jwhitaker@publicpolicygroup.com

Jake Whitaker is California Public Policy Group’s Director of Grant Services. With a stellar track record of success throughout his career as a grant professional, Jake has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in state, regional, and federal funding on behalf of local public agencies. His unique ability to tell the story of public agencies and nonprofits produces successful, highly competitive grant proposals.

Jake discovered his passion for grant writing while working at the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. He was tapped to assist a colleague with a tight deadline for a proposal to open a new emergency shelter for victims of crime who experienced housing instability. The proposal was successful, and upon seeing the real-world impact of that work, Jake decided to pursue grant writing as his professional calling. After spending four years at the District Attorney’s Office and securing numerous grant awards for mental health treatment, diversion, and victim services programs, Jake turned to full-time consulting, expanding his expertise by working with municipal governments and institutions of higher education.

Today, his consulting work spans the state of California. Jake works with communities of diverse sizes, geographies, and demographics, from the City of Bakersfield, the ninth-largest city in California, to the agrarian community of Greenfield (pop. 18,000) in the Salinas Valley, the Inland Empire urban population center of the City of San Bernardino, Redwood City on the San Mateo Peninsula, and the North Bay City of Santa Rosa. Jake prioritizes high-quality service, collaboration, and effective communication in all his consulting work.

“The most satisfying part of being a grant writer is that when you do your job well, the things you write on paper become reality,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling. The opportunity to help organizations obtain resources to improve their communities is why I love this line of work.”

Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Willamette University. While attending college, he worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Oregon State Assembly, with a focus on agriculture and education policy.

His passion for public service extends beyond vying for critically needed funding. For four years, Jake served as a Board Member for the Woodland Joint Unified School District, feeling compelled to give back to his hometown school district.

Jake also serves as the Chair of the Yolo County Democratic Central Committee and enjoys volunteering to support the public schools and community in his hometown of Woodland.