Meera Rao
Meera Rao has worked in the nonprofit sector for the last 25 years. Her main passion has been bridging systemic inequalities for vulnerable and marginalised populations in poor communities focusing on education, health and access to opportunities.
She has worked in managing, directing and development roles with a range of organisations such as Children’s Hope India, Janus International, Urban Renewal Corp, Union Chamber of Commerce. Rao also works as a freelance consultant.
Meera Rao moved to the US right after her work with Yugantar, but her experience in Yugantar sensitized her to systemic inequalities and ensured that her work would always be directed towards helping marginalized children and women get access to life-changing opportunities.
Meera’s professional efforts have also been focused on organizational structure, communications, and governance issues in nonprofits that add or create social value to marginalized populations in low-income situations. She has more than 20 years of experience in writing grants, aligning operations to mission, and in applying sound business and fiscal management principles to optimize impact.
Her resourceful approaches to collaborations have resulted in partnerships between private, public and Government entities that conserved resources and improved impact in many countries with transitional economies. She has steered international workshops, organized medical training, and developed culture-sensitive programs in economically underdeveloped countries in Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. With comprehensive experience that includes devising appropriate outcome measures, and interpersonal skills that reflect her understanding of stakeholders’ needs, she brings vibrancy and effective dynamic flow to all professional and collaborative efforts.
Meera is a Tanenbaum Fellow at Milano, The New School for Management and Urban Policy, New York. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature, from Bangalore University and has completed course work in MA in International Education and Media Ecology, NYU.
Professional Experience
2016 - Present: Consultant
Self Employed
Consultant to various NY/NJ- based local and international nonprofits in event management, marketing strategy, media relations, resource generation, Board restructuring and governance, and employment issues.
2013 - 2015: Children’s Hope India
Executive Director
Engaged donors and increased funding through innovative resource streams and professionalized operations of a formerly all-volunteer nonprofit, with systems, structure and policy supports to strengthen mission to impact the well-being of children in urban slums in India through education, nutrition, medical expertise and vocational training.
2012 - 2015: Janus International
Manager, Projects
Managed projects, business development and research for consultancy specializing in improving bottom lines in marketing, and offering leadership development tools in complex business environments.
2012 - 2015: Urban Renewal Corp
Director, Social Services
Directed activities of agency serving diverse homeless population. Responsible for effective policy, programs, external relations, administration, and resource management. Researched, wrote, and managed grants.
2012 - 2015: Urban Renewal Corp
Director, Social Services
Directed activities of agency serving diverse homeless population. Responsible for effective policy, programs, external relations, administration, and resource management. Researched, wrote, and managed grants.
2010 - 2011: Union Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
Enhanced business growth for members, engaged a diverse community, grew membership, built collaborative partnerships, optimized working of organization to reflect changing trends in economic environment.
2005 - 2006: Wynona’s House
Director of Development
Researched, wrote and secured grant funding to increase revenues for urban, multi-agency child advocacy center. Initiated Annual Fund, ran outreach and external communication efforts, internship program, event management, volunteer coordination. Secured congressional earmark that allowed organization to purchase permanent location.
2005 - 2006: Hudson Partnership
Development Manager
Forged creative community partnerships to bolster healing of children with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Created content, structure and design for website. Developed marketing materials, ran grant program, represented organization at external meetings and on county boards.
2003 - 2004: Rainbows
Program Director
Exceeded stretch target by 30% in marketing statewide bereavement program for children in NJ. Trained 500+ volunteers and presented program to varied audiences in schools, faith communities and civic institutions.
1999 - 2003: Child Relief and You (CRY)
Program Director
Headed change management in turning volunteer organization into professional International nonprofit that funded programs for children in the US and India. Directed efforts of 1500 volunteers in 34 centers. Wrote and secured grants, and increased revenues by judicious investments. Created a cohesive organizational culture. Organization spokesperson responsible for media relations. Revenues grew 6-fold in three years.
