The Colorado Trust: Community Resilience Initiatives Grant

The Colorado Trust’s Community Resilience Initiatives (CRI) are 30-month investments to over 80 organizations addressing the Trust’s strategic plan focus areas of food, housing, and mental and behavioral health. CRC is excited to partner with The Colorado Trust and other capacity building assistance grantees to support the 80 program and service delivery grantees through the CRI Grant.  

As an organizational capacity building partner, CRC provides organizational level capacity building supports to grantees through resources, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, training, and coaching. CRC supports grantees in the areas of strategic planning, human resources, nonprofit management, board development, financial planning, marketing and communications, fundraising, leadership coaching, and grant writing/research.  

Consultants:

The following consultants are working alongside CRC in 2025 to provide one-on-one coaching support to interested CRI grantees.

Joey brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience to ThinkSharp! Consulting, with expertise in
organizational development and strategic management. As a former nonprofit executive director, she has demonstrated success in board development, strategic planning, and organizational growth, working in youth mental health. Her approach combines practical leadership experience with academic expertise, holding a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Strategic Management from Colorado State University Global Campus and dual Bachelor of Science degrees from Adams State University. As a certified coach with the Maxwell Leadership Team, Joey excels at developing both organizations and their leaders, creating inclusive environments that foster sustainable growth. Her ability to transform complex concepts into actionable steps, coupled with her experience in financial planning and resource allocation, makes her particularly effective in guiding organizations through strategic change. Joey’s comprehensive understanding of nonprofit operations and governance ensures clients receive practical, implementable solutions that create lasting impact in their communities.

Cindy is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through
strategic growth, financial development, and mission-driven impact. She has a proven track record
in fundraising, program management, and organizational transformation, with deep expertise in
cultivating partnerships across public, private, and philanthropic sectors.

As Executive Director of Groundwork Denver, Cindy led the organization’s strategic direction,
expanding cross-sector collaborations, strengthened internal leadership, and implemented
innovative approaches to environmental justice and community resilience. Prior to this, she served
as Director of Philanthropic Partnerships at Community Shares of Colorado, where she
successfully grew corporate giving and major gifts.

Cindy’s consulting experience includes roles at Prosono and Rebound Solutions, where she worked
with nonprofits, foundations, and community-based initiatives to enhance strategic planning,
financial sustainability, and leadership development. She is passionate about equity-driven
solutions that uplift communities and create lasting change. Cindy holds a Master of Environmental
Management and MBA from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and
Environmental Studies from Tufts University

Mike (they/them) is a queer nonbinary neurodivergent disruptor striving to create a better reality so everyone and every body can feel a sense of belonging and thrive at work, in the outdoors, all ways. Their mission is to influence progressive and systemic change through a human resources practice guided by justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (JEDIA), that centers antiracism as foundational to this work. Mike’s approach focuses on intersectionality, authentic relationship building, and unlearning to enable growth. Mike’s HR career spans 20 years, prior to consulting, working in the areas of environmental restoration and stewardship, youth leadership and conservation, international development/water, sanitation and hygiene, and outdoor recreation and environmental education. Previously, Mike was a newspaper reporter and a copy editor. Mike is bilingual in Spanish and certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The journey continues one day at a time.

Randall is a seasoned fundraiser with 15 years of experience driving impact across diverse
industries, including infrastructure development, healthcare, and social justice. He has
successfully written and secured grants for a wide range of initiatives and is highly skilled in helping
nonprofits develop comprehensive budget forecasts for programs, operations, and specific grants.
Randall has also led numerous strategic planning efforts, enabling organizations to assess their
needs and priorities while crafting actionable strategies to achieve their missions. His leadership
roles include serving as Executive Director of the Clear Creek Greenway Authority and Deputy
Director at the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Government and
Politics from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown
University

Juan has over 20 years of experience in the environmental, conservation, and outdoor recreation
fields. His areas of expertise include executive nonprofit leadership, environmental education and
advocacy, watershed management, and environmental restoration and stewardship. Juan holds a
Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Management from the School of Agricultural Engineering
at the University of Panama as well as a Master of Science in Environment and Natural Resources
from The Ohio State University. His career spans work with nonprofit organizations in Panama,
Central America, and the United States, including serving as Executive Director of Environmental
Learning for Kids and Water Education Colorado.

