Jake Whitaker is RPPG’s Director of Grant Services. With a proven track record of bringing millions of state and federal dollars for local public agencies, Jake first discovered his passion for grant writing while assisting a colleague with an emergency shelter grant on a tight deadline. Jake’s unique ability to tell the story of public agencies and non-profits has resulted in several successful and highly competitive grant applications. These awards include the Economic Development Administration’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistant program, the CA Volunteers AmeriCorps program, the Board of State and Community Corrections’ (BSCC) Justice Assistance Grant and Youth Reinvestment Grant, the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Justice and Mental Health Collaboration grant and the Swift, Certain, and Fair Supervision grant, and the Office of Emergency Services’ (CalOES) Transitional Housing (XH) Program, Elder Abuse (XE) Program, Emergency Shelter (KE) Program, Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution (VV) Program, and the Victim Advocacy in Detention Facilities (KA) Program.

After graduating from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Jake returned home and spent five years working for the Yolo County District Attorney. He specialized in obtaining funding for programs that provide alternatives to traditional prosecution using restorative justice, enhance services for victims of crime, and address the intersection of poverty, mental health, and addiction with the criminal justice system. Jake also has a strong background in program design and evaluation. After leaving the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, Jake further devoted his career to grant writing full-time. Most recently he worked as a Project Manager for California Consulting, one of the largest grant writing firms in the state of California.

Jake’s 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. He also worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Oregon State Assembly while attending college, with a focus on agriculture and education policy. Since a young age, he aspired to work in public service.

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