Meet Ruthie Caldwell, PMP
Owner – Chief Grant Writing & Project Management Consultant
Based in Eastern Kentucky and raised in Texas, Ruthie graduated with her M.A. in Communication and B.A. in Theatre Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Ruthie is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with experience writing and managing grants for non-profits, higher ed, and government agencies. Some grant focus areas include economic and workforce development, downtown revitalization, tourism, broadband, education, arts & humanities, healthcare, disability, youth programs, addiction recovery, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. Awarded grants she successfully wrote and managed have ranged from small foundation grants as little as $500 to large federal grants up to $2.9M. Previous employers include: Texas State University, Texas Hospital Association Foundation, State of Hawaii Workforce Development Council, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, and an Austin-based non-profit for artists with disabilities called Imagine Art. Her specialties include: grant writing, workshop and meeting facilitation, project management, relationship building, navigating systems, streamlining processes, designing projects, and strengthening organizations.
Want to get started? Contact Ruthie at ruthie@visiongranted.com.
Meet Rhea Carter
Grant Writer – Facilitator
Raised in Knox County, Kentucky, Rhea is focused on improving the quality of life in her home region of Appalachia. As the first person in her family to graduate from college, Rhea received a degree in Communication with minors in Appalachian Studies and Peace & Social Justice from Berea College in 2020. After graduating, she went on to earn certificates in Grant Writing and Results Based Accountability. Looking forward, she hopes to stay in her home state and continue fighting for equitable access to education and technology, as well as positive and complex representation.
Rhea currently serves as a Lead for America – American Connection Corps Fellow based at Partners for Education (PFE) in Berea, KY. Along with supporting the organization’s mission of “All Appalachian Students Succeed,” Rhea is also currently working on digital equity and rural broadband advocacy in Kentucky’s Promise Zone.
Meet Lisa Westerbeck Fossum
Research Coordinator – Grant Writer – Real Estate Extraordinaire
Currently based in San Marcos, TX, Lisa has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Arizona and B.A. in Anthropology and Geography from Texas State University. Lisa’s first experience with writing and managing grants began as a Peace Corps volunteer in Poland in 1999. Since then she has worked with grants in city, county, and regional government, mostly in transportation and geographic information systems, as well as in academia attaining more than $7 Million over the past decade. Lisa’s specialties include: grant writing, project management, relationship building, and budget development. She has assisted in writing proposals awarded funding by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and various foundations. She especially enjoys helping make the process easier so you can focus on your project. Contact Lisa at contact@visiongranted.com.
Meet Tim Caldwell
Strategic Director – AmeriCorps VISTA Supervisor
Based in Eastern Kentucky, Tim earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Business at BYU Hawaii, where he met people from countries across the world. There he first recognized there are endless possibilities to solve any problem, but the best person to solve a problem is the person with the problem. With a little bit of creativity and the right business strategy, every problem has a solution waiting to be discovered.
Having worked in a number of industries, including business office settings, the oil field, food & beverage, and healthcare, Tim has a variety of experiences to draw upon helping clients realize their next “Aha!” moment. Since the creation of Vision Granted, Tim Caldwell has been instrumental in advancing the company in oftentimes simple, but effective solutions. He excels at asking the right questions and cutting through unnecessary jargon and fluff that prevents individuals from seeing a clear path to their own success. Additionally, Tim was influential in starting Mr. Tibbs’ Trading Company specializing in curating international delicacies and delights from across the world, and providing truly unique experiences where anyone can discover more about themselves through what the company affectionately calls “flavor trips.” Tim believes it’s rarely so much a matter of money, so much as a matter of innovation to achieve any outcome you desire. Tim is a creative problem solver helping organizations and communities see the big picture and connect with their audiences in new and exciting ways.
Contact Tim at tim@visiongranted.com.
Photo by Heidi Sandstrom. on Unsplash
Vision Granted 