MEET THE TEAM

Shelley is a social entrepreneur and nonprofit strategist working to break down barriers in the sector that discourage innovation, collaboration, and impact. She launched her company more than a decade ago as a solo grant consultant where she had the privilege of working with nonprofits of all sizes in service areas including health care, behavioral health, arts and culture, food insecurity, and education. This work gave her insight into the changes they were making in people’s lives and our communities. It also gave her a sobering look at the obstacles that they face as they work on the front line of our most serious social challenges.

She has built the Encore Institute for Social Impact with a team that shares her belief in the potential of the nonprofit sector and her bold vision to change the landscape in which they operate. She is leading innovative efforts that challenge long-held beliefs about how these entities should operate and advocating for practices that help mission-driven organizations create vibrant communities where people thrive.

Shelley graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia, holds the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential, and is a certified Scrum Product Owner. She is active in the Grant Professionals Association at the local and national levels, having served as an officer, committee member, and national conference presenter. She is passionate about increasing the capacity of nonprofits and is a respected presenter known for delivering workshops to nonprofit professionals across the U.S. that deliver results that deepen the skills of participants in meaningful ways.

Catherine is a skilled nonprofit strategist, grant and program designer, degreed technical communicator, and natural connector. She has more than a decade of nonprofit experience including social services, physical and behavioral health care, homelessness prevention and shelter, and workforce development. She is a skilled project manager who excels at helping nonprofit teams design effective and sustainable programs with a focus on client-centered, outcome-driven interventions. Catherine’s favorite role is helping organizations solve complex problems. She has written or been part of grant teams obtaining more than $50 million in support during her career.

With roots in Kansas City and Colorado, Catherine’s passions include international travel, hiking, dabbling in fiction, and comic book fangirling.

Emily is a grant writer and nonprofit communicator. She has 9 years of experience raising awareness and vital funding for nonprofits addressing basic needs, food insecurity, youth development, violence prevention, and arts and culture.

Prior to launching Ad Astra Grant Consulting in 2021, Emily served as the Director of Development for the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, where she raised and managed more than $5 million to support victims of violent crime. She has also served as the Foundation Relations Coordinator for Harvesters – The Community Food Network, a food bank that provides millions of meals each year in the Kansas City region.

Emily graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism: Strategic Communication, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and a Minor in the History of Art. She is a member of the Grant Professionals Association.

Emily has Kansas roots, and currently resides in Madrid, Spain with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys reading, practicing her Spanish, international travel, and scuba diving.

Mallory resides in Lee’s Summit, Missouri with her husband, two sons, and dog, Olive. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, skiing in the winter, and soaking up the sunshine all summer long.

Andrea, her husband, and their pre-teen daughter live in Johnson County, Kansas, with their two yellow labs. She is an avid reader and enjoys sharing the magic of books with her daughter, Alex.

Meredith is a skilled nonprofit executive, demonstrating an orientation to creative, strategic advancement strategies. She incorporates optimism into the analysis of opportunities to generate more accurate assessments and to drive better decision making. She has diverse experiences in both private and public philanthropy. An Indiana native and Mizzou alum (Fight Tiger!), she has experience managing multi-million dollar portfolios for nonprofit organizations, including those in pursuit of early childhood development, educational equity, workforce development, nutrition security, and more.

With a certification in Financial Management, Meredith leverages a financial lens to complement her fundraising efforts, incorporating sustainable financial planning and implementation into program design and budgeting. With knowledge in grant writing, financial and operational efficiency, and effective storytelling, Meredith is efficient in her global approach to working with clients.

Meredith, her husband, and their daughter and son live in Lafayette County, Missouri, with their cattle and Bernese Mountain dogs.

Laura is a nonprofit professional with over 20 years of experience. Her career has centered around program development, event planning, volunteer management and training, outcomes measurement, and post-award grants management. She has worked in youth development, community development and higher education.

She earned her earned her M.P.A. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School and a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

She resides in Lee’s Summit MO with her two cats. She enjoys reading, traveling, and going to the theater.

Rozanne is a development and communications professional who partners with CEOs, development directors, and socialpreneurs to maximize their organization’s donor engagement, fundraising capacity, and community impact.

After serving in rewarding executive roles for nearly 15 years at two of the city’s cornerstone organizations – Catholic Charities and Truman Medical Centers – she launched Rozanne Prather Consulting where she walks side-by-side with organizations of all sizes, sectors, and complexities. In partnership with Encore, Rozanne shares strategy, innovation, and expertise nonprofits need most: from cultivating major gifts, to crafting on-brand messaging that resonates with donors, to developing back-of-house systems to support successful fundraising.

Rozanne has raised tens of millions of dollars for exceptional causes, always with a positive approach to building donor relationships that result in mutual joy. “At its best, philanthropy inspires joy and gratitude in both the giver and receiver of the gift,” she says. “It’s an experience that never gets old, and a privilege I never take for granted.”

A lifelong Kansas Citian, Rozanne is passionate about her family, friends, food, fitness, and travel.

Originally from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, the nonprofit sector has been part of Danielle’s life since she was 8 years old. Danielle grew up watching her family engage in the world of philanthropy through the family foundation started by her grandparents. It inspired her to dedicate her life to the same work. She received a Bachelor of Arts from William Jewell College in Nonprofit Leadership and a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. In 2022, Danielle became Grant Professional Certified through the Grant Professionals Association.

Danielle’s experience includes consulting, grant management, capital campaigns, and donor development with nonprofits in a variety of focus areas that include youth development and education, health, and arts and culture. She has also spoken at numerous UMKC and William Jewell College classes, APRA (American Prospect Research Association) conferences, and other similar venues. In addition to her work directly in the nonprofit community, she hopes to continue to inspire younger generations to become philanthropists.

To that end, Marcia serves predominantly backstage, facilitating the impactful efforts of the talented Encore players while additionally taking in webinars, conferences and classes in the field. Outside of work she’s a book-reading logophile; a peacemaker and a planner, who is dedicated to her faith and family.