Jessica Hickman Schneider
Gilbertsville
Summary
Results-driven grants and policy professional with 20+ years of experience in government contract management and fund development. Administered $116 million grant portfolio at Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, managing compliance, policy analysis, and stakeholder relations. Developed grant administration systems at Montgomery County Government serving 850,000 residents. Proven success securing funding from federal agencies (NIH, HRSA, CDC), state programs, and foundations for healthcare, social services, and community programs. Expert in regulatory compliance, performance metrics, RFP development, and cross-sector collaboration.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Grant Writer
Tower Health, Reading Hospital
09.2025 - 11.2025
- Researched, wrote, and managed grant proposals to secure funding for large nonprofit hospital. Proven ability to identify funding opportunities, craft compelling narratives aligned with organizational goals, and maintain relationships with donors and grant-making agencies. Adept at managing deadlines, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and tracking proposal outcomes to optimize future submissions. Experienced in securing funding for hospitals, public health initiatives, medical research, and community wellness programs. Skilled in identifying grant opportunities from government agencies, foundations, and private donors. Adept at translating complex healthcare data and program goals into persuasive proposals that align with funder priorities. Collaborated with clinical staff, finance teams, and administrators to develop budgets, gather impact metrics, and ensure compliance with grant requirements.
- Key Skills:
- Healthcare grant proposal writing
- Public health funding strategy
- NIH, HRSA, and CDC grant applications
- Budget development and justification
- Program evaluation and impact reporting
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Regulatory compliance and documentation
Executive Policy Specialist I, Grants
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Human Services
04.2023 - 05.2024
- Administer 18 grants totaling approximately $116 million dollars in the Office of Policy Development (OPD). These grants focused on women’s health, legal aid, family planning, social determinants of health in the Health Enterprise Zone of the City of Philadelphia, domestic violence and rape crisis across the Commonwealth. In conjunction with other OPD staff and grant recipients, oversee the administration of OPD grant funding programs, ensuring compliance with requirements, reporting deadlines, program objectives, and monitoring.
- Assist with drafting RFPs, review and score RFP responses, financial management, grant monitoring, analyzing reports and meeting regularly with grantees. Review and analyze implementation reports and plans and prepare monthly summary reports for Secretary of Human Services and other high-level staff and legislators. Identify outstanding issues and questions for grantees. Provide high level analysis to policy office regarding status of grants. Helped to develop monitoring system/tool and conduct risk assessments. Analyze quarterly admin and statistical reports. Develop strategies to identify new grant funding opportunities, communicate availability and deadlines, and coordinate program formulation discussions with program offices/various stakeholders; manage the processes required to review, plan, apply, receive, and report on grant funds. Assist with the creation, collection, and analysis of performance metrics, establishing benchmarks to assess and communicate outcomes of grant-funded programs. Improve the coordination of family planning and reproductive health services. Connect and support policy issues/initiatives of grantees to ensure equitable and comprehensive services to Pennsylvanians they serve.
- Establish and maintain ongoing relationships with the grantees to assist in the collaboration and development of their work. Serve as the link between DHS and the grantees, working with other departments to manage the processes involved with grant administration (fiscal processing, renewals, extensions, revisions, etc.). This also supports their advocacy initiatives.
Grant Administrator
County of Montgomery, Norristown, PA
01.2015 - 03.2023
- Working in the Finance Department in the Board of Commissioners Office, and reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Grant Administrator assists with the research, writing, submission and execution of state, federal and foundation grants for the County of Montgomery, the third most populous county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with over 850,000 residents and 43 departments and 2,800+ employees. Work with department heads and staff to research grant opportunities. Use eCivis for grant research for County departments as well as community partner nonprofits. Collaborate with HHS administration to compile the County’s Human Services Block Grant and submit to the Commonwealth. Coordinate with our Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation, Montgomery County Correctional Facility and other departments to submit grants, award letters and reports to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Proofread grants for County departments, collect necessary attachments and supporting documentation and help with creating and submitting grant reports as needed. Teach grant writing and management courses both internally for County staff as well as for community nonprofits. Ensure grants are processed timely and signed by elected officials, County judges and other County staff. Currently building front grant management system as a component of financial system software upgrade. Track grants through the County’s grant process as outlined in the Grant Manual. Update SAM registrations and manage access to online grant platforms, such as JustGrants, grants.gov, etc. Work closely with County Solicitors to create resolutions that the County Board of Commissioners votes on at public meetings when a grant requires a County match of any kind or size. Conduct research and advise departments heads on funding opportunities that align with their policies and goals for projects and programs. Helped create the County’s Grant Administration Policy, a component of the Grant Administration Manual, in conjunction with the Controller’s Office and the CFO.
