Maria Najlis Email & Phone Number

Managing day-to-day operations of projects to increase food security among lower-income older adults through SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps).

Greater Atlanta Area

● Using humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality to support the mission of alleviating human suffering by reconnecting families separated by international borders as a result of conflict, disaster or migration. ● Managing volunteers and external partnerships to ensure efficient delivery of mission-related work.

Atlanta

● Created and executed marketing plan to increase applicants to A Place to Perform grant program, resulting in a threefold increase in applicants in 2018 YTD● Conduct site visits and review nonprofits’ grant applications, financials, strategic plans, and board information in order to write donor reports and funding recommendations for board review.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

● Managed AARP Foundation’s Million Meal Pack, a large-scale one-million-meal packing event and community fair in conjunction with a major NFL partner. Event drew over 4,000 volunteers and provided wide exposure for AARP Foundation and its programs.● Launched and managed programs to increase access and understanding of food security programs for lower-income Seniors. Programs included outreach and application assistance for SNAP benefits as well as nutrition education program led by peer-to-peer volunteers.

Greater Atlanta Area

● Provided daily oversight for SNAP application assistance project receiving over 5,000 SNAP applications for older adults in the state of Georgia during a time period of 3 years.● Created and managed strategies for community outreach to low-income senior citizens by recruiting and training a core group of 40 volunteers to provide peer-to-peer outreach to target populations. Developed and implemented processes to ensure compliance with guidelines established by AARP Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture.Produced outreach materials to increase program awareness as well as the organization’s role in helping seniors to enroll for benefits. Technical assistance to collaborating organizations on best practices for outreach and program eligibility.Conducted quality control and call calibration of Foundation contact center as it pertained to SNAP projects by auditing live and recorded calls and providing follow-up if needed.

Atlanta, Ga

● Successfully designed and implemented new process for localized SNAP outreach initiative to increase program participation to the region, resulting in a $500,000 annual grant award to AARP.● Represented AARP Georgia at community events geared toward multicultural populations.

Master Of Arts - Ma, Gerontology

Bachelor In Arts, Political Science

Associate Of Arts (A.A.), Foreign Languages

Activities and Societies: Tavola Italiana