Meet Our Team
Keri McDonald, President and Founder Keri began her career at AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), where she had the career-impacting experience of living below the poverty line. Afterward, she joined CPS as a caseworker and then landed at Texas CASA, where she focused on volunteer recruitment and retention.
Keri also has extensive experience in K-12 education policy. At the University of Texas and Region 18 ESC, she co-wrote and was project manager for multi-million grants from the U.S. Department of Education focused on improving the educator pipeline in low-socioeconomic communities.
In 2014, Keri left full-time work to spend more time with her two young sons as the part-time Grants Manager of Austin Sunshine Camps. There she exceeded fundraising goals for three years running and was also the 2015 winner of the Best Grant Proposal from the Grants Professionals Association (GPA).
Keri launched Keri McDonald Consulting in 2016 and has provided consulting services to various organizations, including health and human services, workforce development, schools, and the arts. She has a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Keri is a Grant Professional Certified (GPC), the only accredited certification for the grants profession. The GPC distinction sets her apart from her peers in the industry as she is one of only 30 in the state of Texas.
Keri is a Grant Professionals Association (GPA) member serving on the Programs Committee for the Central Texas Chapter and as their GPC Ambassador. Keri and her family live in Round Rock, Texas, and love watching movies and traveling to new places.
Shannon Coelho, Editor and Grant Associate Shannon’s varied work background includes Production Coordination, Pitch Writing, and Visual Research in the Television and Film industry, Newspaper Advertising Sales, and a two-year stint teaching English in Japan. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and has been a member of the team at Keri McDonald Consulting since 2021. Shannon is a Canadian who has lived with her family in Austin since 2011. They love to hike, read, and travel together.
Kathryn T. Jones, Grant Associate Kathryn T Jones brings over thirty years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including work for a botanical garden, an art museum archives, and a hospice and palliative care provider. She has been with Keri McDonald Consulting since 2022. Kathryn holds advanced degrees in philosophy, library science, and creative writing. She has a thirst for lifelong learning and a heart for rescue dogs.
Nadia Vogel, Grant Associate Nadia is an early career grant writer interested in public sector work around education, workforce development, and LGBT issues. She provides grant application support, including research and concept development, narrative writing and review, and application compilation and submission. Previously, Nadia worked in fundraising for several nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews. Outside of work, Nadia enjoys playing guitar, reading science fiction, and skiing.