Donna Alqassar
Senior Historic Grants Manager @Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Historic Grants Manager @Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission
Providence, RI, US
Manage and coordinate all agency grant and financial assistance programs, ensuring compliance with the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Act and state and federal regulations.Administer State Preservation Grants, the Historic Preservation Loan Fund, Certified Local Government Grants, and federal Historic Preservation Fund pass-through grants.Develop and implement policies, procedures, and reporting requirements to enhance grant program efficiency and impact tracking.Provide technical assistance to grant-seekers, guiding them through eligibility requirements and application procedures.Facilitate grant selection committees and oversee pre-award risk assessments and post-award monitoring to ensure compliance.Monitor program finances, reconcile accounts, and prepare progress and completion reports for stakeholders, including state legislators and budget offices.Collaborate with state and federal agencies to advance historic preservation initiatives and expand funding opportunities.Promote funding programs to recruit diverse applicants, ensuring equitable access to grant resources.Research and analyze grant opportunities, developing and submitting comprehensive proposal packages.Present program data and findings to state-level decision-makers and the general public, highlighting the impact of funding initiatives.
EDUCATION
Community College of Rhode Island
Associate in Science
Community College of Rhode Island
Associate’s Degree
SKILLS
ABOUT DONNA ALQASSAR
I am a grant manager and cultural strategist focused on advancing equity through historic preservation, public funding, and community storytelling. My work connects community narratives, public investment, and heritage conservation across Rhode Island.As the Senior Historic Grants Manager for the state of Rhode Island’s Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, I oversee competitive federal and state grant programs that have funded millions of dollars in preservation and cultural heritage projects, ensuring 100% federal compliance and on-time delivery. Public funding systems are often opaque. I bring structure, clarity, and trust to the process by guiding partners through complex compliance requirements while aligning funding with preservation goals and community values. For several years, I simultaneously managed our statewide grants portfolio and led the Heritage Program’s public-facing strategy. Balancing these responsibilities required vision, structure, and adaptability.As the Heritage Program Coordinator, I oversaw and executed Rhode Island’s signature cultural event—the Heritage Festival—for six years. Under my leadership, attendance doubled, visibility expanded, and funding increased. I secured grants and sponsorships that deepened engagement and affirmed the cultural richness of our state. I also launched a publicly accessible Heritage Group Directory on our agency\'s website, connecting the public with dozens of active cultural organizations across Rhode Island.I spent the last two decades in public service and community leadership, including over a decade advocating for children with special educational needs. That work shaped how I lead with clarity, conviction, and empathy. It taught me to challenge systems that exclude and build ones that serve. In every role, I serve as a calm and steady presence, especially when the stakes are high and the systems are complex. I lead with intention and impact, setting clear boundaries to keep the work purposeful rather than reactive. Public funding, when used with intention, does more than preserve places; it affirms stories, strengthens identity, and builds cultural resilience.I welcome connections around cultural equity, storytelling, and how preservation can shape a more inclusive future.
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