Shannon E. Wyss

Experience

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  Vassar College Nursery School

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1995

  Teacher’s Aide

  Major Contributions:• Lead conflict resolution during activities, fieldtrips, and on playground.Other Accomplishments:• Gained knowledge of child development while supervising play, meals, and naptime • Worked 8-10 hours/week while handling full-time course load

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  CLEC Canvass Network

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1997

  Assistant to the Executive Director

  Major Contributions:• Coordinated with Executive, Financial, and Development Directors to run Network headquarters • Synthesized budget data for DC and regional offices Other Accomplishments:• Communicated with state governments when maintaining Network registration with multiple attorneys general offices.

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  Lambda Rising Bookstore

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1996

  Online Events Coordinator & Customer Service Assistant

  Major Contributions:• Assessed content of books and wrote summaries for online store • Set up author and artist interviews for online store.Other Accomplishments:• Developed expertise in understanding resources relevant to LGBTQ youth lives and civil rights

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  George Washington University

  Jan 1997 - Jan 2004

  Executive Aide

  Major Contributions: • Compiled, analyzed data to report on faculty searches, department budget, course registrations • Collaborated with Chair, GW administration to manage department’s daily operations • Utilized writing skills to create resource guides for Sociology faculty, graduate students, future Executive AidesOther Accomplishments:• Supervised, trained secretary, work/study students • Exhibited cultural sensitivity with diverse student population • Became skilled at computer programs to maintain website, listservs, databases Show less

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  Woodhull Freedom Foundation

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2005

  Operations Coordinator

  Major Contributions:• Coordinated with the Executive Director to maintain finances, conference participation, and board meeting logistics • Planned monthly educational “brown bag lunch” series, including deciding on topics, contacting panelists, booking space, and advertising eventsOther Accomplishments:• Managed banking and donor rolls

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  National Association of Private Special Education Centers

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2006

  Administrative Assistant

  Major Contributions:• Updated mailing list with over 1,000 new schools• Referral service: discussed disabled children’s needs with parents, suggested schools from member database • Processed/tracked registrations for annual conference, staffed registration desk Other Accomplishments:• Maintained database, invoice system • Monitored and purchased office supplies/equipment• Maintained Board of Directors/other contact lists

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  National AIDS Fund

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2006

  Program & Resource Development Assistant

  Major Contributions:• Oversaw grant processes: check requests, grant agreements, correspondence, and recordkeeping • Provided data management, member recruitment, and other support for 40+ AmeriCorps members throughout the US annually • Served as key member of staff arranging logistics for national program meetings: staffed registration table, planned handouts, meeting time-keeper Other Accomplishments:• Coordinated activities for AmeriCorps meetings • Responded to requests for information from partners and public • Entered all donations into database. Show less

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  National AIDS Fund

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2010

  Program Associate

  Major Contributions:• Day-to-day project manager for $1.9M Syringe Access Fund • Created online grant applications and reports, and helped applicants and grantees with technical problems, improving their experience and relationship with AIDS United• Collected, analyzed AmeriCorps in-kind data, ensuring compliance with federal reporting requirements • Coordinated national recruitment for 40+ AmeriCorps members throughout the US annually• Promoted after 10 months for superior work performance Other Accomplishments:• Served on internal grant review committees • Served as key staff member during national program meetings • Acted as part of two-person team to analyze, improve grant reporting processes, questionnaires Show less

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  AIDS United

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2014

  Grants Manager

  Major Contributions:• Promoted for superior performance to become AIDS United’s first Grants Manager• Day-to-day project manager for $2.4M Syringe Access Fund• Created 5 staff and grantee user guides for and coordinated implementation of 2 online grants management systems (PhilanTrack, Salesforce)• Identified and developed new grant policies, oversaw implementation, trained staff, and motivated coworkers to uphold new procedures, increasing efficiency of AIDS United’s grant processes • Tracked progress of grants, ensured adherence to procedures, timeliness, accuracy• Served on grant review committees• Managed recruitment of 50+ AmeriCorps members and related orientation conferences annually. Screened 1,000+ applicants each year and served as first point-of-contact for all applicants. Facilitated members’ provision of services to thousands of individuals living with or vulnerable to HIV throughout the US• Explained programs, grant application process, online application systems to hundreds of grantees and applicants for multiple funding initiatives• Displayed comfort with, proficiency in database management when coordinating resolution of grant-related data issues • Oversaw document management, database coding, development of standard templates • Managed 273 grants worth $11.5MOther Accomplishments:• Displayed maturity, tact in working under pressure with senior management, staff in Program, Finance, Operations, and IT • Managed large volume of inquiries from diverse constituency • Proofread, edited all newsletters and publications before distribution • Took photographs for all formal AU events • Served on working group on the intersection of violence/trauma and HIV/AIDS • Chaired committee tasked with developing Letter of Inquiry process for AU grantmaking• Served on multiple review committees Show less

