission-driven initiatives. Known for connecting organizations with donors, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and community leaders, he helps expand philanthropic support and drive lasting community impact.
Widely respected for fostering authentic partnerships, Donald brings a relationship-centered approach to nonprofit leadership rooted in thoughtful stewardship, collaboration, and community engagement.
Donald is a veteran nonprofit and community development professional with more than three decades of experience building relationships, growing fundraising efforts, and advancing mission-driven initiatives. Known for connecting organizations with donors, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and community leaders, he helps expand philanthropic support and drive lasting community impact.
Widely respected for fostering authentic partnerships, Donald brings a relationship-centered approach to nonprofit leadership rooted in thoughtful stewardship, collaboration, and community engagement.
Lisa brings nearly a decade of experience driving growth for mission-driven organizations through strategic partnerships, leadership, and program development. With a strong foundation in sociology and anthropology, she approaches business development with a deep understanding of people, communities, and the systems that influence decision-making.
She leads efforts to identify and cultivate new opportunities, build and strengthen stakeholder relationships, and support fundraising and revenue growth initiatives. Lisa works closely with organizational leadership and boards to align business development strategies with mission and long-term impact goals.
Serving as a key connector between partners, clients, and internal teams, Lisa ensures opportunities are developed thoughtfully and executed effectively. With a strategic and relationship-driven approach, she helps organizations expand their reach, secure critical resources, and grow with purpose.
Lisa holds a dual Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology, grounding her work in a deep understanding of people, communities, and social systems. She brings nearly a decade of experience in leadership, training, and strategic development, with a strong focus on mission-driven organizations. Her background includes building and stewarding relationships with stakeholders, supporting fundraising and program growth, and working closely with boards and leadership to advance organizational impact with integrity, accountability, and compassion.
Kim is a nationally recognized public health strategist, ordained minister, and systems-level leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing community-centered solutions across health, public safety, and social impact.
As Director of Private Funding at KG Strategic Consultants, she leads the strategy and pursuit of private funding opportunities across foundations, corporations, and philanthropic partners. She works closely with community-rooted nonprofits, including faith-based organizations, to translate their vision into fundable strategies aligned with private sector priorities.
Kim brings a unique blend of executive leadership, policy expertise, and hands-on implementation experience. She has led multi-city initiatives focused on trauma-informed and healing-centered systems change, advancing innovative approaches to community healing, violence prevention, and public health transformation. Her work has spanned government, academia, and grassroots organizations, bridging policy and practice to drive meaningful results.
Kim brings a thoughtful, purpose-driven approach to ensuring organizations rooted in service and equity have access to the funding and opportunities they need to thrive.
Kim is a nationally recognized public health strategist, ordained minister, and systems-level leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing community-centered solutions across health, public safety, and social impact.
As Director of Private Funding at KG Strategic Consultants, she leads the strategy and pursuit of private funding opportunities across foundations, corporations, and philanthropic partners. She works closely with community-rooted nonprofits, including faith-based organizations, to translate their vision into fundable strategies aligned with private sector priorities.
Kim brings a unique blend of executive leadership, policy expertise, and hands-on implementation experience. She has led multi-city initiatives focused on trauma-informed and healing-centered systems change, advancing innovative approaches to community healing, violence prevention, and public health transformation. Her work has spanned government, academia, and grassroots organizations, bridging policy and practice to drive meaningful results.
Kim brings a thoughtful, purpose-driven approach to ensuring organizations rooted in service and equity have access to the funding and opportunities they need to thrive.
Cassie leads the overall funding strategy across all client accounts, ensuring every engagement is aligned, intentional, and positioned for long-term success. She oversees the full funding ecosystem at KG, guiding strategy, monitoring pipeline performance, and ensuring consistent, high-quality outcomes across public and private funding efforts.
She manages and supports cross-functional leadership, including Client Success, Public Funding, Private Funding, and Business Development, creating alignment across teams and keeping initiatives moving forward with clarity and momentum.
Cassie works closely with the Business Development team to evaluate prospective clients, shape engagement strategies, and design service offerings that match each organization’s goals, capacity, and growth trajectory.
Acting as the Fractional Chief Development Officer (CDO) for KG clients, Cassie provides senior-level strategic leadership to clients, guiding long-term fundraising strategy, infrastructure development, and multi-year growth planning. She partners closely with KG senior leadership to support complex funding initiatives, including large-scale campaigns and capital efforts, ensuring organizations are positioned to secure and sustain meaningful funding.
Cassie also oversees the work of our grant writers and funding teams, maintaining a cohesive, high-performing system that delivers consistent results across all accounts. With a hands-on, strategic approach, she steps into key initiatives when needed, provides mentorship and guidance to staff, and helps organizations build the structure and partnerships required to scale their impact.
Cassie Lilly is a grant writer and development strategist with a Master’s of Science in Nonprofit Fundraising Management from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers). She specializes in humanitarian aid and children’s programs, with a strong focus on hunger and food insecurity. Cassie brings a rare blend of strategic thinking, compelling storytelling, and practical execution to every client engagement. She is currently pursuing her MBA with a concentration in Adaptive Leadership and Social Change. Based in Baltimore, she lives with her dachshund, Norman, and a large, unruly plant collection.
Matt is the operational backbone of KG, overseeing the internal systems and execution strategies that allow the firm to deliver elite results. In this role, he draws on over a decade of experience in the private security sector, where he rose to Director of Operations and commanded large-scale safety, risk mitigation, and crisis response initiatives. This background in high-stakes environments defines his leadership style: a focus on precision, absolute reliability, and proactive problem-solving.
A graduate of York College with a degree in Criminal Justice, Matt played four years of Division III baseball. That tenure on the field forged his commitment to the discipline and logistics of team performance. At KG, he does more than manage workflows, he builds the infrastructure that keeps the organization agile. By applying the same intensity to corporate operations that he once brought to physical security, Matt ensures every department is optimized to support the firm’s growth and mission.
Matt is the operational backbone of KG, overseeing the internal systems and execution strategies that allow the firm to deliver elite results. In this role, he draws on over a decade of experience in the private security sector, where he rose to Director of Operations and commanded large-scale safety, risk mitigation, and crisis response initiatives. This background in high-stakes environments defines his leadership style: a focus on precision, absolute reliability, and proactive problem-solving.
Jared has redefined capital procurement by treating strategic funding as a mission-critical operation. As the CEO and Founder of KG, he brings a “failure is not an option” mentality rooted in his veteran background within homeland security and disaster management. This perspective has helped his clients secure over $100M in competitive funding.
He combines the technical precision of a security leader with the business mindset of an MBA. Holding dual board certifications in Security Management and Physical Security, he has overseen 1,000+ proposals with an industry-leading 90% success rate. He handles complex federal and private grants with a level of rigor that most firms simply cannot match.
At KG, Jared has institutionalized this accountability through a signature money-back guarantee. By merging strict compliance with clear, persuasive storytelling, he ensures the proposal written by his team are positioned for approval.
Jared is a grant-writing leader with 5+ years across federal, state, and private funding and an MBA. He holds a B.A. in Homeland Security, an M.S. in Homeland Security & Disaster Management, and board certifications in Security Management and Physical Security. Jared has authored 1,000+ proposals with a success rate above 90%, securing $100M+ for clients. He has built a team that backs its work with a money-back guarantee—because they know how to craft compliant, funder-aligned proposals that get approved. Jared blends rigorous compliance, straightforward storytelling, and strategic judgment to deliver results.
