Hannah Chotiner-Gardner is responsible for the design, articulation, and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that is catalyzing KIND’s global growth. Prior to joining KIND in April 2021, Chotiner-Gardner spent eight-and-a-half years managing the development department at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). Under her leadership, PHR nearly doubled its annual revenue, launched the first fundraising campaign in the organization’s history, and more than tripled the number of annual donors. Chotiner-Gardner played a key role in increasing support from philanthropic institutions by more than 50 percent and helped PHR achieve new milestones in overall revenue. A key member of KIND’s senior leadership, Chotiner-Gardner provides data driven analysis and insights to guide the organization’s ambitious approach to sustaining long-term financial health. In addition to leading and managing KIND’s development department, Chotiner-Gardner contributes to the organization’s ability to build and strengthen its partnerships and programs. Chotiner-Gardner’s career in fundraising spans 15 years and includes leadership experience in the fields of social justice and global public health. Before joining PHR, she worked for five years with major donors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, in support of an 800 million-dollar capital campaign. She has also held management positions at the Boston Rescue Mission and the American Friends Service Committee. Chotiner-Gardner also brings extensive global experience to KIND, having managed educational initiatives in Ecuador, Ghana, and Namibia. Chotiner-Gardner holds a BA in English from Mount Holyoke College.

Jessye Brick supports the Development team at KIND and is responsible for mobilizing funding from foundations, corporations, and governments. Prior to joining KIND in May 2022, Jessye was a senior member of the business development team at FHI 360, an international nonprofit focused on implementing integrated, evidence-based solutions to global challenges. During her time at FHI 360, she oversaw global health business development activities, tracked performance, and was instrumental in rolling out internal systems and processes. She brings experience in proposal writing, strategic pricing, and project management. She holds a BA from Smith College and an MPH in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and daughter.

Allison Hasser leads individual giving and donor event strategy on KIND’s Development team, which she joined in November 2021. Prior to her role at KIND, Hasser served on the senior team of NPR’s Development division, where she directed the activity of the NPR Foundation Board of Trustees and cultivated major and principal gifts in support of NPR’s mission. During her tenure at NPR, Hasser also led planned giving efforts and built a comprehensive strategy for collaborative fundraising with Members stations. Since 2018 Hasser has served on the Board of UPO Inspire, an organization which provides technology training and job placement services for DC-area residents living on the edge of poverty. Hasser holds a BA from Middlebury College and lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and two children.

Sarah Del Vecchio has worked in non-profit fundraising for over three years in the Washington, DC region, specializing in human rights and social justice organizations. She recently served as Senior Development Associate at CASA de Maryland, a Latino and immigrant advocacy-aid organization. Sarah has also worked for Polaris, Free the Slaves, the Brookings Institution, and the Solidarity Center. Sarah holds a master’s degree in ethics, peace, and global affairs from American University and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys volunteering with animal rescue agencies, watching too much HGTV, and reading obscure comic books.

Jackie Schneck joined KIND’s Development team as the Digital Fundraising and Engagement Manager in August 2022. Jackie came to KIND with 5 years of direct response fundraising experience and a specialty in digital fundraising, including email marketing and digital advertising. Prior to her role at KIND, Jackie led the Digital Fundraising team at WETA – DC’s local PBS station – where she oversaw the planning and execution of all WETA’s digital fundraising and engagement efforts. Jackie holds her BA in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and currently lives in Washington, DC.

Jennifer Macías Taylor Biography Jennifer Macías Taylor is the Development Coordinator for the Institutional Development Department at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), where she provides strategic fundraising and administrative support. Jennifer has experience in trauma-informed direct services, advocacy, and community organizing centering youth empowerment, immigrant rights, and anti-violence initiatives. Prior to KIND, she served as the Development Project Associate with Advance NYC, where she supported diverse client organizations with strategic planning, communications, and fundraising. Previously, she served as the Senior Development and Communications Associate as well as the Program Coordinator for the Resilience Advocacy Project training youth from low-income communities in local policy and advocacy work. At The Healing Center, Jennifer served as the Community Outreach Coordinator and Children’s Counselor serving undocumented Latin American families impacted by intrapersonal and community violence. Jennifer holds a B.A. from Montclair University in Psychology and a M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University.

Alix McAtee has worked in immigrant rights and organizing for the past two years. Prior to joining KIND, Alix served as the Program Associate on the immigration campaign at Community Change, a non-profit transforming the immigration reform landscape. Alix also has experience interning and volunteering at the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, the Peace & Justice Center, and the Vermont Workers' Center. In 2016, she received her bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Vermont.

Evelyn comes to KIND with six years of experience managing grants and fundraising for nonprofit organizations. Evelyn holds a Master's in Nonprofit studies from Arizona State University, and has additional experience with organizing for public education, which she gained while working with the Arizona teacher's union and Arizona State Board of Education. Evelyn grew up with parents in the Foreign Service, and has lived in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Macedonia, and Northern Virginia. Having spent the past five years in Seattle, Evelyn is thrilled to be back on the East Coast. Although she, her husband, and two young daughters were sad to leave their chickens, Col. Mustard, Goldie, and Brown Talon, back in Washington State, they continuously join local efforts to allow DC families to own back-yard chickens.

Kelsey Salvesen supports the Development team at KIND and is responsible for clearly and compellingly conveying the urgent work KIND is undertaking through grant and development materials. Prior to joining KIND in 2022, Kelsey worked in a variety of development roles over the past decade, including as Grants Coordinator and on-staff Grants Writer for Center For Family Services (a large New Jersey-based social services organization), and as Senior Research Development Associate for Duke University. She also helped support her own research while a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania with fellowships and grants from a number of private and university funders. She brings to KIND a wide breadth of expertise in research, proposal writing, and project management. Kelsey has a B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill in French and International Studies and an M.A. and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in History.