Catherine Ashton, Founder & CEO

Catherine Ashton is on a mission to change the way nonprofits raise money. As the founder of Giant Squid Group, Catherine works with start-up and small nonprofits in Austin, TX and Chicago, IL to land donors, win grants, and fund their works.  With her coaching and support, her clients raise millions of dollars each year and have an incredible impact on their communities. When Catherine is not working with her team, she’s hiking with her husband,  three-year-old daughter and their lazy rescue pitbull, Latke. 

Jessica Delohery, Director of Programs & Curriculum

Jessica Delohery is Giant Squid Group’s nonprofit coach extraordinaire, and works with clients in all stages of their fundraising journey through one-on-one coaching, group masterminds, and custom trainings. Jessica has spent the majority of her career in the nonprofit sector in various programmatic and fundraising roles, and as a volunteer, and a board member at a few fantastic organizations in Michigan, Washington D.C., and Illinois. She has also spent time teaching English to elementary students in Istanbul, Turkey. Currently, Jessica lives outside Chicago in Bartlett, IL with her family!

Sydney Stoudmire, Director of Partnerships & Engagement

Sydney Stoudmire is a writer and nonprofit arts administrator with 10+ years experience in leadership/development roles. Her commitment is to developing strategies + platforms that create opportunities for marginalized cultural contributors. Outside of her professional practice, she shares a love + wonder of nature with her tenacious three year old daughter. In 2021, she published her first book, One Mother’s Mind: a diary, an honest + personal account of the challenges adjusting to first-time motherhood.

Steph Carll, Grant Writer

Steph is Giant Squid Group’s resident grant-writing jedi, and helps our clients in all stages of their fundraising journey with the mantra "Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid." 

Steph is also a central Texas-based writer/director/producer/make-believer who knows the nitty-gritty side of growing a small nonprofit from just duct tape and a dream. As founder and Producing Artistic Director of Present Company, an Austin theatre collective, Steph is well-versed in balancing artistic vision with the administrative grind of nonprofit management: grant writing & fundraising, marketing & PR, event management & design, and the hundreds of other random duties that fall at her feet. When she is not asking people for money or telling actors what to do, you’ll find her sitting in the San Marcos River with her partner and their baby girl, while her two cats diligently hunt scorpions.

Ashley Lugo, Grant Writer & Fundraising Consultant

Ashley Lugo (she/her) is perpetually confused and trying to keep up with society ... what is TikTok and why? She has a diverse working history but at the core, she is moved by helping people and creating community. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and performs every day in the shower and while cooking. She sits on the board of the Thompson Street Opera Company and the marketing committee of the Chicago Chapter of UN Women.

Kim Caldwell, Strategic Consultant

Born and raised in Austin, Kim Caldwell brings 20 years of social sector experience in making connections, creating strategic resources, and communicating through values to her consulting and coaching. Her perfect project is grounded in an organization's purpose and creates new possibilities by building trust, collecting and analyzing data, making meaning collaboratively and transparently, and building the will for change by engaging communities. Kim consulted with Greenlights/Mission Capital, led public service projects with the Clinton School of Public Service, fostered collaboration and education to increase access to child nutrition programs with the No Kid Hungry Campaign, prepared women to run for office with Annie's List, and helped people experiencing homelessness stay safe, meet needs, and access services during the pandemic at the City of Austin. In all of that she also served on the board of the National Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, earned a Master of Public Service, created a values-based communication business, wrote a novel, produced two incredible daughters, and walked her dog an incalculable number of miles. In work and in life, Kim loves a potluck: lots of little tastes of the treats friends bring to share.

Ana Vasquez, Grant Writing Consultant

Ana Vasquez is a grants expert and consultant based in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Ana has spent the last decade fostering collaborations and leveraging resources on behalf of historically marginalized communities in New York City. She is passionate about strengthening and supporting organizations led by and serving the underrepresented groups and creating space for fundraising practices centered in community and action. Outside of fundraising work, Ana enjoys expanding her culinary repertoire, visiting antique shops, and listening to birdsongs in her backyard. 

Rachel Lurie, Grant Writing Consultant

Rachel Lurie is a versatile fundraising professional with over a decade of experience developing effective strategies, crafting persuasive proposals, and building meaningful relationships that drive organizational impact. Her passion is to help cutting-edge nonprofits, scholars, and artists put forth their strongest case for support to corporate and foundation audiences. Rachel has worked in a variety of nonprofit settings, from community-based and citywide organizations to an R1 public university. She has secured millions of dollars in grant funding for youth development programs, arts and cultural projects, and workforce development initiatives. She has also supported scientists and scholars in developing winning proposals for their research. Rachel holds an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in English and Philosophy from Kalamazoo College

Devon Spencer, Grant Writing Consultant

Devon Spencer is a professional grant writer and non-profit program manager with 15 years experience in leadership and development roles. She enjoys working closely with inspiring individuals who have a mission-driven commitment to making the world a better place. Having worked in both program services and resource development, Devon brings a love of data-driven decision making, honest communication, and hard-core accountability to her role at Giant Squid Group. She lives in ATX with her family. 

Melinda Chow, Grant Writing Consultant

Melinda Chow (she/they) is a consultant with the Giant Squid Group and also a co-executive director with Austin Youth River Watch. She has over two decades of experience working in and with nonprofit organizations and community-based groups. Melinda has worked with groups focused on civic engagement, media, the arts, youth development, STEM programs, the environment, and homelessness. In all of her roles, equity and social justice have been core to her personal mission, and this has been expressed with varying degrees of subtlety and overtness. Additionally, she enjoys geek culture, sampling all of the foods, and experimenting with irreverent names of bands or autobiographies.