Grant Professionals of Lower Hudson |
GPLH Leadership
Our GPLH Board of Directors is a talented, dedicated group of grant writing and fundraising professionals. Individually and collectively, they bring to the table a vast amount of experience, knowledge and expertise. They all volunteer their time to ensure that GPLH is a vibrant and effective organization that brings benefits and enrichment to our members. To reach anyone on our Board of Directors, send an email to info.gplh@gmail.com.
Co-Presidents
Deborah Brown GPLH Member since 2019. Board Member since 2020.
Deborah brings years of experience to socially conscious organizations, helping clients in the non-profit, for-profit and hybrid sectors grow their impact. Via Deborah Brown Consulting LLC she specializes in grant writing, board governance, organizational development and special projects. She enjoys collaborating with visionary individuals and teams, whether they are working on the local or global scale. Deborah has served as corporate secretary for the Romanian-American Foundation and the Romanian-American Enterprise Fund, chief of staff at Riverkeeper, customer relations manager for Barnes & Noble, Inc. and is the former program director of the Alexander Julian Foundation for Aesthetic Understanding and Appreciation.  Alison Paul, MPA GPLH Member since 2008. Board Member since 2019.
Alison is a fundraising consultant and freelance grant writer who has written grants for numerous organizations with a wide variety of missions. She assists clients with grant writing, prospect research, assessing grant readiness, editing, and creating fundraising plans and cases of support. Alison was a grant writer for 10 years at the Public Schools of the Tarrytown’s, raising over $12 million. Previously she was Executive Director of the Pelham Art Center, and Director of Education at the South Street Seaport Museum and The Hudson River Museum. She currently teaches a grant writing class at Westchester Community College. Vice President and Program Co-Chair
GPLH Member since 2020. Board Member since 2021. Maureen is the Vice President of Development for Children's Health Fund. She has spent her career dedicated to improving the communities in which she lived and worked, through raising funds and awareness for many important causes. Maureen began her career as a paralegal in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office where she worked on her first RFP on reducing recidivism. She has written and secured hundreds of grants throughout her career and advised on many more. Maureen is grateful for the support and learning opportunities provided by GPLH and its members. Secretary 
Joanne Stewart Founding Board Member, Secretary since 2019 Joanne is President of goodworks Advisory Group, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in grant writing, marketing and communications, and board development for nonprofit organizations. Joanne has over 30 years of nonprofit and corporate experience in fundraising, grant writing, advertising, and marketing. She has helped raise millions of dollars for her nonprofit clients through effective prospect research, and the development of winning grant proposals and funder cultivation strategies. In 2016, the Association of Development Officers named Joanne Development Professional of the Year. Joanne also serves as Secretary of Phelps Healthcare Foundation. Treasurer
GPLH Member since 2018. Board Member since 2023. Maddy has 25+ years of experience in non-profit management and has secured over $15 million in funding. As Co-Principal of Sheer Strategy, Maddy focuses on strategic and operational plans, board development, and grants management for non-profit clients. Prior to starting her own consulting company, Maddy served as the Grants & Donor Communications Manager for Meals on Wheels of Rockland. She also held the positions of Chief Operating Officer, Director of Development and Conference Director at Autism NJ. Maddy has served on several boards and committees and is the proud recipient of the Rockland Development Council’s 2022 Outstanding Non-Profit Professional Award. Immediate Past President: Nancy Keane  Committee Chairs
GPLH member since 2021. Board Member since 2023 Membership Sheba has worked in the non-profit sector for more than twenty-five years. Her initial experience was with the well-known and well-respected College Fund/UNCF (United Negro College Fund). She also co-founded a political radio program called “The Greater Good,” where she was a co-host. Sheba is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and serves as their Diversity Chair. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business from Lehman College and a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Leadership from Fordham University. She also serves on the Board of the League of Women Voter’s Mid-Hudson Valley Region. |
Maureen Fox, CFRE
Maddy Schiering
Sheba Abrahaim
Lisa Keogh
Founding Board Member
Fundraising
Lisa is a retired fundraising professional with more than 30 years’ experience in grant and proposal writing, special events and major gifts cultivation. She has held fundraising positions, including roles as Chief Development Officer at American Red Cross, Foundation Director at Hudson Valley Hospital and Director of Development at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester. From 2008-2016, her consulting firm A Very Good Cause, Inc. secured numerous local and national grants for a wide variety of nonprofit clients. Currently she is serving on the Board as Immediate Past President and Publicity Chair for the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley.
