Cheryl Townsel

I am a grants and philanthropy leader with over three decades of experience in healthcare, nonprofit management, and proposal development, currently serving as Grants and Philanthropy Director at the City of Westland, a role I have held since February 2026, where I lead grants strategy and philanthropic initiatives to support community development and city programs.

I am also the President and CEO of Townsel Consulting, LLC, a self-employed consulting practice I formally incorporated in 2021, where I have provided program and project management, strategic planning, infrastructure assessment, capacity building, and proposal and grants management services since 2004. My healthcare career spans more than three decades and includes extensive experience working with vulnerable populations. I have served as an external grant reviewer for federal agencies including the Health Resources and Services Administration, Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Southern REACH program since 1995.

Prior to my current roles, I served as Grants and Proposal Manager at the Centre for Sport and Human Rights for over a year, where I was responsible for grant and proposal writing in support of the organization's Child Rights Project for the FIFA World Cup 2026. I also served as Board Vice President of the Grant Professionals Association Michigan Chapter for over two years, where I served on the Executive Committee, and as Senior Manager of Grants and Proposal at MPRO for nearly two years, where I led proposal writing for a national leader in healthcare quality improvement and medical review.

Across my career in grants management, philanthropy, and consulting, my work has been driven by a commitment to helping organizations secure funding, build capacity, and achieve their missions through strategic planning and effective proposal development. Whether I am leading grants strategy for a city, consulting with nonprofits, or serving as a grant reviewer for federal agencies, I bring deep expertise, a collaborative approach, and a dedication to advancing the work of organizations that serve vulnerable populations and strengthen communities. I am proud of the work I have done throughout my career and excited to continue making a difference through my work at the City of Westland and Townsel Consulting.