Our Team

Our Team Approach

At the Alliance for Nonprofits our staff and consultants work collaboratively in a team approach to enhance the quality and performance of each project. Our unique model ensures that every initiative benefits from a diverse range of expertise, fostering innovative solutions and comprehensive support.

How We Operate:

1. Project Evaluation:
   • Each project begins with a thorough evaluation to determine the specific disciplines and specialists required to achieve the desired outcomes.
   • This assessment allows us to understand the unique needs and challenges of the project, ensuring we align the right resources from the start.
2. Team Selection:
   • Based on the project evaluation, our chosen Project Manager assembles a team of professionals with the skills and experience best suited to respond to the project's demands.
   • This team typically includes staff members and external consultants, providing a balanced mix of internal knowledge and external insights.
3. Diverse Expertise:
   • Our team approach leverages the different influences and disciplines of selected staff and consultants. This diversity ensures that the project benefits from a broad range of talent and perspectives, enhancing innovation and problem-solving.
   • The collective expertise covers various areas, such as strategic planning, financial management, program development, fundraising, marketing, and governance.
4. Collaborative Execution:
   • The project team works collaboratively throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring seamless integration of different skills and knowledge areas.
   • Regular team meetings, progress reviews, and feedback loops are integral to our process, promoting continuous improvement and alignment with project goals.

Our Staff and Consultants:

Project Managers:  Skilled in overseeing complex projects, ensuring timely delivery, and maintaining high-quality standards.

Strategic Planners:  Experts in developing comprehensive strategies that align with organizational goals and drive long-term success.

Financial Analysts:  Proficient in budgeting, forecasting, and financial management to ensure projects are financially viable and sustainable.

Program Developers:  Specialized in designing and implementing effective programs that meet community needs and achieve measurable outcomes.

Fundraising Professionals:  Experienced in crafting and executing fundraising campaigns, grant writing, and donor engagement strategies.

Marketing and Communications Specialists:  Skilled in promoting projects, increasing visibility, and engaging stakeholders through various communication channels.

Governance Advisors:  Knowledgeable in nonprofit governance, board development, and organizational policies to strengthen leadership and accountability.

By combining the talents of our diverse team, we offer a broad range of expertise not typically available from a single source. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in driving the success and development of our capacity-building initiatives, enabling us to deliver exceptional results for the nonprofits we serve.

 

 Brenda Alford, MSW, CGMS, Founder and Executive Director

Nonprofit Management          Social Entrepreneur         Certified Grants Manager

Ms. Alford is an accomplished leader in the nonprofit community with four organizations and serving in an advisory capacity with numerous community-based groups.  She brings 20 years expertise in grants/contracts management, program development, interagency public-private partnerships, project management, research and evaluation and fundraising. 

As Director of the Alliance for Nonprofits, she has served in a critical role in sustaining nonprofits during the pandemic.  Works across the spectrum of organizations to include health care, social services, housing, economic development, youth services, senior development, childcare, workforce development, agriculture and transportation.  She has successful improved the funding level, programs to serve clients and advised nearly 120 nonprofits

As Director of the nonprofit, Institute for Faith-Based Development, she utilizes career experiences in proposal writing, grants management, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, financial and human resources management.  Develops programs for faith-based and community-based clients that serve youth and young adult populations in the areas of economic development, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, parenting/childcare, criminal justice, health care, and career development.

Ms. Alford was Executive Director for Contemporary Management Community Development Corporation a nonprofit 501(c) (6) organization promoting comprehensive community economic development by stimulating business development, community empowerment and nurturing business owners in a way that reflects the diverse populations in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Maryland.

She has served as a federal grants project manager, providing oversight for a $300 million federal grants portfolio for the administrative unit awarded to universities and major research organizations.  Played a key role on the agency to develop and enact new policies, oversee and streamline full-cycle grants processes, and interpret regulations).  Delivered expert advice and counsel for the development of grants policy and program plans, and mentor team members regarding grants and procedures consistent with the agency and federal regulations.

Served as a Consultant with government agencies and private foundations for grants, contracts and cooperative agreements, evaluating over 5,000 proposals competing for over $5 billion.  These grant reviews have been in the areas of supplemental security income and support services, safe and drug-free schools, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse prevention, mentoring, employment development for TANF recipients, research and evaluation, community health, smoking and health, family support administration, foster care, head start, youth mentoring, runaway and homeless youth, pediatric AIDS, business/economic development, developmentally disabled, juvenile justice, youth development, higher education, HIV/AIDS, food and nutrition, environmental health, medical treatment, drug elimination in public and Indian housing and mental health.

She was formerly President of the Association of African American Women Business Owners, a national trade association.  During her service to the organization, she has managed training programs for over 20,000 business persons, developed collective buying opportunities, matched businesses with over $40 million in contracting opportunities, assisted in obtaining loans and expanded local businesses into national markets.

She has earned a Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Tennessee State University and is a certified grants manager by the National Grants Management Association.

The reputation of our organization is based upon maintaining high performance standards with dedicated commitment to excellence for our respective clients.  The commitment to our clients is evidenced by a complete and unconditional guarantee of our services.  We pledge to uphold these characteristics and to continue excelling in each endeavor engaged.

Our consultants have utilized their nonprofit and project management skills to successfully compete for grants/fundraising in the private, foundation and public sectors.  Our future growth is promising due to our sound record of service, understanding of the business marketplace and commitment to clients.

Memberships:

National Grants Management Association	The Nonprofit Centers
Grant Professionals Association	Federally Employed Women