Cheryl L. Kester, M.A., CFRE
The Kester Group, LLC
Fayetteville, AR 72704
(479) 582-1053 (work & fax) ckester@cox.net
Principal – The Kester Group, LLC, Fayetteville, AR, 2005-present
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Fifteen years of winning grants totaling $91.8 million for multiple nationwide clients (higher
education, faith-based, health care, social services)
Providing excellent grants training and education
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2005
Association of Fundraising Professionals Education Advisory Committee (2012)
Northwest Arkansas chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Member
(2003-present), Chapter Officer: Past President 2007, President 2006, President-Elect 2005,
Secretary/Communications 2004
Member Grant Professionals Association (GPA) 2005-present; State Representative 20082012; Professional Growth & Development Committee, member, 2009-present, chair 201011, vice-chair 2009
Member of CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education)
Education
M.A. English Language and Literature, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 1996
B.A. Honors English, summa cum laude, John Brown University, Arkansas, 1991
Previous Grants Employment
Adjunct Instructor – University of Arkansas, College of Education and Health Professions, 2007
Design and team-teach graduate level grant writing course.
Director of Grants and Foundation Relations
John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR, 1999-2005
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Researched prospects, prepared grant proposals, served departments seeking grants
Collaborated with faculty to design academic grants, and IT/Admissions to obtain and
analyze student data
Launched college’s federal grant-seeking efforts, winning several upon first application
Obtained $11.5 million in grant funds 1999-2005
Designed and implemented protocols and checklists and post-award procedures
Presented grants opportunities during faculty colloquia and new faculty orientation
Other service to the University/Community:
 Adjunct Instructor of English
 Adjunct Instructor of Communications in the Adult Degree Completion Program
 Member, AFP (2003-present), Chapter Officer: Past President 2007, President 2006,
President-Elect 2005, Secretary/Communications 2004
 Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity of Fayetteville (2000-2003), Officer 2001-2003;
Chair Financial Development Team (2001-2003); Marketing/PR Committee (1998-2001)
Kester Resume
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Federal Grants Acquisition Record
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2013: Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) Delta States Grant, HRSA-13-157, CFDA# 93.912, $1,499,577 (three year award)
2012: U.S. Dept. of Education, Title V Developing Hispanic Institutions Program, CFDA #:
84.031S, $3,249,964 (five year award)
2012: U.S. Dept. of Education, TRIO Programs, Upward Bound, CFDA 84.047A
FOUR awards to four community college campuses, $1.3 million each (five years)
2012: U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition, National Professional
Development Program, CFDA 84.365Z, $1.35 million (five years)
2012: Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) Rural Health Network Outreach Grant, HRSA-12-083, $499,941 (three years)
2012: National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America: Reaching Every Community FastTrack Grants, CFDA No. 45.024, $10,000
2011: U.S. Dept. of Education, Hispanic-Serving Institutions Science Technology Engineering and
Mathematics Articulation Programs (HSI-STEM), CFDA #: 84.031C, $4,346,682 (five-year award)
2010: U.S. Dept. of Education, Title III Strengthening Institutions Program, CFDA #: 84.031A,
$1,999,322 (five-year award)
2011: Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) Rural Health Network Development Grant, HRSA 08-004, $539,982 (three-year award)
2011: Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Healthy
Marriages Demonstration Grants, HHS-2011-ACF-OFA-FM-0193, $2,173,284 (five-year award)
2010: National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America: Reaching Every Community FastTrack Review Grants, CFDA No. 45.024, $10,000
2010: U.S. Dept. of Education, Title III Strengthening Institutions Program, CFDA #: 84.031A,
$1,999,501 (five-year award)
2010: U.S. Dept. of Education, Title V Developing Hispanic Institutions Program, CFDA #:
84.031S,TWO Cooperative grant awards [two institutions] one for $3,872,359 and one for
$3,673,793 (both five year awards)
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ONE award under CFDA #: 84.031S, $3,867,151 (five-year award to a single campus)
2010: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Profession Opportunity Grants to
Serve TANF Recipients and Other Low-Income Individuals, HHS-2010-ACF-OFA-FX-0126.