Lori brings 15 years of non-profit consulting experience, built upon a successful career in global
advertising and marketing, to her role leading ThinkSharp! Consulting. Since founding the firm in
Western Colorado, she has established a proven track record of securing stable funding and fostering organizational growth through comprehensive grant management and strategic planning.
A founding board member of the Montrose Recreation Foundation, Lori’s commitment to
community development extends through her dedication to mentorship and training. Her expertise
spans critical areas including board development and strategic initiatives that strengthen
organizational capacity and community impact. Her relationship-first approach ensures deep
understanding of each client’s mission while delivering measurable results with the highest
standards of professional excellence. Lori’s work consistently demonstrates that rural
organizations can compete effectively for resources when equipped with the right tools and
training. She holds a degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Originally from Denver Colorado, Sarah Shikes (she/her/hers) has worked in the nonprofit sector for
over 25 years. Through her experience she has developed a deep understanding for what it takes to
run a successful nonprofit organization and what pitfalls to watch out for when considering
sustainability and capacity. The majority of Sarah’s career has been spent in the roles of associate
director, operating officer, and executive director at Denver based nonprofit organizations
specializing in early childhood education and social justice. Most recently Sarah served as the
executive director for Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores providing leadership and strategic
direction in alignment with the national movements advocating for the rights and wellbeing of
immigrant workers.

In 2024, Sarah graduated with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of
Colorado Denver, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Languages from Pitzer College,
Claremont, CA in 1993. Following college Sarah spent three years living in San Jose, Costa Rica
working for the Institute for Central American Development Studies, and sharpening her skills to
become fluent in Spanish.

Sarah now works as a consultant supporting community efforts that promote belonging and equity
for all residents. Outside of her consulting work Sarah spends time with family and friends,
volunteering, traveling, taking “urban hikes” around the city and occasional get-a-ways to the
Colorado mountains,

Amy has served as Director with ThinkSharp! Consulting since 2020, bringing expertise in grant
writing, strategic planning, and fundraising to rural nonprofits throughout Western Colorado.
Previously Director of Prestigious Grants and Scholarships at a leading Washington, DC
university, Amy combines sophisticated grant management experience with authentic insight into
rural community needs gained since making Colorado’s mountains her home in 2015. Her warm
approach and clear communication style create an environment where ambitious goals feel
achievable, whether helping a rural mental health clinic manage their first major grant or guiding a
regional arts organization through strategic planning. What sets Amy apart is her natural ability to
build authentic connections with every organization she serves, translating complex concepts into
actionable steps that create lasting impact. A self-proclaimed “recovering academic” with degrees
from Emory University and The Catholic University of America, Amy has found her true calling in
helping local nonprofits secure transformative funding that turns big dreams into lasting
community impact.

Stephanie brings 15 years of professional experience in coaching and development, combining a
passion for fundraising with a talent for creating streamlined systems that enhance workflow and
efficiency. She excels in analyzing and organizing data while serving diverse communities with
dedication and impact. In 2015, Stephanie founded Kasih Initiative to meet the growing need
among government agencies and nonprofits for experienced and knowledgeable development
professionals. Since then, she has collaborated with various government and foundation funders to
secure significant grants supporting policy initiatives, healthcare, housing, refugee and immigrant
services, conservation, environmental justice, and census-related work. Stephanie is also a
certified leadership coach through both the Chopra Center and the Brave Thinking Institute. She
holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Ethnic Studies and Sociology from Colorado State University.

Stephanie has won national leadership awards, including the Top 15 Asian American Women
Leaders in 2011. She has been interviewed by MSNBC, the Westword, The White House Project,
and she has appeared live on C-SPAN and at TEDxMileHigh. As an international speaker, she has
shared the stage with public figures such as President Bill Clinton, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist
Jose Antonio Vargas, and John Oliver from Last Week Tonight

For more information, please contact: Alex McHenry, Director of Programs at alex.mchenry@crcamerica.org