PITTSBURGH GRANT CONSULTANT IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
WITH GPC (GRANT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED) CREDENTIAL
Date: April 17, 2013
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Amanda Day
President, GPCI
678.297.6018
aday@alpharetta.ga.us
PITTSBURGH, PA - Katherine F.H. Heart, GPC, M.Ed. who is President of Heart Resources, LLC, a grant consulting firm based in West Mifflin, PA, has earned a nationally recognized credential in the grants field. The recognition is conferred by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, Inc. (GPCI, pronounced "gypsy"), an affiliate of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA). Katherine is one of nine certified grant writers, managers and consultants who were recently conferred the "GPC" title as Grant Professional Certified. The credential recognizes proficiency in: tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated grant achievement, service to public and private philanthropy.
Beyond meeting eligibility requirements, GPCs have mastered nationally standardized competencies that are defined by nine skill sets. In partnership with the University of South Florida's Tampa-based Institute for Instructional Research and Practice (IIRP), the GPC exam was established within the strict rigors and standards of psychometric testing. The exam, which took seven years to develop, is the result of numerous interactions with grant professionals, employers, the funding community, and other stakeholder groups throughout the country.
Credentialed individuals agree to uphold GPA's Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice. GPCs receive certification for a three-year period and must continue documenting their education, practices and contributions to the field. The new national standards for the grants field are becoming the basis for grant training programs. The standards are designed to improve the grant profession and provide guidance for the community as to who is capable to provide principled and skilled assistance in developing opportunities for grant funding. More information about GPCI can be found on its website, www.grantcredential.org.
Reflecting upon the credentialing process, Katherine said, "The role of grant professionals has grown over the past 10 years. In comparison to the staff writer job of the last generation, we are being held accountable by clients, employers, charitable and corporate foundations, and government agencies. Grant professionals are called upon to develop and negotiate major grant initiatives and collaborative projects that can leverage more productivity and community impact. After completing the GPC testing, I have a greater appreciation for the training and mentoring I received in Pittsburgh, as well as the breadth of knowledge and experience expected in this profession on a national level. Having a better understanding of the national standards will enable me to assist GPA-Western PA Chapter members to earn the GPC credential and improve training and professional development for grant writers in the community."
Katherine F.H. Heart, GPC, M.Ed. is President of the Grant Professionals Association-Western Pennsylvania Chapter. She founded Heart Resources, LLC in 2005 offering comprehensive grant research, writing and consulting services to nonprofit health and human service agencies. She has served as a federal grant reviewer and was selected as a 2012-13 SAMHSA Voice Awards Fellow for her advocacy in wellness recovery. Prior to starting the company, Ms. Heart was a freelance grant writer and technical writer, as well as a nonprofit program manager for 15 years. She has assisted local and national organizations to raise millions of dollars in grants from corporations, foundations, United Way and government funders. She presents grant training seminars for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Foundation Center. Contact her at the Grants Hotline (412) 414-2251 and learn more about Heart Resources, LLC at http://www.heartresources.net.
