Gladys Kamau
Washington,DC
Summary
Dynamic senior grants and program management professional with over fifteen years of comprehensive experience in overseeing the full lifecycle of grantmaking across federal, municipal, nonprofit, and community-based environments. Demonstrated expertise in grant application review, budget and financial analysis, compliance monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder advisory support. Proven track record in managing multimillion-dollar portfolios while enhancing grantmaking processes, delivering technical assistance to grantees, and implementing CRM and documentation systems to ensure accuracy, consistency, and risk mitigation. Recognized for operational rigor, sound judgment, and a strong ability to foster cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal and Founder
Uhuru DC
01.2024 - Current
- Lead end-to-end grant development and management support for small businesses and nonprofit partners, with a focus on economic opportunity and community-based funding initiatives.
- Wrote and managed grant applications for more than 30 small businesses, resulting in awards of up to $85,000 per business, with a strong emphasis on eligibility, compliance, and budget accuracy.
- Provided direct technical assistance to applicants throughout the application process, including guidance on documentation, budgets, narratives, and submission requirements.
- Developed grant templates, standardized checklists, and fillable application documents used by DC government agencies and nonprofit partners to streamline applicant review and reduce errors.
- Designed grant review tools and scoring rubrics and trained grant reviewers on evaluation criteria, compliance standards, and risk considerations.
- Implemented tracking systems to monitor application status, awards, reporting deadlines, and closeout requirements using Salesforce-based workflows.
Economic Development Advisor (Contract)
Alexandria Economic Development Partnership
01.2021 - Current
- Advised small and mid-sized businesses on funding readiness, grant eligibility, and compliance requirements across public and philanthropic funding sources.
- Wrote and secured competitive grants with a 90 percent success rate, generating more than $1.5 million in awarded funding.
- Reviewed financial statements, budgets, and supporting documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and alignment with grant requirements.
- Provided post-award technical assistance, including reporting guidance, allowable cost clarification, and documentation standards.
- Supported internal teams with grant tracking, reporting summaries, and performance updates.
Senior Director of Policy & Economic Development
District Bridges
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Directed grant-funded initiatives supporting more than 400 businesses across multiple commercial corridors.
- Managed over $2 million in public and private grant funding with zero audit findings and full compliance with funder requirements.
- Oversaw grant agreements, reporting schedules, and payment workflows in coordination with finance and legal partners.
- Developed internal grantmaking procedures, reporting templates, and compliance checklists to improve consistency and reduce risk.
- Supervised program managers responsible for grantee monitoring, documentation, and outcome reporting.
- Produced portfolio-level reports and dashboards to support leadership decision-making and funder communications.
Senior Program Analyst
Mayor’s Office of Talent Appointments
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Supported grant-funded and publicly financed economic recovery initiatives during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Reviewed program proposals, budgets, and performance metrics to support funding decisions and policy recommendations.
- Coordinated cross-agency grant activities and ensured alignment with District policies and reporting standards.
- Prepared written briefings and reports for senior leadership and elected officials.
Grants Manager
DC Department of Human Services
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Managed a federal and regional grant portfolio exceeding $12 million, overseeing application cycles, reimbursements, reporting, and closeout.
- Conducted financial and programmatic reviews of grantee submissions to ensure compliance with federal and local regulations.
- Drafted and managed grant agreements and amendments in coordination with legal and procurement teams.
- Trained more than 40 subgrantees on allowable costs, reporting requirements, invoicing, and documentation standards.
- Maintained audit-ready systems and successfully passed multiple federal audits with significant reductions in findings.
- Improved reimbursement turnaround times and strengthened internal grant controls.
- Coordinated cross-departmental collaborations to maximize grant impact and effectiveness.
- Managed grant application processes, ensuring compliance with regulations and deadlines.
Network Lead
DC Small Business Development Center, Howard University
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Authored SBA grant reports, funding proposals, and compliance documentation supporting continued federal funding.
- Provided technical assistance to network partners on reporting accuracy, performance metrics, and grant requirements.
- Developed standardized training materials and reporting templates used across the SBDC network.
- Mentored team members in best practices for network management and troubleshooting techniques.
- Streamlined operational processes, improving efficiency of network support services across the organization.
- Conducted training sessions on network tools, enhancing team skills and knowledge base.
Associate Director, Commercial Revitalization
District of Columbia Government
01.2004 - 01.2012
- Administered $3.2 million in grant programs supporting commercial revitalization across 33 neighborhoods.
- Managed application review, award decisions, compliance monitoring, and closeout processes.
- Developed guidance materials and public-facing resources to support applicant understanding of grant requirements.
- Coordinated with finance, legal, and program teams to ensure proper stewardship of public funds.
Education
PhD - Organizational Communications
Howard University
Washington, DC2004
MA - Integrated Marketing Communication
California State University, San Bernardino
California City, CABA - Communications (Mass Media)
California State University, San Bernardino
Skills
- Microsoft Office expertise
- Compliance documentation management
- Grant template development
End-to-End Grant Lifecycle Management
Grant Compliance, Risk Review, and Due Diligence
Budget and Financial Analysis
Salesforce and Grants Management Systems
Grantee Technical Assistance and Support
Grant Agreements, Reporting, and Closeout
Grant Templates, SOPs, and Process Improvement
Cross-Functional and Stakeholder Collaboration
Portfolio Reporting and Metrics Tracking
Independent Judgment and Project Management
Languages
English
Full Professional
Swahili
Full Professional
Timeline
Principal and Founder
Uhuru DC
01.2024 - Current
Senior Director of Policy & Economic Development
District Bridges
01.2022 - 01.2024
Economic Development Advisor (Contract)
Alexandria Economic Development Partnership
01.2021 - Current
Senior Program Analyst
Mayor’s Office of Talent Appointments
01.2019 - 01.2022
Grants Manager
DC Department of Human Services
01.2016 - 01.2019
Network Lead
DC Small Business Development Center, Howard University
01.2012 - 01.2015
Associate Director, Commercial Revitalization
District of Columbia Government
01.2004 - 01.2012
BA - Communications (Mass Media)
California State University, San Bernardino
PhD - Organizational Communications
Howard University
MA - Integrated Marketing Communication
California State University, San Bernardino
CORE GRANTS & OPERATIONS COMPETENCIES
- Grant Lifecycle Management (Application to Closeout)
- Grant Application Review & Due Diligence
- Budget, Financial & Risk Analysis
- Grant Agreements & Compliance Oversight
- Grantee Technical Assistance & Support
- CRM & Grants Management Systems (Salesforce, Cybergrants-adjacent workflows)
- Reporting, Metrics & Portfolio Analysis
- Grantmaking Policies, Procedures & Documentation
- Cross-Team & Stakeholder Advisory Support