non-profit development, Planning, Management & Visibility
Portola Family Connections, Pre-K
Megan Wilson has worked in non-profit development, planning, management, and visibility for over 20 years, ranging from in-depth strategic planning and organizational development to grant writing and research. In addition, she has extensive experience with program development, community organizing, and social and economic justice activism. The size of the organizations she has worked with has ranged from $50,000/yr budget to 6M/yr budget. Organizations she has worked with include: The Gubbio Project, Art Forces, Chinese Whispers, Clarion Alley Mural Project, the Roxie Theater, Urban Peace Movement, The Luggage Store/509 Cultural Center, Portola and Excelsior Family Connections, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Oasis For Girls, Oakland Leaf, Creative Growth, SOMCAN (South of Market Community Action Network), Streetside Stories, Young Women United for Oakland, Global Footprint Network, Youthspace, APIAHF (Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum), TILT (Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools), Southern Exposure, Meridian Gallery, NCCJ (the National Conference for Community and Justice, formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews), and Samaritans (Boston).
Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP)
Co-Director (2001 - 2005, 2010 - Present) / Board President ( 2016 - present) / Core Organizer (1998 - 2001)
San Francisco, CA
Co-develop and implement operations for volunteer-run public art organization.
Create the organization’s budget projections annually in conjunction with project organizers and monitor organizational spending.
Curate and implement programming in conjunction with project curators.
Secure funding for innovative projects for CAMP with city, corporate, and private funders.
Co-organize annual daylong Clarion Alley Mural Project Block Party that presents three stages of music, video projections, and performances to over 1,000 audience members.
Represent CAMP at outreach events, conferences, and foundations.
Co-developed, co-curated, co-organized, and raised funds for the international mural exchange & residency project Bangkit/Arise (2018-2021) between seven artists from San Francisco/Bay Area and seven artists from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, working with community-based organizations and creating public works rooted in a social justice framework in both countries. Built relationship with Asian Art Museum to be the project’s institutional partner. Bangkit/Arise includes a 250-page, full-color bilingual book documenting the project and including essays by participants and cultural critics from both countries, underwritten by the Asian Art Museum to be published in 2021.
Designed and produced CAMP’s first Website and online archive in 2016 - with technical support from Ari Salomon.
Developed, curated, co-organized, and raised funds for the international mural exchange and residency project, Sama-sama/Together in 2003 through which 6 artists from San Francisco spent 5 weeks in Yogyakarta, Indonesia creating public works; and 4 artists from Indonesia spent 6 weeks in San Francisco creating public works.
Developed and designed Sama-sama/Together Website in conjunction with Web programmer David Lawrence.
Co-edited and contributed opening essay to the 168-page, full-color, bilingual book Sama-sama/Together, published by Jam Karet Press, 2006
Gubbio Project
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2014-2017) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support organization that provides free services to the homeless men and women in San Francisco’s Tenderloin and Mission neighborhoods, including a safe space to sleep, meditate, or pray 6am – 3pm, a warm welcome and a listening ear, drug-free restrooms, referral(s) or support on where to turn for help, haircuts, massage, HIV testing, hats/gloves/socks, blankets, hygiene kits, chaplaincy, and breakfasts on Fridays (4-5 days/week in summer).
Led organization’s 3-year strategic planning process and produced 3-Year Strategic Plan: 2015 – 2017 with benchmarks and action steps.
Worked with Director on long-term strategic planning for development and financial stability.
Provided consultation on individual giving campaigns and special events.
Portola and Excelsior Family Connections
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2005-2017) San Francisco, CA
Responsible for raising $1.4M in grant funds to support Family Excelsior Family Connections Capital Campaign renovations for its family resource center purchased in 2015.
Wrote initial proposal to secure $350,000 from the S.H. Cowell Foundation to support the purchase of a 6,500 sq. ft. single occupancy building that will provide Excelsior Family Connections (EFC) a permanent presence in the Excelsior neighborhood.
Responsible for writing government, foundation, and corporate proposals and reports to secure $2M annually in grant giving.
Wrote 2007 proposal that granted Family Connections with the highly competitive Anchor Institution Initiative award from the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Out of 34 organizations that applied, only 5 were selected to receive DCYF’s support of $250,000 annually for three years.
Developed, conducted, and produced: 1) a 3-Year Plan for the Portola neighborhood to address community concerns, 2) a community needs assessment, and 3) an infrastructure & internal organizational assessment as part of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families' (DCYF) Anchor Institution Initiative.
