Annisa Wanat’s experience includes 25+ years of strengthening communities, organizations, and institutions on four continents. She has a proven track record of delivering results, working under tight budgets, and sometimes under extreme circumstances.
 
Annisa works with start-ups, civic groups, and small and mid-sized associations that rely on volunteer support. She never provides “cookie-cutter” advice, and clients always receive customized solutions in strategic planning, project management, and storytelling.
 
Whether organizing for social change, guiding institutions through transitions, or training citizens on advocacy, Annisa believes that planning strategically, communicating openly, and focusing on people are the keys to any successful endeavor.

Annisa is a member of the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits and Forefront. She sits on the board of the Society for Nonprofits and volunteers for The League of Women Voters – Rock Island County and FairVote Illinois. She splits her time between Chicago and Moline, IL.
 
Her educational background and most recent resume are on LinkedIn and DevEx.

Clients include:

• Strategic Planning and Board Development – Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, East Moline Main Street, Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Program Design and Grant Writing – Boxing Out Negativity, Noble Schools, East Moline Main Street, Mercado on Fifth.
• Public Policy Advocacy – River Bend Food Bank, Iowa Food Bank Association.
• Project Management and Process Development – National Farm to School Network, Boxing Out Negativity,  Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, East Moline Main Street,
• Executive Coaching – Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, Boxing Out Negativity, East Moline Main Street.

 
Career accomplishments:

Program Design and Implementation

• Leading a $2.9M community-led, neighborhood revitalization program focused on community organizing and engagement, small business support, workforce training, and youth civic education. Managed a $700K grants program to support local partners and foster innovative programming. Presented with the 2018 River Action Revitalization Award and the 2017 Hispanic Chamber Community Leadership Award (Moline, IL).
• Planning and implementing the Midwest field strategy, working with 5,000 volunteers, and a broad coalition of partners from the faith, justice, and LGBT communities, to raise public awareness of and advocate for effective international aid (Chicago, IL).
• Managing a coalition of six nonprofit networks and four media partners to increase youth participation in the Bulgarian elections that reached more than 50,000 voters and was covered by 80 media outlets (Bulgaria).
• Running for City Council and building a grassroots, data-driven campaign centered around direct-voter contact with 9,700 likely-voters through door-to-door canvassing, community events, direct-mail, and social media outreach. Recruited and trained 80 volunteers. Endorsed by Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times.

Leadership and Management

• Running a regional office and two satellite offices comprised of apx. 110 staff, with a budget of $5.6 million for local governance and community development programs. $3 million for annual operational budget (Afghanistan).
• Managing the transition of apx. 150 staff from one company to another company when the donor changed the scope of their contracts (Afghanistan).
• Developing a comprehensive staff development plan to assess, strengthen, and evaluate a 55-person team in key programmatic, operational, and financial competencies (South Sudan).