President
The Grantwriting Girl Nonprofit Consulting, Gilbertsville, PA
06.2003 - 12.2014
- Provide consulting services for nonprofit organizations in various fields including mental health, homeless services, adjudicated youth and other community-based programs. Facilitate workshops on grant writing, fund raising, strategic planning and Board development with an emphasis on working with Advisory Boards/Committees. Network with various agencies and connect organizations with others who can provide additional resources. Participate in brainstorming sessions to develop funding plans. Grant writing services include research, proof reading existing grants, developing master template and writing and packaging full proposals. Since 2007, I have taught introduction to grant writing courses at Main Line Night School, Owen J. Roberts Adult Education and Chester County Night School.
Executive Director
Norristown Area Education Foundation, Norristown, PA
08.2011 - 05.2014
- First ever Executive Director for this thriving education foundation serving the students and teachers of the Norristown Area School District. Responsible for daily operations and project management including grant writing, event fundraising, monthly e-newsletter, Board development, committee management, public relations/community outreach, supervision of teacher mini grant administration, collaboration with other nonprofit and for-profit partners, social media presence and other tasks. Assisted in raising $200,000 in Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funds from local corporations. Completely revised the teacher mini grant process including development of grant application and report form.
Director of Development
The Good Samaritan Shelter, Inc., Phoenixville, PA
02.2008 - 06.2009
- First ever Director of Development for this faith-based men’s homeless shelter. Responsible for creating and leading the development program, designing, implementing and managing all fundraising activities including annual giving, special projects, grant writing, managing county contracts, special events and other related solicitations. Managed all strategies and activities for donor cultivation, solicitation and relations. Maintained contact with and developed grant proposals for foundations and corporations. Worked closely with Executive Director and Board of Directors to create and execute comprehensive development plan. Helped created a public relations/marketing plan, designed and oversaw production of all major publications including newsletter, annual report, website and brochures. Developed and implemented strategies to promote the mission to both internal constituencies and the community at large.
Program Director
Resources for Human Development, Inc. /Compeer of Suburban Philadelphia, Eagleville
01.1997 - 12.2007
- Director of small, grassroots nonprofit organization serving adults in mental health recovery. Responsible for a staff of five, approximately 150 volunteers, $200,000+ annual budget and two offices serving two counties. Primarily responsible for all fundraising, including grant writing, event fundraising, annual appeal and managing county contracts. Volunteer recruitment, screening, training and supervision. Public relations and marketing responsibilities including media contacts, interviews and public appearances. Worked closely with Board of Advisors including developing monthly agendas and coordinating guest speakers. Updated virtually all written material for program, including writing quarterly newsletter. Maintained good relationships with county offices to secure government funding. Worked closely with mental health providers throughout the service area.
Education
Masters of Science - Nonprofit Management
Eastern University
St. David’s, PA05.2003
Bachelor of Science - Mental Health Technology
MCP-Hahnemann University
Philadelphia, PA05.1997
Skills
- Grant proposal writing
- Funding strategy development
- Budget development
- Program evaluation
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Regulatory compliance
- Data analysis and reporting
- Grant management systems
- Policy compliance
- Policy evaluation
- Collaborative relationships
Timeline
Grant Writer
Tower Health, Reading Hospital
09.2025 - 11.2025
Executive Policy Specialist I, Grants
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Human Services
04.2023 - 05.2024
Grant Administrator
County of Montgomery, Norristown, PA
01.2015 - 03.2023
Executive Director
Norristown Area Education Foundation, Norristown, PA
08.2011 - 05.2014
Director of Development
The Good Samaritan Shelter, Inc., Phoenixville, PA
02.2008 - 06.2009
President
The Grantwriting Girl Nonprofit Consulting, Gilbertsville, PA
06.2003 - 12.2014
Program Director
Resources for Human Development, Inc. /Compeer of Suburban Philadelphia, Eagleville
01.1997 - 12.2007
Bachelor of Science - Mental Health Technology
MCP-Hahnemann University
Masters of Science - Nonprofit Management
Eastern University