Anne Schonfield, Principal
Schonfield Consulting
1834 Delaware St, Berkeley CA 94703
anne@schonfieldconsulting.com
schonfieldconsulting.com
Summary of Qualifications: Consultant and NGO leader with 20+ years in the non-profit, philanthropic and public
sectors. Extensive experience as a philanthropic consultant, and Executive Director/Program Manager in
environmental, international and sustainable development organizations. Content expertise in program evaluation,
organizational development, grant making and strategic planning.
Professional Experience
2004-present Schonfield Consulting, Principal Consultant (partial list of clients)
Berkeley, CA
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2006- present): Supporting senior staff in Global Development
Program with evaluation of grant applications, development of grant-making strategies, staff
training and other tasks. Analyzed 30+ proposals ($1 million - $30 million grants) and drafted grant
recommendations for foundation leadership. Worked with grantees in U.S., Europe, Africa to refine
proposals/budgets to meet foundation requirements. Prepared strategy documents, developed case
studies of grants, and organized internal workshops for foundation teams in evaluation,
policy/advocacy and international emergency relief. Helped develop a $40+ million grant-making
initiative to boost quality education in developing countries.
Starbucks Foundation: Assisted senior staff to develop and implement a $4.5 million grant making
program to support coffee and tea-growing communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Developed a FY 2014 "Origin Grants Plan", identified NGOs to invite for the RFP, designed proposal
guidelines to focus on grant outcomes, and assisted staff to review proposals and make funding
recommendations to the Foundation Board.
Fresno Regional Foundation: Conducted a 5-month stakeholder engagement study about the
impact of the California drought on community based organizations (CBOs), including a survey of
Central Valley CBOs, CBO interviews, and meetings with 60 community leaders. The study identifies
ways that funders can support organizations and communities struggling with the drought.
TCC Group: Assisted with strategic plan development for disability communications foundation in
California. Based on input from Board and staff, created logic model detailing foundation’s overall
impact, interim/long-term outcomes and strategies. Presented logic model at to Board for input
and feedback. Worked with Board on implementation plan.
Trans-African Hydro Meteorological Observatory: Assisted start-up organization with fundraising,
business planning and overall coordination. Developed a $2+ million proposal to USAID for a
network of real-time weather monitoring stations in East Africa, which USAID selected as a finalist in
the 2014 "Securing Water for Food" initiative.
City Fields Foundation: Wrote case study on a successful public-private partnership to revitalize
athletic fields in San Francisco. Case study evaluated accomplishments, challenges and lessons
learned, with interviews of donors, city staff and park users.
Funders Network for Smart Growth & Livable Communities: Conducted on-line survey and phone
interviews of 20+ grant makers investing in transportation and land use in California. Prepared indepth landscape study based on survey, analyzing funders’ programs and grant-making strategies.
East Bay Community Foundation: Researched, wrote and conducted interviews for case studies of
low-income communities. Case studies highlight successful community strategies for home
ownership, affordable housing, civic engagement and small business development.
2001–2004
Co-Executive Director, International Development Exchange
San Francisco, CA
Co-Director for U.S.-based intermediary that supports grassroots organizations in seven developing
nations through grant-making and capacity building. Managed organization’s program work
including supervising program staff, foundation fundraising and program development.
• Program management: Helped streamline IDEX programs in Latin America, Africa and Asia for
greater efficiency and fundability. Coordinated new “catalyst grants” program to expand number of
partner organizations. Supervised grants to partners with emphasis on NGO effectiveness.
• Organizational development: Created annual organizational budgets, hired staff, recruited for
Board of Directors. Helped to develop major donor campaign. Wrote press releases and maintained
contact with reporters.
• Fundraising: Helped develop new fundraising strategy including improved donor cultivation,
targeted proposals and strategic outreach. Researched and cultivated funders, met foundation staff,
wrote grant proposals and budgets. Spoke on micro-credit at Council of Foundation’s conference.
1993–2001 Program Director, Pesticide Action Network
San Francisco, CA
Project Director for international network that promotes sustainable agriculture. Managed program to
control the pesticide methyl bromide. Helped African NGOs establish regional center.
