Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

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, NH
2007-05

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
Katina Caraganis, GPC