Arlene Wilson-Grant

Arlene Wilson-Grant serves as a Grant Specialist for the Skoll Foundation, supporting the efficient and effective administration of grants and program related investments. She is a key liaison between grantees, program and finance staff.  She develops and deploys appropriate policies and procedures to ensure an efficient and responsible grant making process for the Skoll Fund and the Skoll Foundation. 

Arlene brings to the Skoll Foundation a strong background from diverse experience in grant management and program roles.  Arlene joined the Foundation from the Public Health Institute (PHI), where she managed federal and state contracts with for-profit companies, community-based organizations, and government entities.  PHI provides administrative support to public health programs statewide, nationally and internationally, and is involved in as many as 250 active projects at any given time. Prior to that, she spent six years as a program officer at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation where, among other things, she developed a multi-year program that demonstrated the benefits of technology access in low-income and underserved communities.  She also had responsibility for helping donors identify effective funding strategies, developing and implementing regional grant making programs, coalition-building amongst key stakeholders, and communications/public relations efforts.  She began her career at the Tides Foundation, working in the areas of youth development, economic development, and international grant making.

Arlene has participated in the Grants Managers Network, which provides regional and national conferences, leadership and networking opportunities, and best practices for grants management staff. She also was a 2007 participant in the year-long Metro Chamber Leadership Sacramento Program, and was nominated for Community Services Planning Council’s 2008 People Helping People Award.  She has also volunteered at a number of Sacramento and Bay Area nonprofit organizations.

Arlene received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.