I am an experienced community development professional specializing in program planning and assessment, strategy development and grant writing. I founded Susan Fitter Harris Consulting in 2014 to provide grant writing, communications, analysis and strategy assistance to nonprofit organizations.

Prior to starting my consulting firm, I spent 14 years at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s largest community development nonprofit. As a member of the Field Strategies team I provided technical assistance, training, strategic counsel and grant resources to LISC’s network of 30 field offices and national topic-focused programs. The broad-based nature of community development enabled me to gain a thorough grounding in diverse subject areas – including comprehensive community development, housing, economic development, health, education, children and families, urban systems and nonprofit organizational capacity – and insight into the relationships between them. My experience at LISC as both grant maker and grant seeker gives me a unique and valuable perspective on proposal writing and program assessment.

I hold a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and a Bachelor’s in Anthropology, both from the University of Virginia.