Oversaw the development and production of the organization’s Website redesign in 2009
Worked with Executive Director on long-term strategic planning for development and financial stability.
Chinese Whispers/ Rene Yung
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2012 - 2016) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support artist Rene Yung's community-based storytelling project about contemporary folk memories of the Chinese who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad and settlements of the American West.
Wrote Creative Work Fund proposal that was funded for $45,000 in 2013.
Provided consultation on revenue strategies and individual giving campaigns.
Art Forces / Susan Greene
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2013 - 2014) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and write proposals to support artist Susan Greene and her project Art Forces that works in the intersection of trauma, memory, creativity, resilience and resistance, making visible the connections between struggles for social justice globally and histories that have been obliterated or forgotten.
Provided consultation on revenue strategies, individual giving campaigns and membership.
Roxie Theater, San Francisco, CA
Roxie Theater
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2011 - 2013) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support San Francisco's oldest (1909) and continuously running theater, including the Roxie's first Grants for the Arts awards in 2012 and 2013.
Led organization's first organizational audit and 3-year strategic planning process with the Executive Director in 2012/13.
Provided consultation on revenue strategies, individual giving campaigns and membership.
Co-developed (with Executive Director) and led the Roxie's 2012 Kickstarter campaign Keeping The Mission Reel that raised $62,000.
Co-organized and co-hosted (with Executive Director) special events, including the Roxie’s inaugural Lights. Camera. Action! Awards to honor two filmmakers annually for their exceptional leadership and commitment to social, economic, and/or environmental justice through film.
Oversaw the development and production of the organization’s Website redesign by Web designer Ari Salomon (site launched in December 2013).
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2011) Los Angeles, CA
Wrote report to support statewide policy and advocacy organization whose mission is to advance California Latinas' reproductive health and rights within a social justice and human rights framework.
Urban Peace Movement (formerly Silence The Violence)
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2009-2013) Oakland, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support violence prevention programming for youth and young adults in the flatlands of Oakland.
Responsible for writing government, foundation, and corporate proposals and reports to secure $250K annually in grant giving.
Produced 3-year strategic business plan.
Worked with Director on long-term strategic planning for development and financial stability.
Provided consultation on Individual Giving campaigns.
509 Cultural Center / Luggage Store Gallery
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2006-2012) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support visual and performing art center dedicated to building community by broadening social and aesthetic networks in order to improve the quality of people's daily lives by encouraging the flow of images and ideas between different cultural communities.
Wrote and secured two highly competitive grants from the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation: $75,000 to support the organization's 20th anniversary in 2007; and $50,000 to support the organization's FY13 programming.
Produced capacity building assessment and 3-year strategic business plan in 2012.
Worked with Co-Directors on long-term strategic planning for development and financial stability.
Oakland Leaf
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2006-2011) Oakland, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support culturally relevant after-school and summer programs that interweave the arts, social justice, urban ecology, literacy, and youth empowerment to support the growth of very-low to low-income, ethnically diverse children, youth and their families in East Oakland.
Oasis For Girls, San Francisco, CA
Oasis For Girls
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2000-2007) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support girls’ center in San Francisco whose mission is to cultivate self-esteem in girls and young women through arts, education and leadership development programs.
Responsible for writing all government, foundation, and corporate proposals to secure $300,000 annually in grant giving.
Wrote 2007 proposals that secured Oasis For Girls with $92,000 annually for 3 years to support Teen Programming and Out of School Time from the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
Worked with Director and Board on long-term strategic planning and capacity building.
Produced capacity building assessment and 3-year strategic business plan.
Developed and designed organization’s Website in conjunction with Web programmer David Lawrence.
Developed annual fund development plans.
Worked with staff to develop annual visibility plans and produce public relation materials.
Assisted staff in program development.
Creative Growth Art Center
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2005-2007) Oakland, CA
Provided support to Executive Director, Board, and staff on Capital Campaign to raise funds to renovate the oldest and largest arts and disabilities center in the world.
Researched grants and wrote proposals to help support a $1,225,662 Capital Campaign.
Wrote proposal that secured Creative Growth’s Capital Campaign with a $185,000 grant award from the Kresge Foundation.
SOMCAN (South of Market Community Action Network)
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2001-2006) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support community organizing and networking.
Responsible for writing all government, foundation, and corporate proposals to help secure $300,500 annually in grant giving.
