Sara Coplai Email & Phone Number

I will be responsible for creating innovative and targeted strategies to deliver our "partnerships for health" centered around 3 efforts: defined and measurable health access outcomes; creating wealth with WNC residents; and advocating for improved health policies. This position works with the internal program team and management, the foundation's current and prospective grantees and other external organizations to identify new opportunities, develop relationships and deliver a coordinated and integrated partnership effort.Specifically, I will:Assist and contribute to strategic development, implementation and analysis Identify new and innovative opportunities for health partnerships benefitting the WNC regionDevelop and implement effective partnership strategies in collaboration with internal and external stakeholdersDevelop policy recommendations benefitting the health of people and the environment of the WNC regionDevelop presentations and communications for multi-disciplinary stakeholdersConduct annual planning and business reviews with invested partnersContribute to the overall work of the foundation.

I developed the Foundation's strategic initiatives in our AIM grants program established in December 2020. The Action In Motion initiatives as decided by the WNC Bridge Foundation's engaged Board of Directors and Leadership initially focused on access to health care, safe housing and food insecurity in NC's 18 westernmost rural counties. Some of the great parts of this work included the learning and networking of the Foundation's programs and connected stakeholders in the WNC region. The Foundation will also further define targeted investments in 2023 as we strive to integrate and amplify our regional assets. I look forward to adding to our ongoing regional economic analysis to support WNC and Central Appalachian development.

I managed the Wellness Support focus area, the largest focus area of the foundation during the funding year. This work involved engaging current grantees, identifying new grantees and supporting the learning and networking of the focus area's programs and connected stakeholders. More than 8 initial collaborative projects were developed within the focus area and together we leveraged additional funding for safe housing, food insecurity, prescription assistance, child care for essential workers and mental health first aid.

Asheville, North Carolina

Developed an initial collaboration of foundations and Mission Health Partners with lead applicant WNC Bridge Foundation to apply for one of three potential State Medicaid Healthy Opportunities pilots totaling $650 million in July 2019. Advised five public charity legacy foundations in a temporary role on developing their individual strategies and operations as well as working with potential grantees. Presented the strategic findings of the foundations along with coalesced local research throughout the WNC region.

Asheville, North Carolina

• Recipient of a 2018 Extraordinary Performance Award, given to less than 5% of the 11,000+ staff members of the health system• Yielded more than $4.8 million by directing complex grant application processes with medical, compliance, financial management and legal staff, administered $8+m• Developed large-scale projects and solely obtained significant funding to: Integrate mental health therapy services including psychotropic medication management and psychiatric telehealth in large-volume primary care practices; Secure a rural home visiting project connecting severely asthmatic children with respiratory therapy and home remediation for environmental triggers; Provide Forensic Nurse Examiners in rural emergency departments and a forensic-trained Pediatrician to a child advocacy project; Initiate an elder safety project which provided a geriatric-trained physician and support staff in efforts to prevent abuse; Pilot an employee wellness project over two years in partnership with GE Asheville Aviation, Asheville Regional Airport and Appalachian Regional Commission; Purchase the first rural 3D tomosynthesis mammography unit on the East Coast; Purchase a new HVAC system for a rural hospital, and, Numerous other projects to benefit the nonprofit health system.• Engaged internal and external stakeholders in strategic planning and sustainability efforts• Conducted ongoing demographic and financial research, particularly financial forecasting.

Asheville, North Carolina Area

• Developed persuasive, competitive, and successful proposals that increased revenue by over $3 million.• Effectively researched new funders, including federal and state agencies and private foundations and matched with approved cases for support.• Researched and organized statistics as needed.• Conducted the full range of activities required to prepare, manage and submit grant proposals from project inception through award. Supervised and coordinated multi-disciplinary task teams, including community partners, during application process. Interacted with physicians, IRB, Finance, and other Mission Health constituents to prepare responsive applications in compliance with Mission Health policies, procedures, and strategies.• Maintained in-depth knowledge of Mission Health cases for support across all Resource Development pillars and developed/updated grant funding strategy.• Worked collaboratively with Mission Health clinical leadership system-wide to prepare and submit responsive applications leading to grant awards.

Appalachian Region

The Health Working Group of the Appalachia Funders Network convenes nearly 40 funders to learn about and assess their collective health funding priorities and barriers to the implementation and sustainability of health improvement strategies. These stakeholders have made a mutual commitment to accelerating the transition of Central Appalachia by:•Orienting investors and other stakeholders to the social determinants of health and Appalachia’s regional health disparities;•Identifying economic development opportunities in the healthcare sector;•Ensuring health and healthcare issues are a focal point of the Network’s collective work;•Encouraging coordinated investment in strategic initiatives that promote health in all policies; and•Promoting a regional culture of health that supports equity, improved health outcomes, and greater economic strength.

Asheville, Nc

Responsible for creating and executing an urgent financial recovery plan for programs and capital needs of the mental health care organization that faced closure at the end of 2013, including: • Working with the Board of Directors and Executive Director to establish a 6-month strategic plan.• Increasing donor acquisition by 54% and beginning a major donor program within 3 months.• Securing enough funding to complete the 2014 calendar year without service cuts and securing the following 2 fiscal years.• Developing and executing successful special events.• Researching and developing successful grant proposals for federal, state, and local government (agencies include Office of Rural Health, Victims of Crime, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture), corporate, and foundation fundraising.• Developing and maintaining relationships with Board members, donors, and patients and supervising 30 weekly volunteers.

Asheville, North Carolina Area

• Secured anchor grants for the Healthcare Navigator, Veterans Law and Elder Law Credit Protection projects.Additional responsibilities of role:• Develop, implement and evaluate grant funding plans with respect to business plan and program strategies;• Disseminate timely information on funding opportunities to grantees and coordinate the proposal planning process;• Manage and conduct annual or bi-annual financial audits on funded projects;• Communicate the rules and regulations for approving grants and associated responsibilities;• Ensure all applications of grant processes supported by proper documentation and clearances;• Identify potential grant sources;• Judge, evaluate and grant proper amounts to denoted projects;• Maintain and verify payment records, review invoices and record receipts; • Prepare monthly reports on the funded project status for Executive Director, CFO, and Board of Directors. Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to help low-income vulnerable people– disadvantaged children, senior citizens, families at risk of homelessness and victims of domestic violence- access justice to meet urgent needs.

• Independently researched and developed grant applications.• Secured significant grant funding to purchase permanent building in 2009. • Supervised development committee and staff in producing events and supporting patients.• Organized office functions for the new nonprofit agency and provided office support for Executive Director and therapists.• Developed service tracking tools and gathered statistics for monthly grant reporting.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba

Ba