Doug Newman
Chicago
Summary
An experienced development professional specializing in major grant prospecting, project planning, management, and evaluation.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director, Grants Manager
SILC & THE SMART SELF RELIANCE INITIATIVE
11.2017 - Current
- Founded the nonprofit research collaborative to enhance the independence of older adults and persons with disabilities through smart technologies and services.
- Secured over $1.5 million in foundation and corporate grants to fund research, education, and technology adoption projects.
- Authored comprehensive guides on smart device applications for older adults, persons with disabilities, and care providers.
- Created an online information clearinghouse on smart technology applications for independent living: smartselfreliance.org
- Developed a related roadmap for grant-making for the Illinois Science & Energy Innovation Foundation.
- Fully Remote.
Project Development & Grants Manager
SELF-EMPLOYED CONSULTANT
01.2014 - 11.2017
- Obtained major foundation and corporate grants to fund engineering and consumer science research, promoting independence among persons with disabilities.
- Directed and managed expert teams, consistently achieving project deliverables within set timelines and budget constraints.
- Produced thorough interim and final evaluations, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and their satisfaction.
- Fully Remote.
Managing Partner
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Founded a consulting collaborative to assist federal, state, and local agencies in designing resilient community development policies and projects.
- Secured major federal and state grants to develop methods for local emergency systems planning.
- Developed three of the nation’s first municipal energy assurance plans for the US Department of Energy.
- Generated plans guiding over $45 million in public expenditures on emergency energy system improvements.
- Guided the California Energy Commission and state utilities in formulating energy-efficient community development policies and RFP requirements.
- Fully Remote.
Director, National Energy Center for Sustainable Communities
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Led research, policy, and planning projects to explore the commercial potential of advanced fossil and renewable energy technologies within large-scale sustainable community developments.
- Generated $6M+ in grant funding from government and foundation sources to support research initiatives.
- Authored over 1,000 pages of policy and planning research reports, publishing findings in various industry publications.
- Generated insights that guided over $300 million in public and private expenditures on sustainable community infrastructure.
- Fully Remote.
Manager, Energy & Environmental Programs
GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
01.2001 - 01.2006
- Led the Institute’s research team focusing on advanced natural gas and renewable energy applications for sustainable community planning and development.
- Executed comprehensive business development strategies, encompassing funder prospecting, project planning, proposal development, contract negotiation, and evaluation.
- Generated and managed over $6 million in federally, state, and utility-funded planning and development projects.
- Developed sustainable energy policies and management plans for multiple cities including: Baton Rouge, Chicago, Chula Vista, Honolulu, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tijuana and Visalia.
- Created and conducted training programs on sustainable infrastructure development for municipal officials and industry executives in Australia, China, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, and the United States.
- Served as the Institute's subject matter expert and spokesperson for the practice at regional, national and international conferences and in media engagements.
- Partially Remote.
Special Projects Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters
- Developed and pilot tested non-regulatory approaches to environmental quality compliance for national deployment.
- Led the agency's efforts as the primary expert on nonprofit environmental grant making and seeking.
- Created the Cooperative Environmental Management Initiative, empowering nonprofits to obtain philanthropic funding for local conservation efforts.
- Authored the agency’s Primer on Grant Seeking for Nonprofit Environmental Organizations.
- Collaborated in developing the agency's first administrative framework for unified grant making.
- Developed and managed the National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS) program, overseeing its first grants.
- Co-created the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, and served as its first grants program director.
Education
Master of Public Policy & Administration -
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WisconsinMaster of Science - Urban & Regional Planning
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WisconsinBachelor of Science - Urban Studies & Architecture
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MinnesotaPresidential Management Fellow - undefined
U.S. Government
Washington, D.C.Skills
- Prospect Research & Relationship Building
- Project Planning, Budgeting & Grant Writing
- Grant Project Management & Performance Tracking
- Remote Collaboration/Communications
- Project Evaluation & Grant Reporting
- Grant Policy & Procedures Development
- Collaborator & Vendor Training
- Online Foundation Directory Resources
Timeline
Executive Director, Grants Manager
SILC & THE SMART SELF RELIANCE INITIATIVE
11.2017 - Current
Project Development & Grants Manager
SELF-EMPLOYED CONSULTANT
01.2014 - 11.2017
Managing Partner
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
01.2010 - 01.2014
Director, National Energy Center for Sustainable Communities
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
01.2006 - 01.2010
Manager, Energy & Environmental Programs
GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
01.2001 - 01.2006
Master of Science - Urban & Regional Planning
University of Wisconsin
Bachelor of Science - Urban Studies & Architecture
University of Minnesota
Presidential Management Fellow - undefined
U.S. Government
Special Projects Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters
Master of Public Policy & Administration -
University of Wisconsin
Similar Profiles
SANJEET MISHRASANJEET MISHRA
Senior Customer Service Associate at Reliance Projects & Property Management Services Limited-(Reliance Smart Bazaar)Senior Customer Service Associate at Reliance Projects & Property Management Services Limited-(Reliance Smart Bazaar)
Ruth Amgar MoharRuth Amgar Mohar
Teacher at Private Initiative - A SMART GROUPTeacher at Private Initiative - A SMART GROUP
MANGA DEVENDARMANGA DEVENDAR
STORE ASSISTANT at Reliance SMARTSTORE ASSISTANT at Reliance SMART
Jacob StillmanJacob Stillman
Customer Growth Consultant at ToastCustomer Growth Consultant at Toast
Demetrius Ready Jr.Demetrius Ready Jr.
Manager at Take 5Manager at Take 5