Years of diverse professional experience
Hi, I’m
Karisha Du Toit
Grant Writer
Calgary,Canada
Summary
Skilled grant writing professional with a proven track record of successful team collaboration and achieving impactful results. Proficient in conducting thorough research, crafting compelling proposals, and securing essential funding for various projects. Adaptable and dependable, excelling in dynamic work environments while maintaining a strategic approach to effectively communicate and write persuasive grant applications.
Overview
15
3
Prospect Researcher and Grant Writer
3
Supporting non-profit organizations in various roles
6
Project and Administrative Support Coordinator
Work History
Contracting Work
Grant Writing Projects
07.2024 - Current
Inn from the Cold
Prospect Researcher and Grant Writer
08.2019 - 10.2021
Job overview
- Reporting to the External Relations Director, the Grant Writer is responsible for researching funding opportunities that align with project initiatives and transforming ideas and stories into compelling proposals to secure funding support for Inn from the Cold families.
- Key skills: writing, storytelling, relationship building, and organization.
- Tasks:
- Initiate and lead departmental meetings to gather information on project funding needs, goals, and budgets and gather inspirational stories to write compelling grant proposals
- Research prospective funders to steward and discuss potential funding opportunities
- Provide ongoing updates on grant status, prospective donors, and proposal developments verbally and in Raiser's Edge to keep the Fund Development team informed
- Prepare Donor Impact Reports, highlighting program accomplishments to update, engage, and retain donors
- Accomplishment:
- Proven record of writing successful proposals and applications to various grant-makers, meeting substantial funding needs. Outcome: Successfully helped reach the 2020-21 fiscal year fundraising goal by increasing grant funds by 75 percent from the prior year to support multiple project demands.
The Mustard Seed
Development Support Coordinator
06.2018 - 08.2019
Job overview
- Collaborating closely with the Director of Development, the coordinator’s primary responsibilities are to build donor relationships by engaging supporters in The Mustard Seed’s story, coordinating cross-departmental meetings to discuss fundraising events and initiatives, and managing legacy files.
- Key skills: relationship building, communications, fundraising, and time management.
- Tasks:
- Assist with fundraising events, collaborating with team members to meet funding targets
- Engage donors with cards and calls to acknowledge contributions and foster relationships
- Manage sixty-five legacy accounts, ensuring accurate, timely stakeholder documentation
- Collaborate with Donor Relations to code legacy contributions and update donor records
- Accomplishment:
- Achieved a stretch goal by expanding the responsibilities of the Development Support Coordinator role, including the strategic management of a portfolio of giving donors exceeding $10,000. Outcome: Entrusted to oversee the legacy account, cultivating relationships with potential legacy donors and developing a compelling presentation tailored to prospective donors.
The Mustard Seed
Executive Assistant to the Chief Development Officer
02.2018 - 06.2018
Job overview
- Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this position delivers confidential administrative assistance. It supports efficient leadership through effective stakeholder communication while providing robust support across the organization’s functional service and program sectors.
- Key skills: adaptable, resourceful, team-focused, and planning.
- Tasks:
- Maintain an overall awareness of the Chief Development Officer’s business needs and activities to assist with time management and prioritization
- Draft and edit donor correspondences and Fund Development Reports to ensure overall accuracy and professionalism
- Assist with the annual budget preparation, tracking and communicating updates to the departmental Managers to support planning and prioritization needs
- Review and reconcile the Development Manager’s expense reports to keep reporting schedules on track
- Accomplishment:
- Expressed an interest in professional development in the fundraising sector to enhance skills, expand knowledge, and contribute more significantly to team success. Outcome: Approved to attend and completed the “Fundamentals of Fundraising” certification seminar through the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Accenture Canada
Executive Support Analyst
05.2017 - 01.2018
Job overview
- The Executive Support Analyst works with multiple Managing Directors, completing assigned routine and non-routine deliverables to help meet strategic project goals. Additionally, executive support bridges communication between Managing Directors and the organization.
- Key skills: communications, problem-solving, diligence, and client relations.
- Tasks:
- Cultivate robust relationships with Managing Directors and clients to understand and fulfill project support needs
- Anticipate the travel needs of six Managing Directors, independently coordinating complex travel arrangements
- Manage intricate calendar activity, including extensive appointment coordination to meet client needs
- Maintain knowledge of recent technology to educate the executives on new workflows
- Accomplishment:
- Orchestrated a two-day off-site strategy summit for the 2018 fiscal year planning while supporting the Project’s Managing Director. Outcome: The sessions were successful without incurring additional costs and earned recognition for the favorable outcome.
Fluor Canada
Logistics and Accommodations Coordinator
06.2016 - 03.2017
Job overview
- Reporting to the Site Services Manager, this role assists with managing site travel coordination requirements for employees and contractors and consults with the field camp and travel team to troubleshoot incidents.
