Shruti Nagarajan Gonzalez

• Enhanced educational outcomes for students in U.S. K-12 and postsecondary institutions by delivering strategic planning, implementation, market analysis, and stakeholder engagement to 30+ clients like foundations, nonprofits and state education agencies. Attained a Net Promoter Score of 8-10 from all clients. Key accomplishments include:
• CO-LED FOUNDATION STRATEGIC PLANNING: Crafted a five-year strategic plan for a Texas-based foundation. Engaged internal and external stakeholders throughout the process, including staff, grantees, policymakers, and universities. Utilized job market analysis and economic theory to devise feasible strategies, fostering an improved organizational culture. Motivated cross-functional teams for effective execution.
• CONSTRUCTED MULTI-STATE REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR A GLOBAL NONPROFIT: Developed and implemented a unified regional strategy for a global nonprofit across Washington, Texas, California, and New Mexico. Conducted state analysis, suggested strategic organizational and advocacy direction, and aligned local leadership to national key performance indicators in health and education to enhance PK-3rd-grade student outcomes.
• STRATEGIC PLANNING AND FUNDRAISING FOR A NATIONAL NONPROFIT: Led strategic planning and fundraising for a national nonprofit, securing a $10M grant from The Studio @Blue Meridian by leading project management, devising a multi-state growth strategy, and advising executive leadership on pitch delivery.

• INTERIM PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: Executed functions of the mission investment portfolio manager while she was on long-term leave, including conducting diligence on new investments, managing the investment pipeline, and measuring portfolio impact and performance for current grantees.
• PERFORMED MARKET RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES: Investigated new areas aligned with the foundation’s focus areas that have the potential to create high-impact and modest returns, including income share agreements, litigation finance, universal basic income, blended finance, and revenue-based financing.
• INTERNAL WORKFLOW OPTIMIZATION: Led the creation of a tool for monitoring pipeline investments and consolidating portfolio insights. Updated a $150MM+ impact investing portfolio’s policy, incorporating team feedback into strategies and establishing bias-mitigating practices in grantmaking and investment due diligence.
• IDENTIFIED & NEGOTIATED POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS: Collaborated with various officers to identify and negotiate potential grants and return-seeking investments aimed at reducing the racial wealth gap. Facilitated data gathering from potential grantees to ensure strategic alignment of allocations across different program teams.

Founding team member at a $100M+ Global Technology Fund of Funds Informed by Racial Equity and Justice.

• CO-LED FUNDRAISING AND TAILORED COMMUNICATION: Co-led the firm’s first fundraising initiative, successfully securing $40 million from various sources. Tailored presentations to match potential funders’ objectives and utilized interpersonal skills to build relationships with key funders.
• DRAFTED INVESTMENT DILIGENCE MEMOS & LED STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT: Led diligence for four impact technology funds, drafted financial memos, gained cross-sector investment approval, and contributed post-investment to select boards in Education, Finance, and Sustainability sectors. Contributed to select boards post-investment.
• PITCHED INVESTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL: Briefed the investment committee on each investment opportunity, including extensive analyses, investment strategy, macroeconomic trends, impact thesis, and operational diligence, resulting in over $15.5M in investment recommendations approved.
• THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ON BIASES IN INVESTING: Secured $400,000 from a Fortune 500 insurer to fund a partnership with a Stanford lab for research on investing biases. Assisted in the creation of public announcements and iterated on the messaging strategy for the firm’s study on asset allocator biases.

Nonprofit that enables underserved students the opportunity to explore careers.

• PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: Oversaw and guided 17 new teaching fellows, who taught over 350 middle school students with a focus on mentoring, using questioning strategies, ongoing professional development, and continuous improvement. Advised on best practices to improve learner performance.
• REVAMPED TRAINING & COACHED EDUCATORS: Redesigned training for AmeriCorps fellows and volunteers. Coached fellows on questioning strategies. Presented program and training updates to the national board.

Global private investment consulting firm that serves 1000+ investors

• ANALYZED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS: Assessed investment and market performance for seven high-net-worth families. Evaluated and benchmarked investment performance and positioning of each family’s portfolio.
• DROVE ASSET GROWTH: Secured three new high-net-worth clients interested in ESG investments, such as green bonds, resulting in an additional $1 billion in managed assets.