Our Team
TIFFANY CLARKE- OWNER
Tiffany Clarke is a nonprofit executive with over 12 years of experience in grantmaking, program and fiscal design/oversight. Tiffany spent 10 years leading a team of 27+ FTEs at a global nonprofit where she successfully increased revenue by securing nearly 40 million dollars. She has a master’s degree in social work and holds both clinical and macro licensure in the State of Michigan. Tiffany has extensive experience serving on funding allocation committees, teaching as an adjunct professor at the graduate level, and advocating for community change by sitting on various system-level committee boards. When not working, Tiffany can be found taking her Labrador on walks, eating sushi, watching her kids in sports, or engaging in home renovation despite her husband’s chagrin.
MADISON HAACK- WRITER
Madison is a young professional with several years of experience in the nonprofit and grant writing field. After volunteering with AmeriCorps VISTA and working on the fundraising team for a local nonprofit, Madison is pursuing a life-long dream of a career in library science. She's currently studying to receive a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan. She hopes to combine her passion for equity, third spaces, and connecting communities with her love for writing and user-experience design in her field. In her spare time, you can find her tending to her houseplants, scrapbooking, and swing dancing with her local community clubs.
TRICIA SMITH-MULDER - RIVER CITY GRANT WRITING, CO-COLLABORATOR
Tricia started her career in the financial services sector while earning her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Grand Valley State University and her Master’s in Business Administration from Cornerstone University. In 2011, she found her true calling: working with children and adolescents.
Living out that calling, Tricia served in a leadership role at the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center in Grand Rapids for seven years, working with systems-involved youth ages 16-24. In this role, Tricia was introduced to grant writing techniques. When she left Job Corps in early 2018 in search of her next career move, a chance encounter with a former colleague started the adventure she is now on with River City Grant Writing. Tricia and Tiffany love talking grants and supporting one another while securing funding for the non-profit community.
CARA JONES - NON-PROFIT FUNDRAISING STRATEGIST
With over two decades of experience, Cara is a strategic thinker with a unique background in both grant writing and grant making. She recently served as Interim Executive Director at The Meijer Foundation and previously led fundraising efforts at Hospice of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation (GRPSF). Cara has extensive experience in growing annual funds, developing major gift and grant writing programs, and setting capital campaign goals. She holds a B.S.E. in Industrial & Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University. Cara received the Good to Great Award in 2017 for her work on the GR8 Sports, Great Kids Program, highlighting her impactful leadership and fundraising skills.
MARK PETZ- GRANT STRATEGIST AND WRITER
Mark brings over two decades of deep leadership experience in nonprofit management, fund development, grantmaking, communications, capacity building, and community engagement. He has served on the teams of West Michigan organizations including Fremont Area Community Foundation, Alliance for Health, Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, Humane Society of West Michigan, Grand Rapids Bar Association, and TrueNorth Community Services. Mark has a Master of Public and Nonprofit Administration degree from Grand Valley State University and is a highly skilled group facilitator using the Technology of Participation methods.
Music enthusiast, foodie, history nut, and Red Wings fan, Mark plays saxophone in the legendary Grand Rapids ska punk band, Mustard Plug.
AMANDA JONES - WRITER
Amanda Jones has been in the nonprofit sector for over 7 years, with experience in program coordination, facilitating, marketing, fundraising, donor engagement, and web design. She graduated from Alma College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and quickly found herself immersed in the nonprofit field upon graduation. When not working to make client’s visions a reality, Amanda can be found listening to Taylor Swift with her two cats, Bennie and Leo or you can find her outside backpacking at a National Park.