1:1 SFC Application Technical Assistance
The SFC will offer FREE 1:1 Technical Assistance for SFC 2023 applicants. You can work one-on-one with the technical assistance providers listed below at ANY point during the application process. TA providers can help you to:
Please note: You must confirm your TA appointment 24 hrs in advance. If you do not confirm your appointment, the appointment will be canceled.
- Understand the SFC 2023 RFP, the application questions, and the Community Review Rubric
- Brainstorm ideas about the most effective ways to describe your summer program in the application
- Review your application content and provide constructive feedback about your responses
- Proofread application materials, checking for spelling, punctuation, grammar, word choice, and clarity of content
- Edit responses to fit within required character limits
- Structure program budgets
- Understand the SFC’s general reporting requirements and any additional reporting requirements from specific funders
Please note: You must confirm your TA appointment 24 hrs in advance. If you do not confirm your appointment, the appointment will be canceled.
Sign-Up for 1:1 TA Sessions!
Click here for each provider's full bio.
Mothyna James-Brightful
Mothyna James-Brightful is described as “energetic, passionate and inspirational” by clients. Affectionately known as Sister Mothyna, she has over 17 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Starting as a Community Educator, she closed her career as an employee with ten years, as a Director on the senior leadership team with a proven track record for curating cohesive teams. Currently, Sister Mothyna is working with social impact organizations to increase understanding and reduce opposition as CEO of MeRISE. MeRISE is a consulting, coaching, and development company. Mothyna is exceptional at supporting you with crafting your magnetic story. She provides expertise in programming, team building, onboarding and strategic direction. Meet with Mothyna!
Mothyna James-Brightful is described as “energetic, passionate and inspirational” by clients. Affectionately known as Sister Mothyna, she has over 17 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Starting as a Community Educator, she closed her career as an employee with ten years, as a Director on the senior leadership team with a proven track record for curating cohesive teams. Currently, Sister Mothyna is working with social impact organizations to increase understanding and reduce opposition as CEO of MeRISE. MeRISE is a consulting, coaching, and development company. Mothyna is exceptional at supporting you with crafting your magnetic story. She provides expertise in programming, team building, onboarding and strategic direction. Meet with Mothyna!
Ellie Mitchell
Ellie Mitchell, Director, Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Network, is dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of afterschool and summer programs for all young people in Maryland. She received her M.S. in Psychology from the University of Baltimore and B.A. in Theatre from Knox College. In her ten years serving as Maryland’s statewide afterschool network lead, Ellie has overseen new initiatives focused on Inclusion, STEM, and Community Schools. Previous professional roles include Afterschool Strategy Project Manager for Baltimore’s Safe and Sound Campaign, Director of Theater for A New Generation at Baltimore’s CenterStage, and the Associate Director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. Ellie specializes in general youth development, telling your program story through grant writing, and budget design. She has multi-year experience with providing TA for the Summer Funding Collaborative application. Meet with Ellie!
Ellie Mitchell, Director, Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Network, is dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of afterschool and summer programs for all young people in Maryland. She received her M.S. in Psychology from the University of Baltimore and B.A. in Theatre from Knox College. In her ten years serving as Maryland’s statewide afterschool network lead, Ellie has overseen new initiatives focused on Inclusion, STEM, and Community Schools. Previous professional roles include Afterschool Strategy Project Manager for Baltimore’s Safe and Sound Campaign, Director of Theater for A New Generation at Baltimore’s CenterStage, and the Associate Director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. Ellie specializes in general youth development, telling your program story through grant writing, and budget design. She has multi-year experience with providing TA for the Summer Funding Collaborative application. Meet with Ellie!
Kirin Smith
Kirin G. Smith is the Principal of Amaana Consulting, a social enterprise founded to help community-serving nonprofit and for-profit organizations launch, plan, and grow. Kirin provides grant writing, organizational development, capacity building, and strategic planning services. Kirin is able to support you in crafting all elements of your SFC application. She has particular strength in the areas of theory of change, logic modeling, resource planning, budget development, and program evaluation as well as proofreading and copyediting. To make the most efficient use of your appointment time, Kirin will share a brief pre-meeting survey to gauge where you are in the process ahead of your appointment.
Meet with Kirin!
Kirin G. Smith is the Principal of Amaana Consulting, a social enterprise founded to help community-serving nonprofit and for-profit organizations launch, plan, and grow. Kirin provides grant writing, organizational development, capacity building, and strategic planning services. Kirin is able to support you in crafting all elements of your SFC application. She has particular strength in the areas of theory of change, logic modeling, resource planning, budget development, and program evaluation as well as proofreading and copyediting. To make the most efficient use of your appointment time, Kirin will share a brief pre-meeting survey to gauge where you are in the process ahead of your appointment.
