Introducing Your Grant Writer

My name is Brenda Balmer, and I have been a successful, professional Grant Writer for more than 15 years.  I came to this work as a social service administrator (Program Manager/Director) who wanted to be at home with her kids.  I have written for all sorts of organizations and about all sorts of topics, including health and mental health, worker and immigrant justice, healthy hunger relief, Veteran’s services, criminal justice, addiction and more.  This wide variety is actually something that I love about my job.  And I love helping organizations to do their good work.  It makes me feel like I am doing good work, which I think I am!  I have had success with foundation, corporate and government grants.  In my eleven year tenure with Vista Community Clinic, I obtained more than $40 million in grant support for the organization.  I have experience responding to County of San Diego, State of California and federal requests for proposal including those from HRSA, SAMHSA, OJJDP, OMH, CDC and more,

Personally, I am passionate about the environment and I do my best to reduce my carbon footprint.  I have solar panels, drive a hybrid, hang my clothes on a clothesline whenever possible, work from home, never buy water bottles, and eat a plant based diet.  I am a musician. I sing and play a few stringed instruments, mostly at church and for my own enjoyment.  My kids are young adults, starting to make their way in the world.  I am ridiculously proud of them.  I have a handsome and super supportive partner who also works in social services administration, and who is a soulful, Buddhist practitioner, always soul searching, finding new ways to be kind and compassionate.

So, enough about me.  Let’s talk about Grant Writing!