• NGO collaboration: Worked extensively with NGOs in the U.S., Africa, Europe, and Latin America
to raise awareness about pesticides and food security. Managed U.N. project with NGOs in ten
developing countries working to educate farmers about ecological agriculture.
• Advocacy: Served as NGO lobbyist at international Montreal Protocol treaty. Organized NGO
teams from Africa, Asia and Latin America to push for phase out of methyl bromide. Primary author
of six reports, including media briefing kit.
• Fundraising: Primary responsibility for raising $500,000+ from private foundations, U.N. agencies
and international donors. Researched and sought funders, wrote grant proposals and budgets.
Provided sub-grants to NGOs in Africa, Asia, Latin America.
• Media/public outreach: Quoted frequently in California media outlets on methyl bromide. Wrote
press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds. Organized press conferences and meetings with
Editorial Boards.
1991
Strategic Planning Assistant, The Asia Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Analyzed and wrote preliminary long-range strategic plan. Investigated best types of strategic plans
for the Foundation and revised their mission statement. Examined major trends in Asia and U.S. likely
to affect the Foundation's future. Solicited input from twelve Asian field offices.
1990
Acting Program Officer, Catholic Relief Services
Zimbabwe
Monitored and evaluated development projects throughout southern Africa. Oversaw an integrated
watershed scheme in Lesotho, including assisting local women’s organizations with program
planning, grant writing and project implementation. Analyzed micro-credit, HIV/AIDS and cityfarming projects in South Africa to determine progress and merit for funding.
1987-89
Legislative Assistant, Congressman Gary Ackerman
Washington D.C.
Responsible for Congressman's Foreign Affairs Committee work. Initiated, drafted and enlisted
bipartisan support for legislation on famine relief in Sudan. Traveled to Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda
for Select Committee on Hunger. Prepared amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act deploring the
humanitarian crisis in Horn of Africa. Participated in fact-finding missions to Taiwan, Bolivia, Israel.
Education
1992
University of California, Berkeley, M.A. in City and Regional Planning
 Masters thesis on environmental security in South Africa.
Anne Schonfield resume, p. 2
1985
 Concentration in sustainable development.
Dartmouth College, B.A. in Government and Environmental Studies (Cum Laude)
 Environmental Studies program in Kenya.
 Conversational in French, intensive study of Swahili.
 Co-founded Dartmouth Progressive Alliance.
 Received Tucker Foundation’s Marx Award for outstanding community service.
Selected Presentations and Publications
“Beyond Almonds and Blond Lawns: Investing in Non-Profit Organizations To Sustain Central Valley
Communities Beyond the Drought”, for Fresno Regional Foundation, 2015
“Leverage and Spillover from Agricultural Grants: Introduction & Case Studies”, case study for Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, 2013.
“Evaluation As A Tool For Learning: How to Make Evaluation Work For Both Donors And Grantees”, moderator
for learning workshop at Grant Makers Without Borders conference, 2012.
“Giving Every Child a Place to Play Ball: A Partnership to Revitalize San Francisco’s Athletic Fields”, Case Study
for City Fields Foundation, 2010.
“Foundation Investments To Advance Smart Growth In California”, Funders Network for Smart Growth and
Livable Communities, 2010.
“Methyl Bromide Media Briefing Kit”, Pesticide Action Network, San Francisco, CA, 2001
"Environmental Security: a Case Study of South Africa", in Ezekiel Kalipeni (ed.), Population, Environment and
Resources in Southern Africa, Lynne Reinner Publishers, 1993. (Book chapter)
Board of Directors, Volunteer Support
Board of Managers, Downtown Berkeley YMCA (one of the largest YMCAs in U.S.): Serving on Financial
Development Committee, and assisting with Annual Giving Campaign, fundraising strategy, major donor
outreach/development, Board strategy and recruitment.
Berkeley High School Development Group: Helping this committee to raise $500,000+ and make small grants
to Berkeley High School teachers and enrichment programs, including after-school tutoring and teacherinitiated projects.
Full member, National Network of Consultants to Grant-makers: NNCG provides the only nationally vetted
source of consultants serving all types of U.S. grant makers.
Anne Schonfield resume, p. 3