Rachel Waterman has spent years assisting nonprofits around the world to grow their grant portfolios, typically doubling and tripling revenues in as many years. She has developed simple strategies and systems that allow nonprofits to scale their grant writing efforts, and achieve exponential revenue growth year over year by identifying the true barriers to grant success.
Rachel is CEO & Founder of Global Development Solutions (aka GDS grants), a US-based nonprofit consulting firm and the makers of GEMS Grant Easy Management Software. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive, a Certified Grants Professional, a Grants Professional Association Approved Trainer, and a sought after speaker. She is a consistent contributor to industry journals and a regular guest on podcasts with recent appearances at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Nonprofit Management, the Grant Writing & Funding Podcast, and Nonprofit Nation; and has been featured in recent publications including Financial Tech Times and Valiant CEO.
Rachel has a Master’s in Community & Economic Development with an expertise in Applied Social Research, a Bachelor’s in International Studies, is a former City Mayor, Nonprofit Executive Director and Peace Corps Volunteer. She speaks English, Spanish & Portuguese fluently and lives most of the year in Brazil and Paraguay.
