ABOUT MOMENTUM

Supporting Nonprofits to Maximize Impact

Amanda Garry Aliperta is the Founder and Principal of Momentum Nonprofit Strategies. Amanda spent 15 years in Milwaukee’s nonprofit sector honing skills in donor relations, development strategy, board engagement, corporate and foundation relations, grant writing, and event management. Since launching Momentum in 2020, she has helped her clients raise millions of dollars, including more than $1.5 million through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Amanda most recently worked for Safe & Sound, first as Institutional Support Manager, managing a portfolio of public and private funders and writing grants, and later promoted to Development Director, overseeing her department’s expansion and leading the organization’s development strategy. During her tenure, the organization shifted its revenue model from approximately 85% government/ 15% private to 60% government/ 40% private through targeted private fundraising efforts.

Prior to Safe & Sound, Amanda spent time with Vivent Health (formerly ARCW),

UPAF, and Marquette University in University Advancement, where she revived

the dormant Founders Society recognizing donors whose lifetime giving surpassed $1 million and orchestrated customized donor events and experiences for major gift prospects that contributed to individual gifts of up to $400k.

Amanda is passionate about supporting marginalized communities and firmly believes in the nonprofit sector’s ability to tackle deep systemic problems to improve communities. She was first exposed to the nonprofit sector’s potential as a child in her hometown of Sioux Falls, SD, where she watched her father volunteer to serve on boards of directors and chair fundraising campaigns for a variety of organizations that went on to change the lives of those they served.

Amanda earned Bachelor of Arts degrees from Marquette University in Theatre and Communication Studies. She serves on the board of directors for Milwaukee Diaper Mission. She lives with her family in Whitefish Bay, WI.

Meghan Roesner Newton is a versatile nonprofit professional who brings 10 years of experience in nonprofit management and fundraising. Highly adept at grant writing, she has helped organizations of varying size and focus raise millions of dollars over the course of her career through foundation, corporate, and government grants, including more than $2.1 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funding. She also brings ample experience in donor relations and stewardship, digital fundraising campaigns, board engagement, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

A large part of Meghan’s career has been in the arts, with varying development roles at the United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. She has additional experience with organizations in the human services industry, including the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce, the Ascension Wisconsin Foundation, and most recently at Special Olympics Wisconsin. Meghan continues to work part-time writing grants and supporting the fundraising efforts of John 23 Educational Center in Racine and the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Glendale.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Arts Management from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University - Bloomington, with a Minor in Nonprofit Management and Certificate of Achievement in Fund Development for Nonprofits. She lives in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and two dogs.

Laura Eiklenborg is a results-oriented consultant with more than 20 years’ experience in grant and proposal writing, project management, and business management. Laura’s experience spans the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors where she’s made substantive contributions to business development activities that resulted in more than $100 million total contract value in health information technology, human services, and public health contracts.

Laura most recently worked for the city of Minneapolis in a temporary position as a senior consultant to support the COVID-19 response and recovery. In this role, Laura was accountable for several high-profile projects including the design and development of the COVID-19 dashboard, which city leadership used to make data-driven decisions. Laura also served as emergency management liaison to food access efforts, which involved partnering with local hunger relief organizations to increase food access for families and individuals impacted by COVID-19 and 2020 riots.

Prior to the city of Minneapolis, Laura worked for Optum, a UnitedHealth Group company. During her 10-year tenure, Laura held director level positions serving state Medicaid agencies and the clients they serve. In that capacity, Laura led many projects that used data to improve health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees. She also supported business development by proposal writing, delivering presentations to potential state government clients, and contract negotiation.

Laura is a visual thinker who easily understands and fulfills client needs – even with ambiguous and changing requirements. She’s motivated by creative problem solving and setting and achieving goals.

Laura Rodriguez is a seasoned marketing and development professional with a rich tapestry of experience in branding, strategy, integrated communications, fundraising and project management. She has an innate skill in researching and creating stories with meaning, impact and purpose that foster empathy and understanding. Her background includes content development, grant writing, direct mail and corporate solicitation. Laura believes that the most effective communication is based on market and target audience insights, beliefs, and perceptions. She has led both quantitative and qualitative research studies to undercover findings and key motivations for consumer and donor action.

Most recently, Laura was fundraising specialist for the Lutheran Home Foundation where she supported a newly appointed executive director in marketing communications and fundraising including introduction of a bi-monthly online donor newsletter, direct appeal campaigns and event support. Laura was also director of marketing for the United Performing Arts Fund, helping the organization reach record level campaigns to support the arts in southeastern Wisconsin.

Laura has a Journalism degree from UW-Madison and lives in Bay View with her husband of 25 years and three cats.

Lesley Grider brings over twenty years of experience in nonprofit organizations, with a strong focus on grant writing and management, annual giving, donor engagement, employee giving campaigns, and special events. Her career spans diverse sectors, including local arts organizations, regional and national healthcare companies, and higher education.

Lesley is deeply committed to the power of relationships, believing that everyone has a valuable story to share and that every donor—regardless of their level of support—deserves transparency and genuine appreciation.

She currently serves as part-time Development Director for Adoption Choice Inc. (ACI) and recently worked as the grant writer for The Florentine Opera. As the inaugural Board President of Pink Umbrella Theatre Company, she helped secure multiple grants, including support from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts, fostering the organization’s sustainable growth. Lesley also serves on the board of Theatrical Tendencies, a local theater company dedicated to inclusive storytelling within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Lesley holds a bachelor’s degree in Theater from Cardinal Stritch University and a master’s in teaching from Carroll University, with dual certification in general and special education. Her teaching experience includes roles at Tamarack Waldorf School, Waukesha Montessori, and 4K–2 special education in the School District of Waukesha.A lifelong learner, Lesley is currently pursuing her yoga teacher training certification through Tosa Yoga, aligning with her passion for wellness and personal growth. Outside of her professional and board commitments, Lesley enjoys spending time with her family at their home near Waukesha, affectionately known as the “Magic House.”