I work across philanthropy, government, and nonprofit sectors, supporting teams as they design and implement programs, manage grants and partnerships, strengthen systems, and use data and learning to inform decision-making.
I was born and raised in Ethiopia and immigrated to the United States in my teens. Growing up across two very different contexts shaped how I understand systems, opportunity, and inequity. It also grounds my commitment to community-centered work and the belief that people closest to the challenges should help shape the solutions.
Over the past decade, I have worked across philanthropy, local government, and nonprofit organizations, including the UN Foundation, the City and County of San Francisco, and the GitLab Foundation. Across these roles, I have supported program design and launch, managed complex initiatives and grant portfolios, and contributed to research and evaluation efforts that inform decision-making and strengthen impact.
Across these experiences, I have often been brought into initiatives at moments of growth, change, or complexity. Whether launching a new program, managing a grant portfolio, coordinating across stakeholders, or strengthening internal systems, I help teams create structure, navigate challenges, and move work forward with intention.
I provide project-based consulting for organizations seeking support with program strategy, implementation, grant management, and cross-functional initiatives. Services can be tailored to meet the needs of a specific project, initiative, or team.
Supporting the development of program models, theories of change, and implementation plans that translate ideas into clear, actionable structures.
Stepping into cross-functional or evolving work to help clarify direction, align stakeholders, and support execution from planning through implementation.
Developing proposals, reports, and related materials that translate program work into clear narratives for funders, partners, and stakeholders.
Supporting grantmaking programs through strategy, portfolio management, grantee engagement, compliance tracking, reporting systems, and learning processes.
Conducting research, stakeholder interviews, environmental scans, and learning activities that help organizations better understand challenges, opportunities, and program effectiveness.
Examples of projects where I’ve supported organizations to design, structure, and move complex initiatives forward.
Led the design and launch of a multi-country grantmaking initiative in partnership with the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, supporting grassroots women’s rights organizations addressing gender-based violence.
Designed and launched guaranteed income and microgrant pilot programs serving unhoused residents and survivors of domestic violence, in partnership with city departments, community organizations, and philanthropic funders.
Conducted research on women’s economic empowerment and gender-based violence in India and globally, translating evidence and stakeholder insights into reports, recommendations, and practical resources to inform policy and programming.
Implemented a community survey across affordable housing sites to inform planning, resource allocation, and service delivery for residents with disabilities.
Led strategy and management of a global economic mobility grant portfolio across the U.S. and Kenya, identifying investment opportunities, building grantee partnerships, and integrating learning into funding decisions and portfolio strategy.
If you’re looking for support with program strategy, implementation, grant management, grant writing, research, or cross-sector initiatives, I’d love to hear from you.
Based in Bay Area, CA · Available for project-based work
kalishebi@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/kalkidanshebi