Let YOUR cause
be OUR cause.
Our team specializes in fundraising, board development, and strategic consulting for nonprofits. The approach is simple: your mission is our mission. We bring practical, effective solutions to accelerate the growth of your nonprofit and positively impact the communities you serve.
INGRID ALVARADO
Founder and CEO
Dr. Ingrid Alvarado specializes in educational nonprofits and organizations that support Black and Brown communities. Ingrid has been fundraising for more than 15 years and has a proven track record of securing multi-year, multi-million dollar investments from diversified sources. Her strengths include building relationships, connecting partners with funding opportunities, developing fundraising strategies, leading capital campaigns, building individual major gifts programs, and facilitating solicitation meetings. Prior to founding Acceleraise, Ingrid led strategic planning and development for several renowned universities and nonprofits. She has a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of New Orleans as well an MBA and a BA in Communications from Spring Hill College. Ingrid’s passion is helping develop Black and Brown leaders into becoming confident fundraisers.
SIMON SPADARO-BLISS
Vice President of Strategy, Learning, and Impact
Simon specializes in developing sustainable strategies, systems, and processes to create enabling conditions for organizations to maximize their efficacy and impact. With 15 years of experience in the nonprofit and education sectors, Simon brings expertise in strategic planning, systems and process analysis and design, training design and development, performance management, evaluation and data strategy, and project leadership. Prior to joining Acceleraise, Simon served as Director of Data Strategy at YouthForce NOLA, a New Orleans nonprofit focused on youth career readiness and workforce development through collaborative systems change. Simon holds an MS in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies from Florida State University and a BA in Sociology with a minor in Justice Studies from the University of New Hampshire. He is also an alumni of the Education Pioneers leadership program where he served as a Data Strategy Fellow in New Orleans. Simon’s passions include learning, design thinking, and system dynamics.
MANDI CAMBRE
Senior Consultant
Mandi Cambre is a fundraising and communications professional with over a decade of experience in fund development and capacity building for nonprofits, and a track record of securing six-figure, multi-year investments to support the transformative work of nonprofits in our region. Her strengths include grantwriting, foundation and corporate relationships, online giving, prospect research, and working with small shop organizations to build sustainability. Prior to joining Acceleraise, Mandi led local development work for several regional and national nonprofits, in addition to running her own consulting practice. A proud South Louisiana native, she holds a BA in English from Louisiana State University, a MLA from Tulane University, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). Mandi is passionate about using her talents as a fundraiser to grow a community that offers equal access to opportunity to all of its citizens.
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MARISSA DOUGLAS
Managing Director of Development
Marissa Douglas is a skilled fund development strategist with a decade of experience working with schools and nonprofits in New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia. Marissa has expertise in grant writing and reporting, logic model design, donor engagement, and professional development and training. She serves as an advisor for our clients while producing a diversity of content and writing with intent, technicality, and emotion to yield results. Prior to joining Acceleraise, Marissa served 5 years as an educator in Philadelphia public schools, where she drove student growth and earned a value-added rating in the 91st percentile among teachers of the same grade and subject statewide. Marissa holds a BA in English from Tulane University and a MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania. She is passionate about advancing equity and racial justice by empowering nonprofits and the communities they serve in order to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in decisions that impact their lives.
KELLY CONNELLY
Director of Capacity Building
She is a former journalist and communications professional who specializes in researching and synthesizing information and presenting complex ideas in simple language. While working for nonprofit news outlets, she gained experience writing grant requests to fund her own projects. With nearly a decade of experience reporting on the Louisiana Legislature and working in state government, Kelly comes to Acceleraise with a base of knowledge that will benefit our clients. Kelly holds a BA in English with a Concentration in Film Studies from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Kelly finds fulfillment in conversing with clients, learning about their passions, and offering her expertise to help them meet their goals.
CHEYENNE SALUD-GONZALES
Operations Manager
Cheyenne Gonzales is a talented, experienced, and organized professional who manages operations at Acceleraise. Cheyenne is skilled at collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, developing marketing strategies and materials, designing curriculum, managing data, and improving company-wide processes. Before joining Acceleraise, Cheyenne worked at Peak Insight, where she developed a curriculum for implicit and explicit bias training courses that were administered to city employees and over 100 police officers in New Orleans. She holds a BS in Psychology from the University of New Orleans, where she graduated cum laude, and is pursuing an MBA. Cheyenne is committed to supporting Acceleraise’s work bolstering visionary organizations who work toward intersectional justice across New Orleans and beyond.
DAMIAN MORDEN-SNIPPER
Content Writer
Damian Morden-Snipper brings a wide range of experience to the grant and content writing he does at Acceleraise. Communicating with many different audiences has taught him how to convey complex information clearly and effectively, and his writing has been printed in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and academic journals. He has worked in policy advocacy as a lobbyist to Congress at a progressive nonprofit in Washington, D.C., and in education as a research assistant in educational psychology at Temple University, followed by four years teaching kindergarten in Philadelphia public schools. He holds a BA in Psychology from Guilford College, where he graduated with high honors, and an MSEd in Early Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. He believes nonprofits play a crucial role in shaping more just and equitable communities, and he is honored to support the inspiring organizations making it happen.
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MADDIE CHENEVERT
Development Coordinator
Maddie is a skilled writer and researcher specializing in grants, marketing, and communications. She is a graduate student who joined Acceleraise as an intern, melding her knowledge of arts-based nonprofits with the broader sphere of development work. Her strengths include persuasive writing, effective branding, and thorough research. Prior to joining the Acceleraise team, Maddie worked closely with artistic communities in New Orleans through nonprofit work, film productions, and an administrative position at a performing arts academy. She is currently earning her Master’s degree in Arts Administration at The University of New Orleans. Maddie is passionate about thoughtful, compelling writing that increases empathy and understanding across communities.
PAOLA ANDRADE
Development & Communications Intern
Paola is an innovative and motivated social media manager with vast experience in creating content and managing the online presence of companies and brands such as Median Fusion Entertainment and Serein Productions. She is a recent Loyola graduate, earning a BFA in Digital Film-making with a minor in communications. She is adept at building engaging campaigns for users that result in higher visitor traffic patterns. Before joining Acceleraise, Paola worked on a couple of films in New Orleans as a production assistant and shadowed producers. Her passions include creating stories that should be heard and improving organizations that benefit New Orleans communities.