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  DC Trust

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2016

  Program Officer

  Major Contributions:• Managed up to 30 diverse grants within $3.2M and $1.25M initiatives that provided programs to underserved DC youth• Built, with another program officer, the new Community Partnerships Mini-Grants Initiative that brought grant dollars to 5 DC neighborhoods impacted by significant violence• Provided grantees support and oversight, starting with grant award, continuing with leading sessions on policies and procedures at orientation meetings, and ending with grant close-out• Coordinated and conducted 1-2 site visits per grant. After each, provided TA to help grantees resolve compliance findings, implement program improvements, and maximize impact. Completed 76 site visits in 2½ years• Ensured accurate completion of all grantee financial and programmatic requirements and offered technical assistance • Developed sophisticated Excel workbooks for colleagues and self to facilitate tracking of grantee progress in meeting deliverables• Implemented online grants management system (PhilanTrack), including initial and ongoing staff training, in order to increase efficiency in grant reporting process for grantees and colleagues• Managed approx. 95 grants worth $2.5MOther Accomplishments:• Interacted with senior management and staff in Grants Management, Finance, Operations, and IT• Served as key team member in creation of RFPs and in grantee handbook revision• Converted MS Word budget forms into Excel, using automated formulas and locked cells• Designed, gave training on how to run a (trans)gender-friendly afterschool or summer program• Improved grant progress reporting for grantees and colleagues• Worked on internal committees for grant application review, RFP writing, procedural review, and racial equity• Oversaw grantee progress on activities and outcomes, as well as program and financial reporting to ensure appropriate expenditure of funds Show less

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  AIDS United

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2023

  Major Contributions:• Served as AIDS United’s first-ever Senior Grants Manager • Conceptualized, implemented, and refined streamlined grantmaking to increase efficiency and effectiveness for colleagues, applicants, and grantees• Updated and maintained AIDS United’s grantmaking manual. Expanded it from 25 pages to 132 pages• Developed grantee documents and 127-page Salesforce administration guide• Supported applicants experiencing challenges with online portal and assisted grantees with report submission • Explored, planned for, got feedback on, and trained staff in best practices • Created, maintained, and trained users on a Salesforce reviewer portal, in consultation with external contractors • Managed Salesforce database for applications and grants for programs with private and federal funding streams• Chaired Discretionary Grants Committee for 3 years, recommended and delivered strategic improvements to committee process• Oversaw Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund portfolio• Managed 44 grants worth $261KOther Accomplishments:• Trained staff on best practices • Worked with colleagues on the planning for and delivery of grant application technical assistance webinars • Bolstered AIDS United’s presence as a grantmaker exemplifying best practices within the field of philanthropy through presentations at national conferences• Worked with the Capacity Building Assistance team around the creation, implementation, and maintenance of their online forms • Developed instruction manuals for basic-level users of Salesforce and FormTitan • Coordinated with Operations, Finance, and other teams• Ran applicant due diligence• Input application and report forms for all grant cycles, with up to 125 applications each• Helped applicants and grantees experiencing challenges with portal, improving relationships with 100+ non-profits Show less Major Contributions:• Managed two programs: Transgender Leadership Initiative and HIV Hurricane Relief Efforts • Structured and led all grant processes: portfolio timelines, RFP creation and dissemination, applicant assistance, proposal receipt and processing, grant review committee set-up and facilitation, new grant configuration and payment, and grant closeout• Presented lessons learned at multiple national conferences to inform the field about important approaches to supporting trans-led organizations, emphasizing the critical value of "nothing about us, without us"• Collaborated with grantees in preparing for and co-presenting at those conferences• Managed 128 grants worth $3MOther Accomplishments:• Performed capacity-building site visits to grantees • Gathered, synthesized information for reports to 3 corporate foundation partners• Served on multiple review committees• Built relationships with grantees, supported their work• Took photographs for all formal AU events Show less

  • Senior Grants Manager

    Jan 2019 - Jan 2023

  • Program Manager

    Jan 2017 - Jan 2019
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  Tides

  Nov 2023 - Mar 2025

  Temporary Grants Administrator

  Major Contributions:• Collaborated with colleagues to provide critical support to the Grants team as we administered grantmaking for multiple partners• Processed incoming grant recommendations, including grantee due diligence: verified public charity status, ensured compliance with IRS/OFAC guidelines, researched Candid profiles, evaluated mission alignment, requested banking and additional information, and generated award letters• Verified, added, and flagged all 2024 SPLC Hate Watch List organizations in Salesforce• Handled 245 grants worth $11M over a total of 10 monthsOther Accomplishments: • Set up grant payments• Maintained Salesforce records• Cleared two email queues that had not been monitored by Tides staff for several years Show less