Worked with Director and Board on long-term planning for development and financial stability.
Worked with Director to develop annual organization and program budgets and cash flow.
Worked with staff to develop annual visibility plans and produce public relation materials.
Developed and designed organization’s innaugral Website in conjunction with Web programmer David Lawrence.
Assisted staff in program development.
People's Community Partnership Credit Union
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2006) Oakland, CA
Worked with staff and Board on long-term strategic planning for development and financial stability, including the production of a 2006 Development Plan.
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support economic empowerment in Oakland's low-income neighborhoods by increasing the community's use of, access to, and control over financial services.
Global Footprint Network
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2005) Oakland, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support international think tank that provides accounting tools to drive informed policy decisions in a resource-constrained world.
Young Women United For Oakland (YWUFO)
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2004) Oakland, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support youth-led organization whose mission is to increase safety, resources, sense of community, and improve conditions for young women of color in Oakland.
Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Development Consultant/Grant Writer (2003-2004) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support national health organization.
Wrote proposal that secured a one-year $1,000,000 grant to support the organization’s infrastructure and organizational transition from The California Endowment.
Produced visibility materials to support organization’s programs.
Youthspace, Park Sessions, San Francisco, CA
YouthSpace
Development and Planning Consultant/Grant Writer (2002) San Francisco, CA
Worked with Director and Board on long-term strategic planning for development and financial stability, including the production of a Strategic Business Plan for 2002-2005.
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support youth-run and directed organization dedicated to providing positive outlets for youth expression through the development and support of youth-led initiatives aimed at cross-cultural understanding, empowerment through education, and social and economic justice.
Worked with Director to develop annual organization and program budgets and cash flow.
Created Public Relation materials to increase visibility.
Streetside Stories
Development Consultant/ Grant Writer (2001) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals for storytelling program in San Francisco schools.
Assisted Executive Director on long-term strategic planning for development.
TILT (Teaching Intermedia Literacy Tools)
Development Associate (1999-2002) San Francisco, CA
Researched grants and wrote proposals to support media literacy programs for youth.
Developed 3-Year Strategic Plan for organization.
Directed a capital campaign that raised $120,000 towards leasehold improvements.
Southern Exposure Gallery
Director/Development, Interim Position during Executive Director Search (1999) San Francisco, CA
Directed the organization’s fundraising activities during six-month Executive Director Search.
Oversaw daily operations.
The National Conference for Community and Justice
Program/Development Specialist (1997-1999) San Francisco, CA
Developed and implemented fundraising activities, including foundation and corporate solicitation, individual giving and special events.
Directed High School Press Awards, an annual essay contest that asks high school students to consider their community and their responsibility to it around issues of racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual, and economic diversity.
Conducted classroom presentations in high schools to promote the essay contest and facilitate student dialogue on the issues of diversity, identity, responsibility, and community.
Served as a member of the Television Race Initiative’s Multi-Cultural Community Brain trust, to raise community awareness in conjunction with the Initiative’s national broadcasts: Family Name, Africans in America: America’s Journey through Slavery, Beyond Black and White: Affirmative Action in America, and Facing the Truth with Bill Moyers.
Southern Exposure
Project Coordinator, Urban Renewal Laboratory (1996-1998) San Francisco, CA
Worked with curators on direction and implementation of gallery and on-line exhibition, including grant writing, research, outreach, and coordination.
Wrote proposals for grants that secured $85,000 for project budget.
Meridian Interns Program, Meridian Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Meridian Gallery
Co-Founder, Co-Director, Instructor, Meridian Interns Program (1996-1997) San Francisco, CA
Developed program curriculum and raised funds for arts education and office administration program directed at low-income high school students.
Taught program that included: Art and design projects, gallery and museum visits, public relations experience, writing assignments and computer knowledge. Final project included an exhibition of the students’ work and forum discussion by students.
The Samaritans of Boston
Director of Development and Public Relations (1993-1994) Boston, MA
Developed and implemented fundraising activities for suicide prevention agency, including foundation and corporate solicitation, individual giving, and special events.
Assisted Executive Director in the management of $350,000 agency budget.
Developed and produced public relations materials, annual report, and newsletter.
Crisis Intervention Volunteer (1992 - 1994)
Volunteered over 500 hours answering crisis calls on 24-hour suicide prevention hotline.
Assisted in the training and direction of the SAMARITEENS Program -- a program, aimed specifically at training teens, aged 15-19 in crisis intervention.