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Steve Densmore, President and Founder Steve Densmore has spent the last 35 years working as a communications professional in the Hudson Valley. An award winning writer and journalist, Steve spent much of that time working in the trenches for several weekly newspapers and magazines, serving as a reporter, editor and publisher (sometimes all at the same time). Steve’s career path evolved substantially in 2005 when he began working as a communications consultant for several Hudson Valley nonprofit organizations. This grew to include the Dyson Foundation and the Walkway Over the Hudson nonprofit organization, where he spearheaded public relations and grant writing for several years. Steve launched Choice Words in 2010 in response to an increasing call for supportive communications services among Hudson Valley nonprofits. He has served on various boards of directors during his career including the New York Press Association, the Vassar Warner Home of Poughkeepsie, the Barrett Art Center, and the environmental advocacy organization, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. He is currently on the board of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. He lives in Montgomery. |
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Briana Maloney, Vice President and Co-Founder Briana Maloney has been grant writing for 15 years and has won more than $54M for Choice Words’ clients. She is a research and information specialist with experience in social media and web design. She previously worked as an academic librarian at Rockland Community College, Mount Saint Mary College, and at the New York State Library as a public information advocate where she sought funding for various statewide public education programs. She is on the board of the Rondout Valley Education Foundation, serving as chair of the grants committee and is a member of the Music Institute of Sullivan and Ulster Counties’ High Strung Orchestra. She currently resides in Kerhonkson, NY, with her two kids, husband, and adorable mutt. |
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Amanda Heidel, Director of Community Engagement Amanda came to Choice Words in 2020 after six years of working in advertising and marketing for Viacom Media Networks. She moved to Ithaca from the Hudson Valley in 2022 and has helped develop Choice Words’ new office in Ithaca. In addition, she helped Choice Words develop the Small and Emerging Nonprofit Grants program in 2019, which she also manages. Her background in marketing dovetails with grant writing to create an innovative framework for guiding emerging nonprofits who often need diversified funding streams to get on their feet. |
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Maureen Mooney, Grants Manager and Senior Writer
Maureen has been grant writing for nearly ten years and has secured funding for municipalities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, museums, and universities. She specializes in writing state and federal proposals and applies her background in business and economic development to assist clients with short and long-term funding strategies, project development, research, and procurement. Maureen has obtained funding for a wide range of projects including downtown revitalization initiatives, municipal infrastructure improvements, community and workforce development programs, and open space restoration projects. She genuinely enjoys the diversity of people and projects that she has connected with through grant writing over the years, and is thrilled to have recently joined the Choice Words team. After several years of living and working in Chicago and Philadelphia, Maureen is happily back home in Central New York with her husband and two young children. |
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Yesenia Morales, Administrator Yesenia Morales pursued her undergraduate education at Russell Sage College in Upstate New York in Psychology. While at Russell Sage College, She became a writer for the school newsletter and published many articles covering events, social topics and kept students up to date. After finishing her studies, her professional journey has been primarily rooted in the insurance industry. Yesenia actively joins volunteer events of nonprofit organizations that focus on the environment and social well-being. Her passion for volunteerism with nonprofit organizations has flowed into the professional world, and is one of the many reasons she has joined the Choice Words team. Yesenia is critical to generating proposals, responding to bids, and is in charge of billing, amongst other organizational tasks. |
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Aaron Fumarola, Grant Writer Born and raised in the Finger Lakes town of Homer, NY, Aaron is a 2007 graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he studied political science and philosophy. In 2010 he completed a Masters of Professional Studies in Environmental Policy from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. After working for three years as Development Coordinator for Lime Hollow Nature Center in Cortland, NY, he transitioned to Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, NY, where he worked for nearly two years as the organization’s sole grant writer. With a lifelong enthusiasm for the arts and humanities, he joined Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in 2015, where he was responsible for cultivating and soliciting donations from new and existing donors in support of arts and education programming. In April of 2017 he transitioned to Choice Words on a part-time basis to research and write proposals on behalf of a number of our clients. |
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Teryl Mickens, Grant Writer Teryl is a seasoned grant writer experienced in both non-profit and for-profit business sectors. Over the last 12 years she has secured federal, state and private sources to fund projects ranging from affordable housing, community development and the arts. In addition to grant writing, Teryl specializes in procuring federal and state historic preservation tax credits. Teryl is a current board member of Ulster County Habitat for Humanity, the Business Alliance of Kingston and has served as a panelist for Arts Mid-Hudson. She is a former Kingston Landmarks Preservation commissioner and was appointed to serve on the Kingston Comprehensive Plan committee. Originally from Manhattan, she now resides in Kingston. |
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Alyssa Barrett, Grant Writer Alyssa Barrett is a grant writer for Choice Words’ Small and Emerging Nonprofit Grants Program, with a focus on the arts and education. She has a background in creative writing and teaching, and brings a love of storytelling to her work. She has been with Choice Words since 2021. She also is an independent writing consultant and editor, and is part of the Development team at the Omega Institute. Originally from Rochester, NY, she now lives in Kingston. |
