Elizabeth Vela

Grants Specialist

"I enjoy helping organizations and communities creatively meet the needs of their constituencies."

Elizabeth (Liz) Vela is a Grants Specialist at TFG with extensive experience in public and nonprofit organizations since 1998. Liz specializes in needs assessments, grant writing, research, and policy analysis. She began her career in San Francisco after earning a BA in Political Science from Boston University, where she worked in nonprofit administration with the Foundation Center and community-based groups. Liz earned her Master of Public Affairs (MPA) from The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at UT Austin in 2000, focusing on public policy, and has lived and worked in Austin, Texas, since then.

Liz spent six years in county government as a planner with Travis County’s Health and Human Services Department, where she developed data products and led community planning initiatives. She also collaborated with community organizations funded by the County. Liz then worked for the State of Texas for six years, specializing in policy research, federal funding compliance, and reporting across a range of public service sectors.

In recent years, Liz has managed large federal funding proposals, needs assessments, and philanthropic grant writing and reporting for a variety of clients, including community-based organizations, universities, and other nonprofit entities. Her expertise spans multiple areas, with a focus on organizational development, program design, and securing funding for a broad range of initiatives.