Kari Sindberg VandenBrink, Development Director
Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, Inc.

Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan has hired Kari Sindberg VandenBrink of Harbor Springs as Development Director. She will be responsible for fundraising and grant writing for the nonprofit organization that provides essential services to women, children and families in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego counties.

VandenBrink comes to WRCNM with experience gained while working at Project MANA in California, the only hunger relief agency in the North Tahoe region. While at Project MANA, she planned and implemented fundraisers and worked on grants with the executive team. She also worked with board members and further developed her skills in writing, data collection and analysis.

“The culmination of my experiences, values and education was my involvement with Project MANA as the program manager,” said VandenBrink. “We provided integrated services as a hunger relief organization by partnering with a domestic abuse non-profit and a family resource center to provide families with a variety of support services in one location.”

While working on her Master’s degree, VandenBrink interned at RECLAIM in Minneapolis, where she was involved with donor outreach and development, as well as fundraising activities, public relations and collaboration on grants. RECLAIM is a youth mental health organization.

Most recently, VandenBrink has worked as a freelance communications consultant providing writing, editing, grant proposal writing, social media support and website design and maintenance.

VandenBrink earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, Women’s Studies and Spanish from Saint Louis University. She continued her education with a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in nonprofit leadership and management from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. VandenBrink is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and now lives in Harbor Springs with her partner, Trevor and their son Otto and Labradors, Datsyuk and Lindstrom.

“We are thrilled Kari chose to join our staff,” said Gail Kloss, WRCNM Executive Director. “Her strong background and education related to issues we encounter every day will be extremely helpful while working on local, state and federal grants we rely on for funding. Kari is well-suited for this important position with WRCNM, bringing strength and perspective as a result of her knowledge, education and experiences.”

Kloss explained that WRCNM has grown over the years to become one of the largest, most comprehensive women’s services providers in northern Michigan. She emphasized that knowledgeable and dedicated team members are at the core of the organization’s ongoing success.

WRCNM has served northern Michigan communities since 1977 and is committed to the justice, equality and well-being of women. The organization provides programs and services such as domestic abuse, sexual assault, child abuse, child sexual assault, education and employment, counseling, and children’s educational services. WRCNM can be reached at (231) 347-0067 or online at wrcnm.org. The 24-hour help and information line is available at (231) 347-0082 or (800) 275-1995.