Kelly has more than 25 years of nonprofit experience as a grant writer, grant maker, and communicator. With Pear Associates, she works with small and large nonprofits in New England and nationally across a range of issue areas that include healthy aging, family support, mental health, disability issues, education equity, and post-secondary success. Kelly strongly believes that words matter and supports organizations to craft well-framed, asset-based language about their work and their communities. 

Among her numerous projects, she has helped Phoenix Charter School Network raise funds to create a Makerspace for therapeutic arts in Lawrence and supported Advocates to secure grants to provide youth access to remote therapy during COVID. Passionate about aging issues, Kelly supports the Gerontological Society of America with grant writing and business planning as they launch the National Center to Reframe Aging and uses her skills to help FriendshipWorks increase funding to support isolated older adults in Greater Boston. 

Kelly first learned the art of grant writing as an AmeriCorps*VISTA in the South Bronx. After graduate school at New York University, she worked as a program assistant for the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Civic Investments Team. At Casey, Kelly launched a neighborhood grants program for communities of color in East Baltimore and worked to strengthen the foundation’s collaboration with local leaders. Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to New Hampshire to serve as the coordinator for the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network, and later joined the Endowment for Health as a program director, establishing the statewide health foundation’s efforts in health equity and later launching a healthy aging initiative. During 14 years at the foundation, Kelly built trusted partnerships with local leaders and philanthropy at the regional and national level. 

Kelly earned a Master of Public Administration at the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from La Salle University in Philadelphia. Kelly lives in Bow, NH with her husband, two teenagers and an awesome dog. She enjoys bird watching – especially watching the Philadelphia Eagles.