Melannie Levine

About Melannie Levine

Sustainable change doesn’t happen by accident—it takes strategy, structure, and a whole lot of problem-solving. That’s where I thrive. With over 13+ years of domestic and international experience, I specialize in grantmaking, compliance, program management, and operational strategy to support mission-driven initiatives. Holding an active Secret Security Clearance, I’ve worked with government agencies, nonprofits, and educational institutions to administer funding, oversee financials, and strengthen operations—both at home and abroad. I love digging into complex challenges, questioning the status quo, and streamlining inefficiencies. Whether it’s improving grant distribution, refining compliance, or leading teams through high-stakes projects, I take pride in ensuring that resources are maximized so organizations can focus on their mission. Key Strengths: Grantmaking & Portfolio Management – Ensuring funding is strategically allocated for impact. Program & Team Leadership – Managing multi-functional teams across domestic and global settings. Budgeting, Auditing & Compliance – Making sure the numbers work, rules are followed, and the mission stays on track. Process Improvement & Data-Driven Decisions – Because “we’ve always done it this way” isn’t a strategy. Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination – Keeping people, policies, and priorities aligned. A Few Career Highlights: Managed a 10-grantee portfolio spanning U.S. and global projects, ensuring compliance and impact. Redesigned a grant application process, making funding more accessible and efficient. Created a financial tracking system improving budget transparency and accuracy across programs. Led program logistics and compliance across 15+ countries, ensuring smooth execution and regulatory alignment. Oversaw a team of 300 field workers to count households for the 2020 Census, achieving 99.9% completion despite pandemic challenges. I’m meticulous, curious, and always looking for ways to make systems work better. If there’s a way to simplify a process, make data more actionable, or remove barriers that slow down impact, I’m on it. When I’m not optimizing programs and grant portfolios, you’ll likely find me reading, orienteering, volunteering, or exploring new cultures and languages—a passion that has shaped both my career and worldview. Let’s connect—I’d love to exchange ideas and collaborate on meaningful projects!

Experience

1. Grants Specialist

   Saliense

   Aug 2024 — Present

   Prepared, reviewed, and audited application packages for completeness, accuracy, and USAID compliance with American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) and Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). Entered appropriate grant information into client’s assistance planning and financial systems and maintained and reconciled databases containing grant award information, status, and ownership. Granted Security Clearance for the role. A few highlights include: Tracked, reviewed, and drafted the receipt of awardee modification requests for non-complex NGO grants and cooperative agreements, memorandum of negotiations, and Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) Delegation Letters for the Agreement Officers’ approval. Coordinated with ASHA program staff and partners on award package issues, questions, and required corrections. Disseminated grant documents to grantees. Taught to enter award data into USAID/OFDA’s Abacus, GLAAS, ASIST and DocuSign systems.

Education

• Long Island University

  Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies

  2007 — 2011

• Vermont Law School

  Master of Environmental Law and Policy

  2018 — 2020

• The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University

  Master’s Degree

  2016 — 2018