Meet with Kirin!
Paul Smith
Mr. Smith has spent thirty years working in a wide variety of school-based capacities ranging from teaching to directing alternative programming designed to assist young people severely at-risk of dropping out of school. As a senior consultant, Paul currently serves multiple organizations that keep young people at the center of their work as an evaluator, project manager, and technical assistance provider. Paul earned an MA in Teaching from Trinity University and an MLA from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he currently resides with his wife, two children, and way too many pets. Paul is particularly good at 1) ensuring the applicant has answered key questions the grant has asked of the applicant, 2) providing a sounding board for the overall proposal, 3) making sure the budget matches the program specifications, and 4) brainstorming initial ideas that will eventually go into crafting an application. I would highly encourage applicants to sign up early and, if needed often, in order to get the most value from the process. Meet with Paul!
Mr. Smith has spent thirty years working in a wide variety of school-based capacities ranging from teaching to directing alternative programming designed to assist young people severely at-risk of dropping out of school. As a senior consultant, Paul currently serves multiple organizations that keep young people at the center of their work as an evaluator, project manager, and technical assistance provider. Paul earned an MA in Teaching from Trinity University and an MLA from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he currently resides with his wife, two children, and way too many pets. Paul is particularly good at 1) ensuring the applicant has answered key questions the grant has asked of the applicant, 2) providing a sounding board for the overall proposal, 3) making sure the budget matches the program specifications, and 4) brainstorming initial ideas that will eventually go into crafting an application. I would highly encourage applicants to sign up early and, if needed often, in order to get the most value from the process. Meet with Paul!
Crystal Snyder
Crystal Snyder is a passionate supporter of after school and summer programming. She comes to the Maryland Out of School Time Network after 18 years in out of school time programming where she served in the roles of direct care staff, facility director and most recently training specialist. Crystal earned her B.S in Psychology from York College of Pennsylvania and has spent time as a special education classroom teacher as well as working in OST programming. Her current role as the Learning Coordinator for The Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Network allows her to advocate for all children and youth in Maryland to have access to quality developmental programming during their out of school time. Crystal specializes in proofreading, brainstorming, and selling your program. Meet with Crystal!
Crystal Snyder is a passionate supporter of after school and summer programming. She comes to the Maryland Out of School Time Network after 18 years in out of school time programming where she served in the roles of direct care staff, facility director and most recently training specialist. Crystal earned her B.S in Psychology from York College of Pennsylvania and has spent time as a special education classroom teacher as well as working in OST programming. Her current role as the Learning Coordinator for The Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Network allows her to advocate for all children and youth in Maryland to have access to quality developmental programming during their out of school time. Crystal specializes in proofreading, brainstorming, and selling your program. Meet with Crystal!
Andrea Stennett
Andrea has 11 years of experience in program development/design, implementation and evaluation, with 6 years dedicated to youth programming. She can help you develop your program methodology, create data tools for capturing impact and generate ways to include youth voice into program design. She additionally can help proof read and edit proposals, support budget development and help craft compelling proposals that showcase the heart of your work. Meet with Andrea!
Andrea has 11 years of experience in program development/design, implementation and evaluation, with 6 years dedicated to youth programming. She can help you develop your program methodology, create data tools for capturing impact and generate ways to include youth voice into program design. She additionally can help proof read and edit proposals, support budget development and help craft compelling proposals that showcase the heart of your work. Meet with Andrea!
Jake Weinfeld
Jake Weinfeld is a strategic consultant who spent seven years leading a non-profit summer and out of school time program, MERIT Health Leadership Academy (supporting high schools students who aspire to become health professionals and change agents). During Jake's time at MERIT the organization received the summer funding grant every year. In 2019 MERIT was recognized by the National Summer Learning Association as one of the best summer programs in the country. Over his career Jake has written grant proposals that have been awarded over $5 million. Jake is excited to work with organizations who are at any stage of the process. Whether you're in need of some thought partnership to create the right vision for your program, final edits on the proposal, support with the budget, or anything else Jake is happy to help. Meet with Jake!
Jake Weinfeld is a strategic consultant who spent seven years leading a non-profit summer and out of school time program, MERIT Health Leadership Academy (supporting high schools students who aspire to become health professionals and change agents). During Jake's time at MERIT the organization received the summer funding grant every year. In 2019 MERIT was recognized by the National Summer Learning Association as one of the best summer programs in the country. Over his career Jake has written grant proposals that have been awarded over $5 million. Jake is excited to work with organizations who are at any stage of the process. Whether you're in need of some thought partnership to create the right vision for your program, final edits on the proposal, support with the budget, or anything else Jake is happy to help. Meet with Jake!