- Key skills: diligence, problem-solving, dependability, and ensuring efficiency in a high-stress environment.
- Tasks:
- Schedule and confirm travel and lodging details to ensure efficient operations
- Coordinate flight and accommodation with the aviation team for operational alignment
- Train and mentor newly hired Travel Coordinators to maintain consistent practices
- Respond to travel inquiries from employees and contractors to provide real-time support
- Accomplishment:
- Worked with the Lead Travel Coordinator, learning the intricacies of the role while efficiently managing travel and accommodation requests through excellent organization and attentiveness. Outcome: Assigned with generating the daily flight and camp reports and covering for the Lead Travel Coordinator as needed.
Fluor Canada
Project Support, Various Projects
03.2016 - 06.2016
Job overview
- Provided administrative support and coordination to various oil and gas projects to maintain effective operations during the economic downturn.
Fluor Canada
Procurement Technician
01.2016 - 03.2016
Job overview
- Reporting to the Material Control Manager, this role prepares contract details and supports the material management group. The Procurement Technician requires advanced project knowledge and specialized supply chain courses.
- Key skills: critical thinking, independent judgment, methodical organization, and effective time management.
- Tasks:
- Provide procurement support to boost project efficiency and effectiveness
- Prepare the Bidder’s List for client approval to avoid discrepancies
- Develop expertise in logistics planning and material management to excel in the role
- Update PO cost details in the tracking system to ensure accurate and consistent information
- Accomplishment:
- Reviewed and redesigned the Approved Supplier’s List. Outcome: Streamlined supplier data for accurate, quick retrieval of confidential material and improved other project templates.
Fluor Canada
Lead Project Support Coordinator, Kearl Expansion
10.2013 - 12.2015
Job overview
- The Lead Project Support Coordinator delivers both technical and administrative assistance to the project team, manages sensitive and confidential information with discretion, and directly supports the Project Manager.
- Key skills: time management, organization, multi-tasking, and working efficiently under pressure.
- Tasks:
- Prepare reports and presentations to support management meetings
- Submit expense reports for the Project Manager and project leads to support their time management needs
- Audit and track client approval on engineering site plans to keep the database current
- Issue and track change order approvals for the procurement team to support advanced project demands
- Accomplishment:
- Operated as the Lead Project Support Coordinator to a team of thirty people, supporting both Fluor and the client during a five-month closeout phase. Outcome: A successful project closeout while providing optimal project support. In turn, being the only Project Support Coordinator resulted in cost savings for the client.
Education
Athabasca UniversityAthabasca, AB
Bachelor of Arts from English
07.2025
University Overview
ongoing
Seattle Central College
Grant Writing Certificate
12.2021
Southern Alberta Institute of TechnologyCalgary, AB
Supply Management Professional Certificate
02.2017
Mount Royal UniversityCalgary, AB
Human Resources Management Certificate
03.2011
Skills
Microsoft Office Suite
Google Workspace
Teamwork and collaboration
Time management
Diligence in detail
Analytical thinking
Non-profit funding strategies
Grant proposal writing
Donor report preparation
Presentation development
Content editing
Raiser's Edge NXT
Research methodology
Information gathering
Accomplishments
- Achieved project funding by writing compelling grant proposals and applications with authentic narratives, accuracy, and efficiency.
- Achieved the Fundamentals of Fundraising certification seminar by initiating professional development interest.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams for the development of grant proposals.
- Achieved a successful project completion through effectively supporting a team of thirty people with various project support needs.
- Used Microsoft Excel to streamline project information and supplier data.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Certification
- Copyediting and Proofreading: Introduction March 2025, University of British Columbia, online
- Grant Writing Workshop December 2020, University of Alberta, online
- Fundamentals of Fundraising, Capital Campaigns April 2018, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Calgary, AB
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Interests
Continued learning
Writing about and researching topics of interest
Staying active
Traveling to new places around the globe
Reading
Anything to do with animals
Timeline
Grant Writing Projects
Contracting Work
07.2024 - Current
Prospect Researcher and Grant Writer
Inn from the Cold
08.2019 - 10.2021
Development Support Coordinator
The Mustard Seed
06.2018 - 08.2019
Executive Assistant to the Chief Development Officer
The Mustard Seed
02.2018 - 06.2018
Executive Support Analyst
Accenture Canada
05.2017 - 01.2018
Logistics and Accommodations Coordinator
Fluor Canada
06.2016 - 03.2017
Project Support, Various Projects
Fluor Canada
03.2016 - 06.2016
Procurement Technician
Fluor Canada
01.2016 - 03.2016
Lead Project Support Coordinator, Kearl Expansion
Fluor Canada
10.2013 - 12.2015
Seattle Central College
Grant Writing Certificate
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Supply Management Professional Certificate
Mount Royal University
Human Resources Management Certificate
Athabasca University
Bachelor of Arts from English
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