Sandra Avila Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc

• Senior consultant coordinating Latin American strategy for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private philanthropy dedicated to improving life-outcomes for vulnerable children and their families• Created an international strategy to develop and replicate KIDS COUNT, the Foundation’s premiere data-based policy advocacy initiative, in more than 10 Latin American countries• Developed and led training for networks of child advocacy groups in Latin America on how to develop national statistical indicators of child well-being• Provided ongoing technical assistance to national coalitions, leading to successful program implementation in multiple countries including Mexico, Paraguay and Brazil • Identified non-profit partners best positioned to influence national and regional governments in Latin America to implement the KIDS COUNT strategy• Coordinated stakeholders to define national data standards including developing trainings on data-based policy making and advocacy• Recruited US based and international partners to enhance the capacity of Latin American organizations to use and publicize data indicators and educate policymakers to promote child well-being

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Led partnerships with more than 30 policymaker organizations representing over 21,000 federal, state and local elected officials, and four faith based partners, to improve public understanding of social and economic challenges facing low-income families• Developed the strategy for and managed a $10 million (M) grant making portfolio to support not-for-profit national organizations representing state and local elected and appointed officials • Coordinated partnerships with national policy organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Unidos US and Women in Government• Engaged over 1,900 policymakers and senior city and state officials annually in intensive learning events on priority areas for the Foundation including economic security, child welfare, juvenile justice reform, race, equity and inclusion, and evidence-based decision making• This partnership work consistently resulted in approximately 200 policy or public sector leadership actions per year including legislative actions, new state and local programs, and administrative policy changes benefitting low-income families and children • Designed and implemented education programs for policy makers including curriculum materials, policy briefs and toolkits, trainings, conferences, and marketing collateral • Fostered and sustained high-level relationships with the organizational leaders and their members• Developed and produced a policy focused outcomes measurement framework and policymaker best practices and tools• Developed a mechanism for tracking policy changes resulting from grants and partnerships as part of managing grantee reporting• Served as a senior strategic advisor to the Foundation and grantees on federal, state and local government

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Oversee operations, finance and administration for a national education initiative designed to ensure all children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade• Lead senior leadership reporting on strategic planning, performance, financial forecasting, staffing and organizational improvements• Implement organizational strategy including establishing performance metrics, ensuring partner reporting, designing and delivering staff training, and monitoring budget allocation• Manage 5 professionals including communications, event and administrative staff• Negotiate vendor and consulting contracts for administrative and program functions, facilities, information technology (IT) and external events• Ensure annual engagement and partnership goals are met and impact is maximized• Lead investor relations including donor cultivation, grant reporting and philanthropic relationship management • Served as interim Chief Financial Officer from 2017 through 2018 and managed fiscal reporting, cash flow management, financial forecasting, invoice and expense processes, cost allocation, and annual budget planning

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Led stakeholder management at the local, state and national level for over 300 education coalitions that included public school systems, library systems, non-profits, local and state government officials, and elected officials at every level of government• Led creation and management of partnerships with non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, affinity groups, policymakers, the public sector including federal government agencies to educate key audiences on Campaign priorities, align common interests and execute partnership goals• Created outcomes focused key performance indicators for senior leadership team and staff• Developed communications strategy for partner engagement including messaging, materials and collateral, distribution strategies • Created a Salesforce based tool to recruit national and local partners that analyzed factors such as membership, organizational priorities, organizational scope and scale, geographic focus, budget size and funding• Led annual strategic planning including strategy development, calendar of events and briefings, conference presentations and workshops

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Led stakeholder management at the local, state and national level for over 300 education coalitions that included public school systems, library systems, non-profits, local and state government officials, and elected officials at every level of government• Led creation and management of partnerships with non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, affinity groups, policymakers, the public sector including federal government agencies to educate key audiences on Campaign priorities, align common interests and execute partnership goals• Created outcomes focused key performance indicators for senior leadership team and staff• Developed communications strategy for partner engagement including messaging, materials and collateral, distribution strategies • Created a Salesforce based tool to recruit national and local partners that analyzed factors such as membership, organizational priorities, organizational scope and scale, geographic focus, budget size and funding• Led annual strategic planning including strategy development, calendar of events and briefings, conference presentations and workshops

Annapolis, Md

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Project manager for the US Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the main source of multi-lateral financing in Latin America • Assisted the Executive Director in identifying funding for support and technical assistance to governments and public-private partnerships in Latin America• Co-led development efforts to raise $5M in support of the IDB’s annual meeting in New Orleans, LA in 2000­ Led event planning and marketing efforts for this annual meeting, bringing a record number of 5,300 IDB delegates to New Orleans, including official policymaker delegations of the more than 40 member countries, representatives of the private sector, journalists and guests­ Served as the liaison to federal agencies including the US Department of Treasury, USAID, US Department of State, US Department of Commerce and private sector companies and representatives to promote US interests in development projects • Increased understanding and support for US development goals in the region and executed outreach initiatives with key external audiences• Developed and implemented communication strategies and coordinated with key internal constituents across the organization to effectively integrate strategies and messages to advance the IDB’s goals

Bachelor'S Degree, Government And Politics

Education record

Education record