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.

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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.

Jon Post is KIND’s Senior Director, Development Operations and Strategy, and is responsible for ensuring that the organization brings strategy, rigor, and data analysis to processes and reporting in support of fundraising and stewardship. He joined KIND in August 2024, following an eight-and-ahalf-year tenure at the New York Botanical Garden, where he played a pivotal role in developing the Garden’s fundraising and database infrastructure. Jon’s career spans over twenty years in philanthropy, and also includes notable roles at New York Restoration Project, Pratt Institute and Theatre Development Fund. Jon is a certified associate in project management and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University.

Kaitlyn is a passionate and experienced digital marketer who joined the KIND team in 2023 as Digital Fundraising & Engagement Manager. Kaitlyn has been developing high-impact, integrated campaigns for nonprofits for more than a decade. Over the course of her career, she has put her deep love of data, creative curiosity, and strategic expertise to good use, helping dozens of organizations build a safer, greener, and more just world. Kaitlyn holds an MA in Political Communications from American University in Washington, DC, and a BA in Political Science from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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.

Monita Ashna joined KIND’s Development team in October 2023 as Director, Government Business Development. In this role, she leads landscaping, pipeline development, capture, and proposal development for government funding opportunities. Monita brings over eight years of experience in international business development, with expertise in understanding the funding landscape of US government, international government, and foundation funders. Before joining KIND, Monita served as a Senior Proposal Manager at FHI 360, where she adeptly managed proposals and led capture efforts for bids valued up to $150 million. Her skillset encompasses USG proposal management, recruitment, pipeline development, and the intricacies of the business development process. Prior to her role at FHI 360, Monita made significant contributions at Corus International (formerly IMA World Health), where she spearheaded business development recruitment for all USG and FCDO proposals. Additionally, she played a vital role in supporting business development for the Kenya and Tanzania country offices and networked globally to position IMA World Health for USG and FCDO funding opportunities. Monita holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh and currently resides in Washington, DC.

Sherry Yang supports the Development team at KIND and plays a key role on the individual giving team, ensuring successful fundraising and smooth planning and execution of annual fundraising events. Before joining KIND in May 2023, Sherry served as the Associate Director of Events and Project Management at Math for America (MƒA). In this role, she developed, maintained, and executed comprehensive event project plans and timelines for various events. Additionally, Sherry oversaw a team of project managers, coordinators, and support staff, assuring the seamless operation of a daily evening professional development program that catered to over 1,000 math and science teachers from public schools in New York City. Sherry holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and an MS in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University in NYC.

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LaTissia Mitchell is KIND’s Director, Foundation Relations. She is a strategic fundraiser with over ten years of experience in grant writing, fundraising strategy, and managing foundation relationships. Before joining KIND in August 2024, LaTissia was Associate Director of Foundation Relations at Prosperity Now, where she supported a comprehensive development plan to broaden the base of funders, diversify revenue streams, and realize and ultimately exceed fundraising goals supporting the organizational mission. In a previous life, she had planned to be a university professor. Today, she is thrilled to help ensure the success of advocacy-focused organizations as a fundraising professional. LaTissia holds an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. She earned a BA with Honors from Stanford University in Comparative Literature.

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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.

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Tina Le is the Salesforce Manager for the Development team at KIND. She joined the KIND team in March 2023 and is responsible for supporting and maintaining the integrity of Development’s Salesforce database. She brings over a decade of non-profit experience in database management, development operations and donor services. Prior to joining KIND, she was the Development Manager at ProPublica, a non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Tina graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies with a concentration in Political Communication.

Eloise Muro Rangel serves as the Development Coordinator for Individual Giving and Events at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). Here, she channels her passion for civic engagement and ethically-driven fundraising to support the development team’s operational and strategic endeavors. Prior to joining KIND in September of 2023, Eloise was a Consultant, Project Manager for Graham-Pelton aiding nonprofit organizations in enhancing their fundraising programs and strategic communications. Eloise also held a position as Program Manager at Nile Sisters Development Initiative, overseeing public health service programs and advocacy initiatives centered on women’s and maternal health within immigrant and refugee communities. Drawing upon her background in community empowerment, program management, and nonprofit strategy, Eloise specializes in refining organizational processes and fortifying cross-functional teams. Eloise has also interned and volunteered at various organizations, including the American Lung Association, Soldiers’ Angels, and UCLA’s Central Valley Project. She is an alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy/Global Health. Additionally, Eloise holds a certificate in Grant Writing and Non-Profit Management from Loyola Marymount University.

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.

Cristina Wood supports the Development team at KIND as a Grant Writer. She is responsible for crafting compelling proposals and fundraising materials to support KIND’s critical programs and services. Cristina joined the team in April 2023, bringing 10 years of experience as a nonprofit communications and resource development specialist. She previously served as Fundraising Manager for a leading affordable housing developer and supportive services provider in the Washington, DC region. Cristina holds a B.S. in Mass Communications (Print Journalism concentration) and Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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Jessica Reilly supports the Development Team as a Grant Writer at KIND. She is responsible for researching and drafting mission-focused proposals that further the organization’s vital work. Prior to joining KIND in September 2024, she worked with nonprofits to uplift communities and vulnerable groups through grant writing, project development, mentorship, and advocacy. Jessica has a B.A. from Smith College and a Certificate in Grant Writing from DePaul University.