Shae Knowlton

Mission-driven program leader with a strong record of designing and managing impactful initiatives in education, inclusion, and nonprofit innovation. Proven success in overseeing large-scale projects from planning through implementation, coordinating cross-functional teams, managing timelines and budgets, and aligning programs to measurable outcomes. Skilled at driving operational excellence while navigating complex stakeholder environments and actively seeking to transition into a full-time Program Manager role supporting equity-focused or education-centered initiatives.

Development Manager, Grants at Beneficent Technology, Inc. (DBA: Benetech) (2024-04 – Present)

• Coordinate program timelines, deliverables, and strategic planning for Benetech international and national programs, including accessible education platforms that serve students with learning disabilities.
• Partners with research, product, and engineering leads to define logic models, develop evaluation frameworks, and align program goals with funder priorities.
• Manage a $2M+ annual pipeline of education-focused grants, overseeing cross-functional inputs and leading project planning for pilots serving over 500 educators and students.
• Implemented new program tracking systems, shared deliverables calendars, and process improvements to streamline workflows and improve accountability across teams.

Senior Grants Coordinator at The Headstrong Project (2022-11 – 2024-04)

• Built a centralized system to track grant-funded program activities, deliverables, and reporting across multiple departments.
• Collaborated with senior leadership to identify new opportunities and secure over $1M in funding aligned with programmatic growth goals.

Program Manager at Special Olympics Arizona (2019-02 – 2022-11)

• Steered program management and grant writing for the organization, generating and reviewing competitive grant proposals to secure over $3M in funding for various programs; managed an $800,000 annual budget.
• Constructed and implemented new hiring processes, performance standards, program policies, and business procedures to promote consistent goal achievement and operational excellence.
• Delivered cross-functional leadership to 8 team members, including direct reports, interns, and consultants, while launching marketing campaigns and leading a statewide program with 200+ participating schools.
• Deployed exceptional communication skills to cultivate and expand business relationships with grant partners, stakeholders, and grant recipients to drive organizational development.
• Led and scaled training workshops and coordinated various events, such as virtual summits, conferences, seminars, workshops, and networking sessions.

Senior Community Outreach Professional at University of Arizona (2016-11 – 2019-02)

• Led K-12 outreach programs focused on nutrition and wellness education for Title I schools, aligning delivery with state and federal requirements.
• Created tracking systems and outreach protocols that improved educator participation, program reach, and evaluation accuracy.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Grand Canyon University (2022)

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nonprofit Leadership and Management – Arizona State University (2014)