$16.9 million (five-year award)
2009: U.S. Department of Education, Student Support Services CFDA No. 84.042A,
TWO awards to separate colleges of $1.1 million each
2009: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Assistance to Firefighters Grant $108,472
2009: U.S. Dept. of Education (OPE), Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic
Americans (PPOHA) grant, CFDA No. 84.031M, $2,873,474 (5 year award)
2009: National Endowment for the Arts, Challenge America: Reaching Every Community FastTrack Review Grants, CFDA No. 45.024, $10,000
2008: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Assistance to Firefighters Grant –
$200,000
2008: U.S. Department of Education (OPE), Hispanic Serving Institutions (College Cost Reduction
and Access Act (CCRAA)) grant – CFDA No. 84.031C, $1,839,157 (2-yr award)
2008: U.S. Department of Education (OPE), Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant –
CFDA No. 84.031A, $1,998,739 (five-year award)
2008: HRSA, Rural Health Network Development Grant – HRSA 08-004, CFDA No. 93.912,
$539,997 (three-year award)
2008: Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families,
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Community-Based Abstinence Education Grants– HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-AE-0099, CFDA No.
93.010, $2,744,215 (five-year award)
2007: HRSA Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant – HRSA 07-042, CFDA No.
93.912, $84,981 (one-year award)
2006: EPA P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on
People, Prosperity, and the Planet – FON: EAP-G2007-P3-Z5 – Water, $10,000 (one-year award),
invited to submit Round II application December 2007
2006: Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Healthy
Marriages Demonstration Grants – HHS-2006-ACF-OFA-FE-0033, $2,723,910 (five-year award)
2004: U.S. Department of Education, TRIO: Student Support Services – CFDA No. 84.042A,
$1,100,000 (five-year award; bonus fifth year awarded only to top 10% of applications)
2003: U.S. Department of Education, Title VI: Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign
Language Program – CFDA No. 84.016A, $142,715 (two-year award)
Grant Reviewing Experience
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Corporation for Community and National Service (AmeriCorps), 2011; panel chair 2013 and 2014
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Ozark Affiliate, 2009, 2010 and 2011
US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Compassion
Capital Fund Demonstration Grants, Reviewer 2007
US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Compassion
Capital Fund Targeted Capacity Building program, Panel Leader 2007
United Way, Washington County (Ark.), 2007
Institute for Youth Development, 2006 Capacity Building Grants, Round II, 2006
US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Compassion
Capital Fund Targeted Capacity Building program, Reviewer 2006
Institute for Youth Development, 2006 Capacity Building Grants, Round I, 2006
United Way, Washington County (Ark.), 2006
Continuing Education Attended and Certifications (selected)
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Grant Professionals Association (GPA) – National Conf., 2004, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13
 Chicago Regional Conference, 2008, 2010
 Mid-Ohio Valley, 2009 and forthcoming 2014
 MidSouth Regional Conference, 2014
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) – International Conference, 2008, 09, 10, 12, 13
CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) – Corporate & Foundation Relations
National Conference, 2002, ’03, ’05, ’06 & ’10
COE Upward Bound writing workshop, 2011
U.S. Department of Education Upward Bound technical assistance workshop, 2011
HUD Hispanic Institutions Assisting Communities Grantees Workshop, 2011
Certified Fundraising Executive, 2005 (initial certification); re-certified 2008 and 2011
American Evaluation Association Conference, Denver, CO, 2008
Publications (selected)
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Forthcoming: Writing to Win Federal Grants book and Writing to Win Federal Grants Workbook,
CharityChannel Press, 2014, with co-author Karen Cassidy
“Writing Foundation Grants for Faith-Based Organizations,” Grants and Foundation Review
(GFR) at CharityChannel.com, Aug. 11, 2011
“Tips and Tricks for Cutting When Space is Tight,” GFR at CharityChannel.com, Feb. 16, 2011
“Getting the Information Your Proposal Needs from Others,” GFR,.com, June 9, 2010
“Redefining Bricks and Mortar Projects to Generate More Funds,” GFR, Aug 27, 2008
Kester Resume
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“Cover Letters: Introducing Your Proposal With Style,” GFR, Sept 12, 2007
“Weight Lifting for Non-Profits: Capacity-Building Grants Explained,” GFR, July 27, 2007
“We’re #1!: Writing the Organizational Profile,” GFR, Feb 14, 2007
“A Grantseeker’s Guide to Interpreting Foundation Tax Returns,” GFR, Nov. 15, 2006
“Preparing Great Budgets,” GFR, Aug. 16, 2006
“Developing Relationships with Foundations,” GFR, Jul. 19, 2006
Presentations/Training Delivered (selected)
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Forthcoming, “Your Proposal Must Say This,” GPA Annual Conference, Portland, OR, Oct. 2014
Forthcoming Invited keynote and breakout speaker GPA of the Miami Valley Ohio Regional
Conference, Ohio, September 2014
Invited: “Writing to Win Federal Grants,” GPA Mid-South Regional Conference, Memphis, TN,
May 2014
“Strategic Grants Planning,” workshop at Summit Events Center, Denver, CO, Mar. 2014
“Introduction to Federal Grants,” invited half-day pre-conference workshop for Grant Professional
Association (GPA) national conference, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 2013
“Your Proposal Must Say This,” and “Making Intergenerational Differences Work for You”
(panel), GPA national conference Baltimore, MD, Nov. 2013
“Grantseeking 101” and “Fitting Grants Into Your Fundraising Toolbox,” Association of
Fundraising Professionals (AFP) of Arkansas, Little Rock AR, May 2012
“The Role of Grants in Your Campaign,” AFP International Conference, designed and led panel
presentation, Vancouver, BC, April 2012
“Project Design with Logic Models,” Arkansas Energy Office staff training, Little Rock, Ark., Feb.
