Tara Kumar Email & Phone Number

Minneapolis, Minnesota

--Lead all aspects of proposal development in collaboration with relevant team members, preparing and submitting grant proposals, sponsorship requests, and applications to a wide range of donors;--Conduct research on existing and prospective funders to tailor applications according to the audience and develop compelling proposal narratives that meet funder.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

--Secured and manage state contracts--SNAP Outreach ($20,000 annually) and Title III- Older Americans Act ($600,000 annually)--that support local Meals on Wheels programs’ meal delivery and improve food access for clients.--Managed grants calendar, proposal submission and reporting for the organization.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Managed the processing and acknowledgment of more than $650,000 in individual donations.
• Maintained donor management software and produced reports to inform fundraising efforts.
• Recruited and trained volunteers to assist with donation processing.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Planned and developed high quality programs, briefings, conferences, convenings, and networking opportunities that build the skills and support the needs of member grantmakers.
• Managed 20 funder networks which allow members to connect with and learn from one another. Built capacity of networks by introducing new members to the appropriate peer learning opportunities.
• Launched the Lunch and Learn webinar series, providing an introduction to the hard skills needed in philanthropy to those who are newer to the field.
• Represented MCF on the Grants Governance Committee for the Office of Grants Management at the State of Minnesota. The Office of Grants Management’s mission is to standardize, streamline and improve state grant-making.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Responsible for providing capacity building support to 36 member Meals on Wheels programs to ensure they provide high quality home-delivered meal service.
• Developed and maintained relationships with members to understand the goals and challenges of individual programs. Provided resources and capacity building tools to member programs through small grants, individualized.
• Staffed the board’s Member Services Committee, which engages the membership in providing feedback to help guide the work of the organization.
• Secured and managed contract with MN Department of Human Services that supported local Meals on Wheels programs’ SNAP outreach activities to eligible clients.
• Networked with other aging services providers to raise awareness of Meals on Wheels service. Participated in relevant conferences including Fall Aging Conference and MN Gerontological Society conference.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Served as liaison between neighborhood association committees, the board and community members by providing information and support necessary to successfully implement neighborhood projects.
• Provided program implementation services and administrative support for Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) activities and overall neighborhood operations.
• Publicized association activities to the community through a bimonthly newsletter and neighborhood website.

Greater Boston Area

• Responsible for fundraising to meet agency’s goal of $700,000 from foundation, corporate and public funding sources and $500,000 from United Way.
• Prepared funding proposals and reports for settlement house programs focused on the arts, children and youth, adult education, technology, senior services and civic engagement.
• Worked closely with program managers to gather information necessary for accurate and compelling funding requests.
• Conducted prospect research for new funding opportunities as well as stewarded current funders.

Greater Boston Area

• Managed grants associated with two federally-funded community technology initiatives:
• Connections for Tomorrow program (US Dept of Health & Human Services)—Administered $750,000 in grants and technical assistance to 37 Massachusetts community organizations to support technology training for at-risk.
• Youth Visions for Stronger Neighborhoods (Corporation for National Service)—Granted $335,000 to 16 community technology programs nationwide to engage at-risk youth in community decision-making through the use of.

Cambridge, MA

• MIT’s Center for Reflective Community Practice designs projects that support the development and use of knowledge embedded in marginalized communities to build social capital, improve community practice, and inform.
• Coordinated community development projects and community-based research initiated through a partnership between the CRCP at MIT and the North End Outreach Network (NEON) community organization in Springfield, MA..

Chapel Hill, NC

• MDC, Inc. helps organizations and communities close the gaps that separate people from opportunity.
• Assisted with the management and coordination of a grassroots leadership development learning program for 17 community-based organizations throughout the Southeast.
• Staffed and conducted research for workforce development projects, which focused on community colleges as a pathway for low-income people to access good jobs.

Master In City Planning, Community Development

Bachelor Of Arts, Individualized Curriculum Focusing On Racial Inequality