Jennifer I. Baker

About Jennifer I. Baker

Research administration and grants finance leader with 20+ years of executive and operational experience across higher education, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations. I specialize in post-award administration, sponsored programs, grants finance, compliance, and strategic operations. My experience includes overseeing $20M+ in federally funded, foundation, corporate, and institutional portfolios across multiple fund codes; strengthening internal controls; building audit-ready systems; supporting budget development, forecasting, procurement, contracts, and financial reporting; and translating complex regulatory requirements into practical workflows for program and institutional teams. At Morehouse College, I directed financial and operational oversight of sponsored and restricted funding, maintained zero audit findings for 5 consecutive years, supported major funding growth, and built SOPs, dashboards, and compliance systems to improve operational efficiency. I have also advised nonprofit and education-focused clients on grant lifecycle processes, reporting structures, financial controls, and funder-aligned operations. Core areas include sponsored programs administration, research administration, post-award management, grants finance and compliance, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), internal controls, audit readiness, procurement, contract administration, budget development, forecasting, and cross-functional leadership. I am currently pursuing grants, sponsored research, and research administration leadership opportunities, including Director of Grants, Director of Sponsored Research, Director of Grants & Compliance, Grants & Compliance Manager, and Grants Manager roles.

Experience

1. Founder & Principal Consultant

   Jib Consulting Group

   May 2003 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

   Advise nonprofits and education-focused organizations on grants management, grants finance, compliance, strategic operations, and organizational infrastructure.• Design budgeting systems, financial reporting tools, internal controls, and operating workflows that strengthen transparency, audit readiness, and decision-making.• Conduct operational and compliance assessments; advise on grant lifecycle processes, procurement, contracts, corrective action priorities, and funder-aligned reporting.• Supported funding strategy and proposal development that doubled funding for one client and secured approximately $4M in grants for another.• Managed selected client budgets, teams, and reporting structures, including a $300K budget and team of six.

Education

• Virginia Commonwealth University - School of Business

  Post Baccalaureate Certificate, Accounting

• Oklahoma City University

  Master of Business Administration, Arts (Nonprofit) Management

  2000 — 2003

• Texas State University

  Post Graduate Credit, Secondary Education and Teaching

  2004 — 2004

• Texas State University

  Master of Arts, Technical Communication

  2010 — 2012

• University of Arizona

  Bachelor of Fine Arts, Media Arts, Theatre Arts, & Creative Writing

  1989 — 1993

Skills

• Writing
• Editing
• Web Content Management
• Microsoft Word
• Event Management
• Community Outreach
• Marketing
• Copy Editing
• Quickbooks
• Copywriting
• Blogging
• Research
• Web Content
• Technical Writing
• Content Management
• Microsoft Office
• Social Networking
• Social Media Marketing
• Newsletters
• Sales Management
• Training
• Microsoft Excel
• Content Strategy
• Fundraising
• Marketing Strategy
• Adobe Acrobat
• Strategy
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Public Speaking
• Press Releases
• Business Development
• Strategic Communications
• Filemaker Pro
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Social Media
• Strategic Planning
• Online Marketing
• Content Development
• Business Process Improvement