Esther James is a fundraising professional who serves as Senior Manager, Grants for Atlantic Cape Community College. In 2020, Esther helped Atlantic Cape Community College bring in more than $7 million in competitive grant funding, and has achieved similar results each year since joining the college in 2009. She has more than 20 years of experience in grant proposal development and philanthropic writing for nonprofits. She has a master’s degree in Community Development from South Dakota State University; her master’s thesis for this program examined the most effective elements of nonprofit appeal letters.
Esther has held prior grants development positions with American Farmland Trust and Catholic Legal Immigration Network. She has also consulted for a range of nonprofits large and small, providing key writing support for causes including children’s health, international development, food security and animal welfare. A transplant from the Washington, DC area, Esther has lived in Cape May County for more than ten years and enjoys raising a family in this beautiful community.
