Rachel Knox
Senior Program Officer @Hyde Family Foundation
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Program Officer @Hyde Family Foundation
Memphis, TN, US
Transformed the Foundation\'s arts funding portfolio by directing $3.5M annually through an equity-centered strategy that increased BIPOC-led cultural organization representation from 12% to 56% over five years, creating a grantee portfolio that authentically reflects and serves Memphis\' diverse demographics.Co-led Mayor Paul Young\'s 15-person arts and culture transition team, securing $200K in private funding to establish Memphis\'s first Office of the Creative and Cultural Economy (OCCE), spearheaded its implementation while developing a dedicated funding strategy to ensure the office\'s long-term sustainability.Created and mobilized a city-wide advocacy network of cultural organizations, artists, and community members to advance arts policy priorities at the municipal level.Organized Memphis’ first unified cultural emergency response during COVID-19, bringing together ARTSMemphis, Memphis Music Initiative, and Music Export Memphis to establish a $1.9M emergency fund.Managed quarterly grant review cycles, supporting 20+ eligible organizations, analyzing applications, recommending funding, onboarding new grant recipients, monitoring grantee progress, and completing close-out reports, ensuring 85% compliance within the Foundant grants management system.Served on the TN Arts Commission Creative Placemaking grant panel from 20••••23, helping direct over $1M annually to innovative cultural projects statewide.
EDUCATION
University of Memphis
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
American University
Masters Public Policy and Administration, Public Policy Analysis
ABOUT RACHEL KNOX
As a strategic leader with expertise in public-private partnerships and cultural development, I bring extensive experience in transforming organizations and driving impactful initiatives. With a background spanning philanthropy, government relations, and program management, I’ve developed a versatile skill set that translates across industries and sectors. Currently serving as Senior Program Officer at the Hyde Family Foundation, I oversee the Thriving Art and Culture portfolio, where I’ve implemented innovative approaches to community engagement and organizational development. Key Professional Highlights: • Strategically directed $3.5M in annual grant funding, implementing data-driven assessment frameworks that significantly transformed the local cultural landscape. • Successfully orchestrated a $1.9M emergency response fund during COVID-19, demonstrating crisis management skills and ability to unite diverse stakeholders around common goals. • Appointed to the TN Arts Commission, providing strategic oversight for $12M in statewide grants, showcasing ability to operate effectively at both policy and implementation levels. • Spearheaded the creation of Memphis’ first Office of the Creative and Cultural Economy, securing $276K in private funding and demonstrating expertise in public-private partnerships. • Managed a transformative $40M grant for the Brooks Museum, expanding community engagement and implementing innovative outreach strategies. My professional strengths include grant management, project execution, strategic planning, and cross-sector collaboration. I excel at identifying opportunities for innovation and building relationships across diverse stakeholder groups. I’m passionate about developing creative solutions to complex challenges and am continuously exploring ways to apply my skills in new contexts. I welcome conversations about challenging projects that leverage my background in strategic leadership, relationship building, and program development. Let’s connect to discuss how my experience might align with your organization’s vision for the future.
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