2012
“MSU: The Proposal Writer’s Guide to Making Stuff Up,” GPA Arkansas Chapter meeting, Little
Rock, AR, December 2011 (co-presenter Barbara Putman, Walton Arts Center, Arkansas)
“Introduction to Federal Grants,” invited half-day pre-conference workshop for GPA national
conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 2011
“Adding Grants to Your Fundraising Toolbox,” AFP of Northwest Arkansas, Sept. 2011
“You Can Be Successful at Grants!” – contracted two-day grantwriting workshop for executive
directors and board members of county affiliates of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund,
Mar. 31-Apr. 1, 2011, Springdale, Ark.
“Using Census Data in your Grant Proposals,” GPA Ark. Chapter, March 2011, Little Rock, Ark.
and at Association of Fundraising Professionals Northwest Arkansas Summit, Nov. 2011
Faculty grants training, Southern Nazarene University, Feb. 2011
“‘Who, me?’ Or Maybe ‘Why me?’: The Grant Professional's Role in Post-Award Management,”
GPA National conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, Nov. 2010
“Introduction to Logic Models,” Grantees’ training, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Ozark Affiliate,
Rogers, Ark. July 2010
“Now What?: Managing the Grant After It’s Funded,” AFP International, Baltimore, April 2010
Featured Day-Long Speaker, “Grantwriting for Programs: Frameworks for Presenting Programs to
Funders,” Mid-Ohio Valley Association of Grant Professionals, Regional Conference, Sept. 2009
Three Years of “Grant Seeking Academy” – NWACF Capacity Building Workshops, 6-week
course, 2-hours per week, August 4-Sept. 8, 2009; April 15–May 20, 2008 AND July-August 2007,
Fayetteville, Ark.
Kester Resume
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College Teaching
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Grantwriting (Graduate Course) – Spring 2007
Masterpieces of Literature – Spring 2005, Spring 2004 and Independent Study Summer 2004
Medieval English Literature – Fall 2003 and Independent Study Summer 2004
Business Technical Communication – Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Fall 2004
English II – Spring 1997
English I – Fall 1996
Introduction to Higher Education – Fall 1998
Other Previous Employment
Director of Web Services, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR, 1999-2003
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Webmaster for entire university web site and JBU external entities, budget officer and
supervisor of web staff, oversaw significant technology enhancements, led and implemented
two new site designs
Director of Technology Planning, Research and Development, John Brown University,
Siloam Springs, AR, 1998-1999
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Team Leader, Division of Information Resources leadership team, budget officer ($1 million
annually), responsible for campus-wide strategic planning for technology, Y2K project leader,
member Council for Christian Colleges & Universities Commission on Technology (19982003), appointed to the EDUCAUSE Editorial Review Committee (3-year term)
Director of Network Computing Services, John Brown University, 1995-1997
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Designed and implemented campus-wide help desk, implemented software training to
university personnel and students, budget officer and supervisor of technical and help desk/lab
staff, President's Technology Task Force, served on Technology Council, institutional
representative to ARKnet, statewide educational network (1994-1999), member Arkansas
Depart. of Higher Education Technology Consortium (1997-1999)
Coordinator of Academic Computing, John Brown University, 1994
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Implementing training program and hiring guidelines for student lab monitors, operating
computing labs, planning and growing campus network, budget officer, supervising technical
staff, providing technical support to academic users
Other Experience
Editorial Intern, Shakespeare Quarterly, Washington, DC, Sept. 1993-May 1994
Assistant to the President, Christian College Coalition, Wash., DC, 1991-1993
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