Grace Chai Email & Phone Number

New York, United States

Proximate is a nonprofit media platform providing movement-centered journalism to democratize and shift power.- Ideate, develop, and execute programs and narrative change strategies within the social impact sector on topics such as philanthropic policy reform, participatory grantmaking, government grantmaking, and donor advised funds- Conduct landscape research and analyses

The Equitable Development Initiative aims to advance economic opportunity and address displacement by investing in community-led stewardship of land.- Managed multi-million dollar grant portfolio across 16 projects.- Stewarded closing process for $4.8 million in community-driven commercial real estate acquisitions.- Conducted due diligence to assess and reduce risk: reviewed ALTA surveys, title reports, environmental site assessments, feasibility assessments, financial management documents, etc.- Stewarded relationships with grantees, legal counsel, title and escrow agents, risk management, and department of construction and inspections.- Developed and executed legal documents: contracts, restrictive covenant agreements, deeds of trust, subordination agreements, and escrow instructions.

Seattle, Washington, United States

- Design and plan outreach, idea collection, and proposal development phases of historic $27 million participatory budgeting process managed by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. Collaborate with Steering Committee and Youth Fellows. Drive outreach and engagement with communities most impacted by incarceration and systemic racism, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, disability communities, trans and queer people of color, and more.- Embed findings from community based participatory research led by the Black Brilliance Research Project.

Seattle, Washington, United States

- Launch and manage new $10 million grant program aimed at advancing health equity outcomes by increasing access to recreation, parks, and green/open space in underserved BIPOC, low-income, immigrant/refugee, disabled, and LGBTQ+ communities.- Embed participatory grantmaking and collaborative governance principles throughout program life cycle, application design, panel review, technical assistance, contracting, evaluation, and reporting.- Steward award recommendations through Council legislative approval process.- Manage portfolio of contracts with awarded grantees from the Healthy Communities & Parks Fund (HCPF) and the Get Active Stay Active (GASA) grant programs.

Seattle, Wa

- Facilitated and coordinated participatory grantmaking panels for the department's flagship grant program for arts and cultural organizations, leading with an intersectional racial equity framework.- Analyzed quantitative and qualitative applicant data to assess impacts of department shifts towards prioritizing anti-racist organizations. Quantified improved equity in grant program outcomes.- Recommended and implemented grantmaking policy and process improvements to center racial equity, accessibility, and community self-determination.

Seattle, Wa

Coordinated the Build Arts Space Equitably (BASE) Program. In partnership with the Office for Economic Development, the BASE program brings together cultural space experts, artists, architects, community leaders, and developers to address gentrification and advance equitable development in local arts & cultural communities.

Seattle, Wa

- Conducted agency-wide data compilation and analysis, evaluating for scale of public impact and equitable best practices in grants, professional development, racial equity, and cultural space programs. Issued structural and program recommendations to promote agency adherence to City's Racial and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) and office-wide Commitment to Racial Equity.- Event Coordination for massive public arts event to commemorate the public closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and grand opening of SR 99 tunnel. The Hello Goodbye Viaduct Arts Festival served over 70,000 visitors and featured over 100 regional artists and vendors.- Disability Accommodations Program Lead: responsible for developing comprehensive Accessibility Plan (focuses: mobility, communication); sourcing and onboarding team of American Sign Language interpreters; responding to public requests for accommodations; compiling accessibility resources to promote accessibility best practices for internal- and external-facing City workflows.

Redmond, Wa

- Strategically positioned Microsoft at 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to drastically increase undergraduate and early-career hiring of underrepresented minorities and women; spearhead coordination of campus recruiting events- High-volume event and vendor management: over 90 events in 6 months across 7 states- Evaluated applications, conducted behavioral interviews, facilitated orientation and onboarding, and coordinated professional programming for internship and scholarship programs- Coordinated interviewing and hiring at diversity-focused technology conferences: National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Grace Hopper Conference- Mobilized and managed campus recruiting teams of over 100 industry professionals

Greater Seattle Area

- Deep analyses of equity and racial justice issues within philanthropy and the nonprofit sectors. - Reviewed applications, conducted site visits, and awarded grants to community organizations through consensus decision-making. - Grassroots fundraising and donor organizing: $225,886 raised by cohort from 160 donors.

Seattle, Wa

Designed and executed strategic diversity initiatives, accountability, leadership development, and community-building within sororities and fraternities. Advanced to Director role in 2016. - Facilitated critical dialogue addressing culture and practices that result in sexual assault, racial & gender inequity, and substance abuse within historically White Greek Letter Organizations. Supported transformation of conflict towards community-developed solutions- Advocated for and achieved institutional change: creation of Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion and Diversity Chairs for all sorority chapters- Planned annual leadership retreat; developed leadership development curriculum- Secured financial sponsorship; managed $9,500 project budget- Managed core staff of five student leaders- Managed all contracts and official staff/delegate materials- Established delegate application procedure and oversaw selection process- Facilitated large/small group activities and community roundtables- Partnered with student government Board of Directors, student diversity commissions, UW Health & Wellness, Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life, United Greek Council, and other community organizations

Seattle, Wa

Advancing accountable transformation within Greek Letter organizations- Facilitated critical community dialogue on pervasive racial inequity, gender inequity, and sexual violence taking place within specific community contexts- Developed diversity and leadership trainings- Cultivated strategic organizational partnerships and advocated for policy changes

Seattle, Wa

- Prepared and disseminated print and online marketing materials (blog posts, press releases, newsletters, digital graphics, etc) to internal and external stakeholders- Temporary office liaison to Race & Social Justice Initiative - Connected underserved communities to funding and professional development opportunities- Assisted with planning, promotion, and execution of events to celebrate and promote community partnerships

Seattle, Wa

- Developed and facilitated curriculum for 3-stage leadership/professional development program - Established application and evaluation process; interviewed applicants and made selections- Crafted marketing/outreach plan to target wide range of participants from across 50 organizations- Located and managed opportunities for external collaboration

Seattle, Wa

Psychology research lab studying how social representation of race, culture, and class influence the development of self, psychological well-being, and educational attainment, with a particular focus on first-generation college students and ethnic minorities. - Duties: qualitative coding, Qualtrix survey development, literature review, and subject running/recruitment.

Seattle, Wa

- Recruited local/national designers and retailers. Signed 2 of 3 headlining celebrity designers within first two months.

Master Of Public Administration - Mpa

• Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment Specialization • Executive Board, Wagner Philanthropy • Dean's Scholarship Award

Community Leadership Institute Fellowship

Fellowship program that supports, trains and places emerging leaders from low-income communities and communities of color to sit on local.

Education record

Summit on Racial Justice

Bachelor’S Of Arts, Political Science And Government

Activities and Societies: Pipeline Project (Racial Equity in Elementary Education), Asisn Coalition for Equality, Associated Students.

Chinese Language And Culture