Jill Levey
GPLH Member since 2017. Board Member since 2021.
Membership
Jill has worked in the nonprofit sector as a grant writer and fundraiser since 1992. She is the principal of Levey Consulting, a grant writing and fundraising consulting firm formed in 2000, which has served nonprofits in a wide range of fields. Before launching her business, she held full-time fundraising positions at Columbia University and The Brooklyn Historical Society. She is a founder and leader of the Grant Professionals of New York City.
Michelle Nepton
GPLH Member since 2018. Board Member since 2021.
Programs
Michelle is Donor Development Director for United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, and is a fundraiser and advocate for the community. With five years of experience as a grant writer, Michelle has worked to expand the diversity of her organization’s grant portfolio. Relatively new to the field, she appreciates the support offered by GPLH and from its members.
Laura Newman
GPLH member since 2018. Board Member since 2022
Communications: Outreach and Social Media
Laura currently serves as Chief Strategy and Development Officer for Neighbors Link. Previously, she held fundraising positions in several community-based organizations and Manhattanville College. With a diverse professional background, and as a corporate drop-out, Laura takes a practical and collaborative approach to all aspects of fundraising. She has raised millions of dollars from foundations and government funders by writing winning grant proposals. With over 20 years of experience, Laura provides consulting services in strategic fundraising and grant writing for nonprofit leaders.
Carol Nordgren
GPLH member since 2009. Board Member since 2017.
Job Bank
Carol launched her own company Carol Nordgren Consulting in 2013. Having worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 25 years, she is an experienced and dedicated non-profit professional, program director, researcher, grant writer and fundraiser, committed to quality programming and its availability to a broad constituency. As a consultant for nonprofits in Westchester and Fairfield County, she has secured significant grant revenue and participated in strategic planning for several organizations.
Sherry Rose, MA, MPH
GPLH member since 2019. Board Member since 2022
Membership
Sherry has been a grant writer for over 25 years, leading institutional giving programs for New York City nonprofit organizations across wide-ranging sectors. Since 2014, when she launched her own consulting business, GrantWritingPro, she has helped nonprofits of vary size and scope in the U.S. and internationally increase their grant seeking success. Sherry is a founder and leader of Grant Professionals of New York City.
Eric Roth
GPLH Member since 2018. Board Member since 2021.
Internship/Mentoring
Eric has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit and fundraising work. He is currently the Associate Director of Development and Grants at Mohonk Preserve, where he has been since 2012. Eric has also worked as Grant Writer for Orange County Community College (SUNY Orange) and as an intermittent contract grant writer for Choice Words, LLC. Prior to becoming a grants professional, he worked for Historic Huguenot Street, first as Archivist/Librarian and then as Executive Director. Eric has also been a grant reviewer with the New York State Archives and has taught undergraduate history classes at SUNY New Paltz.
John Scuderi
GPLH Member since 2020. Board Member since 2021.
Communications: Newsletter
John brings a wealth of experience to the non-profit space after spending most of his career as a journalist. He has been a professional writer and editor for more than 25 years, first as a local reporter and then as an award-winning copy editor at The Journal News. He has proofread or produced content for books, print publications and websites, and cares deeply about both the quality of his work and the impact his work has on other people. Currently John is employed as the Grant Writer at Cristo Rey New York High School.
