About Us

Tricia Smith-Mulder (she/her) began her professional journey in the financial services sector, earning a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Grand Valley State University and an MBA from Cornerstone University. In 2011, she shifted her focus to youth advocacy, taking on a director-level role at the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center in Grand Rapids, where she spent seven years supporting disadvantaged youth ages 16–24. During this time, she discovered a passion for grant writing. After leaving Job Corps in 2018, an unexpected meeting with a former colleague led to her founding River City Grant Writing. Today, Tricia enjoys traveling with her husband, John, and while her three daughters have all left the nest, she now fills her home with an ever-growing collection of houseplants.

Luke Carl (he/him) is based in metro Detroit and loves serving our clients on that side of the state. After completing his education at Central Michigan University, Luke spent ten years working as a medical financial consultant, specializing in helping indigent patients secure third-party payments for their medical bills. For the past eight years, he’s been in the role of valuation analysis in the field of real estate.  Luke is now proud to bring his wealth of experience in research and writing to River City Grant Writing. He excels in crafting compelling grant proposals and conducting thorough research to support our clients' funding needs.  When not working, Luke can be found walking his dog Marshall, coaching youth football and lacrosse, or spending quality time with his wife and two children.

LaKena T. Horhn (she/her)  is a nonprofit executive, grant strategist, and educator with over 20 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations secure the resources they need to thrive. She has overseen grant portfolios totaling more than $20 million and authored proposals that secured over $12.5 million in funding for programs serving underrepresented communities across Michigan and beyond. LaKena brings both strategic expertise and a deep commitment to equity, community voice, and the belief that every organization deserves a clear path forward. She is based in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Kira Mann (she/her) is an accomplished nonprofit professional with over 30 years of experience driving fundraising success, donor engagement, and organizational growth. Her expertise includes major gift cultivation, grant writing, donor stewardship, foundation and corporate partnerships, annual giving, event fundraising, and board development. Kira has helped nonprofit organizations secure transformative funding, expand their reach, and deepen their community impact.

Kira is passionate about helping nonprofits tell their stories in a way that inspires action and long-term commitment. She believes that successful fundraising is rooted in trust, transparency, and authentic relationships and that with the right strategy and support, every organization can unlock its full potential to grow, thrive, and create lasting impact.

Eman (she/her) is a proud Metro Detroit native with a passion for helping nonprofits thrive. She earned her bachelor's degree in Public Health from Wayne State University and went on to serve as Executive Director of a local free clinic. Over the course of three years, she led the organization through significant growth—expanding access to free medical care, securing diverse funding streams, and launching new programs to serve the community better.

Recognizing her talent for grant writing, Eman transitioned into freelance work, which eventually led to a position as Grants Manager for a Minnesota-based social justice organization. Driven by her deep commitment to Michigan, she returned to freelance grant writing and currently contributes her skills as a Grant Writer with River City Grant Writing. In her free time, Eman finds joy in exploring Metro Detroit’s coffee scene, sewing her own clothes, being a plant mom, and capturing everyday beauty through photography.

Andrea (she/her) is a professional in the nonprofit and grants sector. She has extensive experience in grant writing, program development, and community-centered initiatives, with a strong emphasis on equity, access to services, and organizational sustainability. Andrea collaborates closely with community partners and stakeholders to design and secure funding for programs that address critical needs, strengthen local organizations, and create measurable impact. With a strategic, detail-oriented mindset, Andrea approaches grant development, drawing on strengths in needs assessment, program design, evaluation, and sustainability planning. Her work supports initiatives focused on equity, service access, and long-term organizational impact, ultimately helping nonprofits build capacity and achieve measurable results.

Donovan (he/him)

is a nonprofit executive with more than ten years of experience serving as Executive Director of two Detroit-based nonprofit organizations. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management from Walden University, and brings additional background in ordained ministry, Bible teaching, and community service spanning nearly two decades.

Donovan is also an Amazon best-selling author of fifteen independently published books that have reached readers in thirteen countries, generating over a quarter million dollars in gross sales without a traditional publisher or agent. He is best known for the Third Heaven Series, a speculative Christian fantasy exploring the fall of Lucifer, and is currently developing his next major series, Hutari, for a general audience.