Graham O’Neill
Philadelphia,PA
Summary
Technology strategist and public sector innovator with 15+ years of experience in government system reform. Oversees benefits access modernization at Maryland DHS, utilizing a human-centered approach to tackle intricate policy issues. Expertise in aligning regulatory frameworks with practical implementation strategies to enhance government operations.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Office of Benefits Access
Maryland Department of Human Services
Baltimore, MD
02.2025 - Current
- Authored the 'Maryland Model,' a comprehensive state strategy to proactively counter federal overreach following the Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision, establishing a new framework for data-driven legal defense, operational mitigation, and multi-state collaboration.
- Architect the Maryland Benefits Data Trust (MBDT) playbook, a complete technical and operational blueprint for a 'tell us once' system, integrating human-centered design, ethical AI governance, and a 'Benefits-as-a-Service' API model.
- Directing a $1.2M grant proposal for an AI-powered system to automate SNAP and Medicaid work verification, building a public-private partnership with Nava PBC and APHSA to prevent wrongful benefit terminations caused by new federal legislation.
- Spearheaded an academic partnership with Professor Day Manoli to design innovative, data-driven economic mobility initiatives, including a stipend-based workforce training program, and integrated tax outreach for benefits recipients.
- Led the transformation of the state's SNAP outreach committee into a new 'Benefits Access Working Group,' uniting community, non-profit, and government partners to improve the customer experience.
Taxpayer Assistance & Tax Administration Policy Strategist
Prosperity Now
Washington, DC
01.2022 - 08.2024
- Served as a national thought leader for the Taxpayer Opportunity Network, supporting and advocating for over 11,000 VITA professionals and stakeholders.
- Acted as a national liaison to the IRS, advising federal agencies including the FDIC, CFPB, and Treasury on integrating their programs into the nation's community-based tax preparation infrastructure.
Director of Partnerships
Campaign for Working Families
Philadelphia, PA
10.2018 - 12.2021
- Raised over $2.2 million in grant funding to support organizational objectives.
- Engineered a rapid pivot to virtual services at the onset of the pandemic by establishing a formal partnership with Code for America, positioning the organization as the first VITA provider in the nation in their 'GetYourRefund' virtual pilot.
- Obtained and directed a $1M grant from Philadelphia City Council’s Poverty Action Fund to manage a network of tax, public benefit, and legal aid non-profits.
- Created a partnership with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that secured over $800,000 in tax refunds for patient families, featured as a case study in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst.
Administrator of Taxpayer Assistance and Credit Programs
City of Philadelphia – Department of Revenue
Philadelphia, PA
09.2016 - 09.2018
- Headed the $1.3M 'You Earned It Philly' EITC initiative, which returned over $44 million to 26,000 residents.
- Led a newly created business unit of eight civil servants, increasing participation in the city’s real estate and business tax programs.
Benefits Access Coordinator / CEO
City of Philadelphia – Mayor's Office of Community Empowerment
Philadelphia, PA
08.2015 - 09.2016
- Advised the city on public benefits outreach and policy as a Subject Matter Expert, chairing the Advocacy Sub-Committee of the Benefits Access Working Group.
Public Policy Coordinator
Benefits Data Trust
Philadelphia, PA
01.2015 - 08.2015
- Facilitated two foundation-funded random control trials in collaboration with PA & MD DHS, MIT, and Johns Hopkins University to further public interests.
Benefits Quality Specialist
Benefits Data Trust
Philadelphia, PA
03.2014 - 01.2015
- Supervised a team of over ten outreach specialists, increasing the team’s screening, application, and documentation processing accuracy to 95%.
Benefits Outreach Specialist & ACA Navigator
Benefits Data Trust
Philadelphia, PA
07.2013 - 03.2014
- Provided outreach to educate and enroll clients in public benefits services across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York City.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - History
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA05-2005
Skills
- Data-driven strategy
- Grant management
- Economic mobility initiatives
- Community engagement
- Public-private partnerships
- Program integration
Publications And Media
- New England Journal of Medicine - Catalyst, Featured case study on 'Impacting Poverty w/ Med/Financial Partnerships Focused on Tax Incentives.'
- Prosperity Now, Authored articles on VITA program opportunities and strategies to address the EITC participation gap.
- Media Representative, Selected by Code for America to act as a media representative for their virtual tax preparation initiative.
- Media Contributor, Featured as a subject matter expert in local television news interviews across major Mid-Atlantic and East Coast markets, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City, Pittsburgh, and Richmond.
Federal Advisory Roles
Member, Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC), U.S. Department of the Treasury / IRS, 09/01/24, Present, Appointed by the U.S. Treasury to a federal committee that advises the IRS and Congress on the future of tax administration, focusing on simplifying the tax code and improving the taxpayer experience.
Affiliations
- Taxpayers First For IRS Transformation Project, Advisory Board Member
- Gray's Ferry Community Council, Advisory Board Member
- New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Former Board President
Timeline
Director, Office of Benefits Access
Maryland Department of Human Services
02.2025 - Current
Taxpayer Assistance & Tax Administration Policy Strategist
Prosperity Now
01.2022 - 08.2024
Director of Partnerships
Campaign for Working Families
10.2018 - 12.2021
Administrator of Taxpayer Assistance and Credit Programs
City of Philadelphia – Department of Revenue
09.2016 - 09.2018
Benefits Access Coordinator / CEO
City of Philadelphia – Mayor's Office of Community Empowerment
08.2015 - 09.2016
Public Policy Coordinator
Benefits Data Trust
01.2015 - 08.2015
Benefits Quality Specialist
Benefits Data Trust
03.2014 - 01.2015
Benefits Outreach Specialist & ACA Navigator
Benefits Data Trust
07.2013 - 03.2014
Bachelor of Arts - History
Dickinson College
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