Katina Caraganis, GPC
Summary
Grant writing and nonprofit development professional with expertise in securing and managing funding from diverse sources. Skilled in proposal development, grant management, and cross-functional collaboration. Demonstrated success in managing multiple deadlines and creating compelling, data-driven narratives. Experienced in supporting organizations that serve youth experiencing homelessness and underserved communities.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Freelance Reporter
The New Pelican
Pompano Beach
2015.12 - Current
- Researched, pitched, and produced thousands of original news and feature stories, meeting tight deadlines and editorial guidelines.
- Conducted in-depth interviews with public officials, community leaders, and subject-matter experts to provide balance, fact-checked reporting.
- Collaborated with editors to fine-tune story angles, ensuring alignment with the newspaper's voice and audience expectations.
- Built a strong network of reliable sources, enhancing the newspaper's access to exclusive information and insider perspectives.
Grants Specialist
Kim Joyce & Associates
Scottsdale
2023.07 - 2026.05
- Helped secure more than $1.5 million in grant funding for multiple nonprofit clients through strategic proposal development, funding research, and tailored grant writing support.
- Managed the full grant lifecycle for a diverse portfolio of nonprofit and community-based clients, including proposals, budgets, reports, attachments, and compliance documentation.
- Coordinated overlapping grant deadlines across multiple client accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with funder requirements.
- Crafted data-driven narratives highlighting community needs and program impacts, enhancing competitiveness of proposals to foundation, corporate, and government funders.
- Partnered with executive leadership, program staff, and finance teams across client organizations to gather data, define outcomes, and strengthen the competitiveness of funding applications.
- Managed grant report preparation and submissions, tracking reporting calendars, and maintaining organized records for multiple active portfolios.
- Conducted prospect research on foundations, corporations, and public funding opportunities to support client fundraising strategies and long-term sustainability goals.
- Supported organizations serving individuals experiencing homelessness, children, and other underserved populations through strategic grant development and fundraising support.
Content Curator
Miami Times
Miami
2023.05 - 2023.07
- Researched trending topics, community issues, and newsworthy stories to identify timely and relevant content opportunities.Edited and refined articles for clarity, accuracy, grammar, and consistency with editorial and style guidelines.
- Curated engaging digital and multimedia content for The Miami Times website and social media platforms, enhancing audience engagement and relevance.
- Conducted interviews with community leaders, professionals, and subject matter experts to develop original articles and feature content.
- Ensured all published content complied with copyright standards, attribution requirements, and editorial best practices.
- Collaborated with writers, editors, and digital media teams to maintain content quality and support publication deadlines.
- Supported content planning and story development to drive audience growth and increase digital engagement.
- Managed and organized content submissions, multimedia assets, and publishing schedules, ensuring efficient operations in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
Grant Writer
Covenant House Florida
Fort Lauderdale
2021.11 - 2023.05
- Secured and supported funding for youth homelessness and supportive housing programs through foundation, corporate, and municipal grant proposals, contributing to sustained and multi-year funding awards.
- Developed and submitted grant proposals, budgets, reports, and supporting materials for foundation, corporate, and government funders, ensuring compliance with submission and reporting requirements.
- Managed a portfolio of 20+ active grants across multiple funding streams, overseeing proposal timelines, reporting schedules, renewals, and compliance tracking.
- Crafted grant narratives that emphasized program outcomes, service utilization, community impact, and organizational priorities for youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
- Partnered with program leadership, finance staff, and executive teams to gather outcome data, develop measurable objectives, and align applications with funder priorities and municipal requirements.
- Created timely grant reports summarizing program performance, budget expenditures, deliverables, and measurable outcomes for public and private funders.
- Contributed to organizational sustainability efforts by helping strengthen relationships with funders through clear communication, responsive reporting, and high-quality proposal submissions.
Customer Engagement Coordinator
Chewy.com
Hollywood
2020.10 - 2021.10
- Managed high-volume customer communications while maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and strong attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborated across departments to resolve complex issues, enhancing customer experience processes and aligning with organizational goals.
- Maintained detailed and accurate records within CRM systems to support tracking, reporting, and quality assurance efforts.
- Trained and supported new team members on communication standards and workflow procedures, ensuring adherence to documentation practices.
- Analyzed customer feedback and engagement trends to pinpoint process improvement areas and drive operational efficiency.
Contractor Coordinator
Chewy.com
Hollywood
2019.10 - 2020.10
- Coordinated multiple projects and engagement initiatives simultaneously while managing timelines, priorities, and cross-functional communication.
- Assisted with planning and implementing customer engagement strategies designed to strengthen retention and brand loyalty.
- Collaborated with leadership and internal teams to support rollout of company initiatives and operational improvements.
- Researched customer trends and feedback to help inform engagement strategies and enhance overall program effectiveness.
- Supported data tracking and reporting efforts to monitor initiative performance and customer engagement outcomes.
In-House Card Writer
Chewy.com
Hollywood
2017.01 - 2019.10
- Produced high-volume written communications prioritizing accuracy and quality control to meet tight deadlines.
- Proofread and edited customer correspondence to ensure professionalism, consistency, and attention to detail.
- Managed multiple deadlines and prioritized workflow in a fast-paced production environment to ensure timely delivery.
- Supported customer retention and relationship-building efforts through personalized outreach and communication initiatives.
- Maintained organized processes and documentation to enhance daily operations and streamline fulfillment activities.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
Colby Sawyer College
New London, NH2007-05
Skills
- Grant Writing & Proposal Development
- Grant Management
- Foundation, Corporate & Government Grants
- Grant Reporting & Compliance
- Prospect Research
- Budget Development
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Project Management
- Data-Driven Narrative Development
- Relationship Management
Certification
- Grant Professional Certified (GPC), Grant Professionals Certification Institute, 2025
- Grant Writing Certification, Volunteer Florida, 2022
Accomplishments
- Second Place Award in the Crime and Court Category, 2015 New England Newspaper & Press Association's New England Better Newspaper contest
- Third Place Award in the Crime and Court Category, 2014 New England Newspaper & Press Association's New England Better Newspaper contest
- Second Place Award in the Business/Consumer Category, 2011 New England Associated Press News Executive contest
Timeline
Grants Specialist
Kim Joyce & Associates
2023.07 - 2026.05
Content Curator
Miami Times
2023.05 - 2023.07
Grant Writer
Covenant House Florida
2021.11 - 2023.05
Customer Engagement Coordinator
Chewy.com
2020.10 - 2021.10
Contractor Coordinator
Chewy.com
2019.10 - 2020.10
In-House Card Writer
Chewy.com
2017.01 - 2019.10
Freelance Reporter
The New Pelican
2015.12 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
Colby Sawyer College