Michelle Flores Vryn

About Michelle Flores Vryn

Hola, I\'m Michelle. I\'m a fundraising strategist and brand consultant with nearly two decades in nonprofit development, working in the middle of nonprofit brand, development, and marketing. Most organizations can tell you what they do. Very few can make you *feel* why it matters. The ones that build lasting support aren\'t just mission-driven. They\'re culturally resonant. They connect what they do to something people already care about. That\'s the work I do. I help nonprofit leaders sharpen their story, align it with their fundraising, and position their organization as relevant, not just worthy. My work often entails the following: Align brand, marketing, and fundraising into a single engagement system Position their organization for long-term cultural relevance and support Translate complex missions into resonant narratives Build donor relationships rooted in trust, not urgency If you\'re building something bold and need fundraising + narrative clarity to help it take hold, let\'s connect. Learn more about me: For consulting, speaking, or brand partnerships, DM me.

Experience

1. Philanthropy Advisor

   Mind & Life Institute

   Oct 2025 — Present

   For nearly 40 years, the Mind & Life Institute has pursued a bold vision: that science and contemplative wisdom together could advance human flourishing. Our founders believed that by deepening our understanding of the human mind, we could spark the inner transformation needed to drive critical change in the outer world.

Education

• The University of Texas at San Antonio

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Anthropology

• The University of Texas at San Antonio

  Master of Arts (MA), Cultural Anthropology (emphasis in environmental anthropology)