Our Story
In today’s climate of change and constraint, nonprofits must navigate an uncertain funding landscape while staying rooted in their mission. Erie + Elm Consulting is a boutique grants consultancy offering grounded, strategic institutional giving support to help mission-driven organizations sustain momentum, strengthen relationships, and grow with intention—even amid uncharted waters.
Our expertise spans institutional giving strategy, funder prospecting, proposal development, and relationship-based stewardship. We design sustainable, equity-informed grant systems that build resilience and make your transformative work possible.
As an Ohio-based consultancy, the name Erie + Elm is inspired by the vast, sometimes volatile waters of Lake Erie and the steady elm tree—a nod to our founder’s initials. Together, these elements shape our approach: we walk alongside our clients to craft sustainable strategies that help them navigate change with confidence, and move boldly toward lasting impact.
Meet Eva McKnight
Eva L. McKnight (she/her) brings over a decade of experience securing six- and seven-figure grants for nonprofits working to create a more just and equitable future for all. She founded Erie + Elm Consulting to help organizations grow with clarity, sustainability, and purpose.
Eva honed her expertise through key roles with Providence House, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, and most recently, as Director of Institutional Giving at Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, where she led a team of grants professionals in securing multi-million dollar funding for reproductive health care, advocacy, and education. Eva is proud to have supported the statewide coalition that drove the passage of Ohio’s 2023 Reproductive Freedom Amendment, helping secure both signatures and grant funding that enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution. Her work is grounded in the belief that long-term funding success is rooted in thoughtful, transparent relationship management and equity-informed systems.
She earned her B.A. in English Literature and Women’s Studies from Denison University and a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership (MNAL) from the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. She is an alum of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Bridge Builders Class of 2023 and a member of the Grants Professionals Association’s Greater Cleveland Chapter.
Erie + Elm is a nod not only to Eva’s initials, but also to the place that has both shaped and rooted her, along the shores of Lake Erie. Off the clock, she can be found tending her vegetable garden and indoor plant jungle, baking sourdough, practicing yoga, or paddling a kayak—usually with her husband and two spirited young daughters in tow.