Grant Writing · Workforce Development · Strategic Partnerships · Greater Syracuse Area

Amber
Preston

I help mission-driven organizations secure funding, build lasting partnerships, and design programs that actually deliver. Ten years doing all three at once — in CNY and beyond.

$2.5M+
Annual grant portfolio managed with zero audit findings
50+
Industry partners cultivated from an initial network of 3
92%
Graduate job placement rate, $62K average starting salary
9 yrs
Leading a grades 9–14 early college workforce program

I Don't Just Write
the Grant.

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BA, English — SUNY Oswego Strong writing foundation underlying every proposal and report
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Greater Syracuse Area, NY Deeply embedded in the CNY workforce and manufacturing ecosystem
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Available remotely — no travel required Full-time and freelance engagements welcome

I spent nearly nine years at Oswego County PTECH/CiTi BOCES doing work that doesn't have a clean job title: writing and managing the grants, building and stewarding 50+ industry partnerships, designing the curriculum frameworks, tracking the outcomes, and reporting all of it back to funders. The program grew. The funding held. The students got jobs.

"Most grant writers hand you a proposal. I want to know whether the program it funds will actually work — and I know how to build the parts that make it work."

That work required managing $2.5M+ in annual grant funding across NYS Education, county, and private funders — with zero compliance findings across nine reporting cycles. It required growing an industry partner network from 3 to 50+ organizations. And it required translating all of it into data and narratives that funders, state officials, and community stakeholders could trust.

More recently at ERIE21/Le Moyne College, I helped secure a timeline extension on a multi-million dollar state grant by reimagining the program as a multigenerational, community-based workforce initiative — then contributed to strategic planning, curriculum design, and data frameworks to deliver on that vision.

I also work with AI as a genuine thought partner — using it to pressure-test strategy, accelerate drafting, and produce higher-quality work faster. If you're a small nonprofit without a full development team, that means you get senior-level grant support at a pace and price point that works.

I'm now available for freelance grant writing, development consulting, and partnership strategy, as well as full-time remote opportunities in workforce development, grants management, and program leadership. What makes me different: I think in systems. I don't just write the grant — I understand the program it needs to fund, the partners it needs to hold, and the outcomes it needs to produce.

What I Can Do For Your Organization

I work with nonprofits, educational institutions, workforce organizations, and mission-driven employers across CNY and nationally (remote). Whether you need a single grant written or an ongoing development partner, every engagement comes with the same thing: someone who understands not just the proposal, but the program behind it. All work is AI-augmented — faster research, sharper drafts, more iterations before anything goes out the door.

02

Grant Management & Compliance Reporting

Ongoing portfolio management, funder reporting, compliance documentation, and audit preparation. Nine years of zero findings. Particularly strong with multi-funder environments and NYS Education and state workforce program requirements.

Compliance Reporting Audit Prep
03

Partnership Development & Stakeholder Strategy

Building and managing multi-sector partner networks — industry, education, government, and community. Includes formal partnership documentation, engagement planning, and relationship stewardship.

Industry Higher Ed Community
04

Program Evaluation & Data Reporting

Designing and maintaining outcome tracking systems, producing funder-ready program reports, and translating data into strategic narratives for boards, funders, and community stakeholders.

Data Systems Outcomes Reporting
05

Strategic Planning Support

Contributing to organizational strategy, KPI framework development, funder alignment planning, and program design for workforce training, early college, and community development initiatives.

Strategy KPIs Planning
06

Workforce Development Consulting

Advisory support for programs building or scaling advanced manufacturing, construction, or STEM career pathways — curriculum alignment, industry partnership cultivation, early college model design, and more.

Manufacturing STEM Career Pathways
07

Program & Curriculum Design

Designing project-based workforce and STEAM programming — hands-on learning events, industry-integrated curriculum, multigenerational community program models, and early college pathway design. Built and delivered from scratch, not just advising on paper.

Project-Based STEAM Early College Community
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How I work: Project-based and retainer engagements available. Grant writing projects typically scoped by deliverable (LOI, full proposal, report). Retainers available for ongoing portfolio management. All work done remotely. CNY organizations especially welcome.

A Decade of Building Programs That Deliver

2024 – 2025
Program Manager, Youth Programs
ERIE21 / Le Moyne College — Syracuse, NY
Helped secure a timeline extension on a multi-million dollar state grant by reimagining the ERIE21 program as a multigenerational, community-based workforce initiative. Contributed to strategic planning, curriculum design (including a 6th grade hackathon and Radiation Heroes STEAM day), and data frameworks. Assisted in grant proposal development and organizational planning documentation.
2016 – 2024  ·  9 years
PTECH Liaison
Oswego County PTECH / CiTi BOCES — Mexico, NY
Managed a grades 9–14 advanced manufacturing workforce program in partnership with SUNY Onondaga Community College. Led all grant portfolio management, industry partner development, compliance reporting, student outcome tracking, and capital grant fundraising. Served on NYS PTECH statewide governance committee.
2016
Administrative Aid, Asst. Superintendent of Instruction
CiTi BOCES — Mexico, NY
Coordinated communication and special projects; managed educational program website and district-wide stakeholder communications.

Core Expertise

  • Grant Lifecycle Management
  • Compliance & Audit Readiness
  • Partnership Development
  • Data Systems & Reporting
  • Strategic Planning
  • Workforce Program Design
  • Proposal Writing

Key Achievements

$2.5M+ annual grant portfolio — zero compliance findings across 9 years
Led $750K NYS capital grant from concept to award, including $250K+ in industry matching funds
Grew industry partner network from 3 to 50+ organizations
92% job placement rate, $62K average starting salary
Served on NYS PTECH statewide governance committee

Let's Work Together

Whether you need a grant written, a portfolio managed, a partnership built, or a strong hire — I'd love to hear from you.

I'm currently available for: freelance grant writing projects, development consulting retainers, and full-time remote positions in workforce development, grants management, or strategic partnerships.

CNY-based nonprofits, educational institutions, and workforce training organizations are especially welcome.

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Phone 315-591-7350
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Location Greater Syracuse Area, NY — available remotely nationwide