In 2007, The Resource Development Division of Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) created the Texas Center for Grants Development (TCGD) in order to expand its scope of work and delivery of services.

Utilizing public resources through the design, direction and implementation of diversified funding strategies, TCGD’s services support higher educational institutions, nonprofit, faith- and community-based organizations, and  other organizations that request grant-related services.

TCGD’s staff focuses its efforts on identifying and submitting funding applications and has direct experience with federal, state, local, and private funding opportunities. Since its inception, TCGD has generated over $72 million dollars for the Houston area communities. TCGD also provides: customized funding forecasts; master proposals, grant writing training, proposal writing, and proposal reviews. It also produces GrantQuest^©, an e--publication of grant opportunities.

For more information on the Resource Development Division: http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=resourcedev.

Gayla Rawlinson, M.A. is the director of Resource Development and Texas Center for Grants Development. During the last nine years, she has coordinated proposal development processes, bringing in over $162 million to the greater Houston area. Ms. Rawlinson has a bachelor's degree in social work and a master's degree in sociology/social research.

Vida L. Avery, Ph.D., a native Houstonian, is the manager of Resource Development over the Texas Center for Grants Development (TCGD). Being instrumental in developing the department, Dr. Avery promotes TCGD's grant-related services. She has assisted and worked closely with nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations, bringing in over $55 million to the Houston/Harris County area. Dr. Avery has a bachelor's degree in economics with a concentration in business administration from Spelman College, a master's degree and an educational specialist degree in education from Brenau University, and a Ph.D. in educational policy studies with a concentration in philanthropy from Georgia State University.

Sharvon D. Pipkins is the development coordinator for the Texas Center for Grants Development. She promotes TCGD's grant-related services and assists nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations diversify their funding streams through a variety of grant writing and development-related services. Ms. Pipkins is a graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans, LA and has a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology.

Qiana Nuruddin is a development associate for Resource Development and writer of the Texas Center for Grants Development’s weekly e-publication, GrantQuest©. In less than a year, she has reviewed and included over 500 public, private, and school and teacher grant opportunities in GrantQuest© issues. Ms. Nuruddin has worked in the education field for over 8 years. Formally at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee she worked as a program coordinator. She has also worked with public and private schools and regional nonprofit agencies. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Martha Silva-Froude is the secretary for the Resource Development Division and Texas Center for Grants Development. She is instrumental in keeping everything and everyone on track.

TCGD also has access to staff in Internal Grant Services, who are available to assist with completing projects and who also contribute their time conducting workshops.

Joyce Akins, M.A. is the manager of Resource Development over Internal Grant Services. Prior to joining HCDE, Ms. Akins worked for 11 years as an evaluator with the U.S. General Accounting Office and four years with a local nonprofit organization. At HCDE, she has successfully engaged corporations to support HCDE programs and helped mobilize over $10 million in funding from government and private sources. Ms. Akins has a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Texas Austin.

Mallory Rogers is the internal grants development coordinator for Resource Development. Ms. Rogers worked at a local non-profit agency and in less than 2 years, she successfully secured over $2 million dollars in operating, project, and capital funds for the organization. She has also volunteered in the education field for 6 years. Ms. Rogers received a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a concentration in education from University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English literature with a concentration in composition/rhetoric writing from UHCL.