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Jennifer Leao, Grant Writer Jennifer Leao has over 12 years of experience as a non-profit administrator and capacity builder. She specializes in post-award management and governmental grant proposals at all levels. Jennifer has worked in supportive housing and homeless services, legal services, and university community-based initiatives and research projects. Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, She has lived in New York, NY for over 15 years. |
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Barbara Weinstein, Grant Writer For three decades, Barbara has been helping nonprofit organizations talk about their work in ways that ensure other people feel it and fund it. She has served in both corporate and foundation account management positions, and has written countless grants, websites, and donor communications for organizations in sectors including arts and culture, youth development, education, health and wellness, and more. A seasoned public service warrior with a deep commitment to social justice, Barbara writes to build connections, whether that means inspiring a single individual to care about a unique mission or matching a large, complex project with an international institutional funder. Barbara is based in Westchester County, New York. |
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Susie Linn, Grant Writer Susie Linn has more than 30 years of experience in development and marketing across the public and private sectors, with a focus on arts and culture, healthcare and wellness, and higher education. She has served on the City of Kingston Arts Commission for over seven years, including three years as Chair. For more than a decade, Susie was a grant panelist for Arts Mid-Hudson, reviewing proposals in Ulster and Dutchess Counties, and served for ten years on the Ulster County Executive Arts Awards Committee. In recognition of her community service, she received the Volunteer Award at the Arts Mid-Hudson County Executive Arts Awards in 2020. Her community leadership includes roles as Co-Producer of Sinterklaas Kingston, Advisory Committee member for the YMCA Farm Project, Treasurer and Past President of the Arts Society of Kingston. A lifelong foodie, Susie has owned and operated Calder’s Cottage Bed & Breakfast in Kingston and Food for Thought Catering in Albany. As a freelance writer, she has also contributed restaurant reviews to KingstonHappenings.org. |
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Stephanie Andres, Grant Writer
A native of the Ithaca area, Stephanie is dedicated to advancing missions through community building, impactful initiatives, and innovative best practices.She brings a proven track record in nonprofit fundraising, governance, communications and community relations, having contributed as both an employee and volunteer in the scientific research, community service, and the performing and visual arts sectors. |
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Jane Rigler, Grant Writer Musician and organizer of multi-disciplinary events, Jane Rigler specializes in writing arts-related grants for non-profits. She was a professor of music for 14 years at the University of Colorado, and recently relocated to the Hudson Valley to promote the arts in this region. She specializes in local, regional, state, and federal grants. |
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Sycamore May, Grant Writer Sycamore May is a grant consultant with deep experience supporting mission-driven organizations across food systems, sustainability, and community development. She specializes in identifying high-value funding opportunities, crafting persuasive proposals, and managing grants that help organizations grow their programs and impact. Her work often focuses on educational initiatives, community nourishment, and regenerative agriculture, with a strong emphasis on building organizational capacity and long-term resilience. She holds a Master of Science in Food Policy from the University of London and a BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College. Outside of her work, Sycamore enjoys exploring local trails, testing new recipes, and spending time with her orange tabby, Batata. |
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Carolyn Beer, Grant Writer Carolyn Beer grew up in Chatham, NY, and has a deep love for the Hudson Valley—its land, people, and organizations. With an academic background in gender studies and food justice, she brings expertise in social issues, land justice, migration, queer/LGBTQIA+ issues, data sovereignty, and nature connection and education. Carolyn has experience working with local agricultural businesses, film and cultural programs, and community organizing initiatives. She currently volunteers with the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement and the Hudson Valley Young Farmers Coalition. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and gardening and currently works with the Small and Emerging Nonprofits program. |
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Sarah Anderson, Grant Writer Born and raised in the Finger Lakes, Sarah brings a strong local perspective and a deep commitment to community-centered work. With over 10 years of experience supporting non-profit organizations, she has successfully developed and secured grant funding for impactful, sustainable programs. Her background includes extensive work with individuals experiencing homelessness and survivors of Domestic Violence. She has conducted in-depth research, data analysis, and reporting, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and outcome-driven documentation. She has experience building programs from the ground up, including Community, Emergency, and Supported Housing Programs, as well as Supportive Services initiatives for our underserved populations. Her work emphasizes strategic planning, measurable outcomes, and long-term program viability. Sarah is known for a structured, detail-oriented approach—focused not only on securing funding, but on strengthening organizational capacity and expanding services to those most in need. |
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MaryBeth Bunge, Grant Writer MaryBeth Bunge joined Choice Words in January 2026, after moving to the Hudson Valley in 2023. With thirty years of non-profit experience ranging from grant research, writing and administration to professional theatre management and work in community development finance, MaryBeth thrives on learning about and serving mission-driven organizations. Her eclectic education (B.A. in English/Theatre, M.S. in Textiles & Clothing, and Master of Library Science) has given her a variety of skills to effectively serve a wide-ranging portfolio of clients. MaryBeth led fundraising teams in Ithaca NY for Cayuga Nature Center, Discovery Trail, Hangar Theatre, and Alternatives Impact/Alternatives Federal Credit Union. She taught Fundraising in the Performing Arts at Ithaca College for seven years; recently, she provided strategic planning consulting services with Illume Projects for Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tompkins County and Cornell Integrated Pest Management. MaryBeth is an avid knitter and teacher at the NYS Sheep & Wool Festival and rhythm guitarist in the acoustic duo, Jasperoo. She lives in Rhinebeck with her spouse and cranky yet beloved feline. |
Professional Associations
