Economic Development Policy Research
Resume:
FinVantage News
Good afternoon,
With a documented background in policy research, economic development, and written communications, I would like to discuss FinVantage’s Research and Editing Reporter role to provide insightful analysis for clients. My career has been shaped by providing due diligence and strategic guidance to make recommendations to fund projects, secure capital, and conduct demonstration and implementation projects. My expertise is informed by my training and experience developing research proposals, remaining abreast of national and international political developments, analyzing competing viewpoints, and producing reports to inform decisionmakers at leading institutions. As such, I am certain my experience could serve FinVantage effectively in this capacity.
I have over 20 years’ experience working in policy, philanthropic, and K-12 and higher education institutions performing duties outlined for this role, collaborating with subject matter experts and policy institutes to deliver on mission-related and investment objectives, writing political content for national outlets, and leading external communications for organizations. Specifically, my experience includes:
•Designing, researching, writing, and editing research proposals to study:
oGender-focused, educational outcomes in developing countries,
oComparative foreign direct investment analyses and advantages of key Central European countries Conducting comparative analyses on developing and middle income and
oThe effects of microloans to women on their economic outcomes.
•At the Ford Foundation:
oManaging the economic development and media projects for the Ford Foundation, that included funding organizations such as Brookings Institute, ProPublica, and Committee to Protect Journalists, among others.
oMonitoring program-related investments to support housing, agricultural and infrastructure projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
•Securing over $15 million in grant and RFP development awards from state, federal, and foundation sources, which includes:
oDeveloping award-winning RFPs for childcare centers for large employers, including Adobe, JPMorgan Chase, Ford Motor Credit, and Community College of Philadelphia.
•Writing successful state, federal, and private foundation grant proposals, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $900,000, for charter schools and social services nonprofits.
•Conceiving, writing, and developing a successful $3 million federal Workforce Innovation Grant for the Newark Workforce Investment Board to: 1) improve data assessment, collection, and analysis, 2) streamline services for customers, and 3) provide incentives to employees and vendors that rewarded strong performance and addressed poor outcomes.
I trust my experience meets the functional and strategic demands of this role to help FinVantage deliver on its objectives. I am committed to efforts that help FinVantage and its partners succeed. I look forward to hearing from you to discuss this opportunity.
Craig Mills
*****.*****@***.***
SUMMARY
Accomplished policy research professional with a comprehensive background in economic development, political analysis, social policy research, and business development with superior writing abilities. Skilled in analysis and evaluation, reporting, and project management. Comfort using quantitative and qualitative research and analysis to drive insights.
COMPETENCIES
Market research Stakeholder engagement Focus group and market research
Policy analysis Data analysis Financial reporting and budgeting
Economic analysis Performance monitoring Process improvement
Strategic planning Content writing and editing Vendor management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
1/2024 – Present Independent Communication Consultant Remote, New York, and New Orleans
•Function as an integral part of proposal development and communications teams to execute grant proposals and technical contract document deliverables.
•Edit scientific, technical, and RFP proposal documents.
•Lead remote teams on writing, market research, and development projects.
•Provide training, technical assistance, and communication guidance.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
11/2021 – 7/30/23 Senior Manager, External Affairs, Uncommon Schools New York, NY
Uncommon Schools is a high-performing charter management organization (CMO) in five regions in the Northeast whose mission is to place high-needs students of color in and through college. My advocacy and impact work entailed:
•Building systems to execute effective federal and local education reform advocacy initiatives.
•Aligning regional strategies to advance local and national advocacy policy and constituent engagement.
•Representing Uncommon externally and coordinating advocacy efforts with national partners.
•Extending Uncommon’s reach beyond the students and communities it serves by disseminating replicable best practices.
Accomplishments:
•Recruited and provided media training to 30 Uncommon parents and staff to attend a D.C. day of advocacy in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed Charter School Programs changes and led Uncommon’s federal policy responses on the CEO’s behalf.
•Conducted successful Hill Day education policy lobbying meetings with legislators from New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina.
•Developed successful voter registration campaigns for teachers, staff, and students in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
2/2015 –10/2021 Strategy Team Leader, PennPAC Pro bono Consulting, New York, NY
PennPAC engages University of Pennsylvania alumni in high-impact consulting engagements for New York City nonprofits to deliver business strategy, branding, communications, and program operation plans. PennPAC has provided $5 million value for nonprofit clients. I have guided over 25 projects and teams as a team leader or project director. Responsibilities included:
•Developing and growing the Mini Projects program to increase PennPAC’s consulting capacity and provide flexibility to clients on a targeted project scope with smaller teams.
•Developing strategies through careful financial, statistical, and qualitative analysis and managing change in evolving business environments.
•Conducting client due diligence, structuring and drafting agreements, project scopes, deliverables, and project modifications.
•Leading teams across technical, financial, and business disciplines. Focusing teams on achieving objectives and tracking progress to ensure on-time, on budget project completion.
Selected Project Lead Accomplishments:
•Provided landscape analysis of the advanced manufacturing sector to recommend strategic partnerships and market position to place a technology nonprofit as the leading technical advisor for advanced manufacturing for small and medium-sized businesses in New York City.
•Develop branding and messaging strategies to reflect programmatic growth and improve fundraising efforts for a youth development and college access organization serving NYC's low-income South Asian communities.
Oct 2010 – Jan 2015 Director of Strategic Planning and Communications
ACE CONSULTING, New York, NY
ACE was a management consulting firm that partnered with charter school leaders to plan and manage their schools effectively. Responsibilities:
●Strategic planning and communications; client engagement and development that helped secure contracts in New York City, New Orleans and Newark, New Jersey.
●Grant writing and research that secured over $865,000 in funding.
●Board training, development, and coaching for charter renewal and compliance interviews
Accomplishments:
●Provided strategic planning, communications, client engagement, and development that helped secure contracts for 18 schools in New York City, New Orleans and Newark, New Jersey.
●Secured over $865,000 in funding for programming and facilities retrofitting.
●Prepared board members for charter renewal and probation interviews with approving authorities.
2003 – 2010 Grants Manager, Economic Development Unit
THE FORD FOUNDATION, New York, NY
●Managed two grant portfolios totaling $12 million directed and internet policy and worker supports and protections and retraining for low-wage earners.
●Conducted due diligence to evaluate grantees’ programmatic and financial capacities.
●Provided technical assistance to grantees on programmatic topics.
●Provided budget oversight to the program director and staff.
Accomplishments: Funded and managed initiatives that won local, state, and national legislative and policy support for living wages, paid time off, and consumer internet protections, among others.
1999 – 2001 Project Manager, Client Services
WORK/LIFE PARTNERSHIPS, DIV. OF ARAMARK EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, NYC
ARAMARK Work/Life Partnerships works to develop flexible, creative work/life solutions that address issues related to working families and their employers.
Responsibilities:
●Developed and wrote proposal bids in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
●Managed the deliverables of services for multiple projects for a nationally dispersed team.
●Formulated marketing and consultative strategies for clients and provided project oversight.
Accomplishments: Wrote successful RFP bids for Adobe, Ford Motor Credit, JPMorgan Chase, and Community College of Philadelphia
Education:
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, PA
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Master of Science, Organizational Development
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, New York, NY
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
Master of Public Policy, specialization, international policy
TRINITY UNIVERSITY, San Antonio, TX
Bachelor of Arts, political science; minors in English and sociology
Publications: Craig Mills (2014-2020) Published Articles
Software: Microsoft Office suite, G Suite, Salesforce, SPSS, Gemini, ChatGPT, MailChimp, Asana, Survey Monkey, Cision, WordPress, proprietary grants management software
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