The Grants Team is here to support your team through the grant lifecycle.
We work collaboratively with PSD schools, departments, and programs to identify potential funding sources, prepare and submit applications, support financial reports, and share your successes with community and district leadership.
PSD also partners with community institutions and agencies on grant projects of mutual interest. If your project needs a letter of support for a grant application, contact grants@psdschools.org.
PSD staff, contact us via ServiceNow - Employee Service Center
https://psdschools.service-now.com/esc
1.Type Grants in the search bar, 2.Select Grants Catalog Item, 3.Submit request
We look forward to working with you to support exceptional programs and opportunities for PSD students, staff, and schools!
The Grants Team
Maria Ortiz, Grant Administration Manager
María has been with PSD for more than 25 years and brings a wealth of experience in grant administration, program development, and financial oversight. As a grant specialist from 2022-2025, she was instrumental in the fiscal management of several large-scale grant programs and supporting the administration of the District’s Medicaid program. Maria was selected as Grant Administration Manager in Fall 2025.
Her work includes building sustainable partnerships with funders and community organizations, designing and implementing initiatives like remote learning centers, and expanding opportunities for vulnerable students.
Sarah Mart, Grant Writer
Sarah brings 25+ years of success in grant and program development, proposals, finance, and reporting. A lifelong learner, advocate, and facilitator, Sarah loves to help navigate systems and processes to achieve collaborative goals.
In 2026, Sarah stepped into a new capacity as grant writer on the PSD Grants Team after nearly 3 years in the grant specialist role. She has collaboratively developed and written multiple funded grant proposals for school, department, and district-wide initiatives and provided post-award fiscal, reporting, and compliance management for grant awards of all sizes.
Brittany Harmes, Grant Specialist
Brittany joined the Grants Team in April 2026. She brings a PhD and more than 10 years of experience including analytical research, compliance, and budget administration to the grant specialist role. Brittany focuses on monitoring grant budgets, tracking expenditures, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. Her expertise spans program support, data-driven decision-making, and financial operations, ensuring accurate coding, reporting, and alignment with funding requirements.
Brittany provides support for grants across multiple departments including Language, Culture, & Equity; Curriculum & Instruction; Career & Innovation; and Child Nutrition.
Lanie Matsumoto, Grant Specialist
Lanie joined the Grants Team in May 2026 with six years of experience supporting financial administration, compliance, and budget design in PSD Facilities and Customer Support departments. She brings precision and a sense of humor to her work navigating compliance through complex grant requirements and budget analyses. A detail-oriented professional known for her leadership and institutional knowledge, Lanie serves on the Association of Classified Employees (ACE) executive board and champions collaborative approaches that help district resources go the extra mile for staff and students.
Lanie supports grants across multiple departments including Integrated Learning Services, Student Services, Facilities, and Transportation.
Cindy Vergatos, Grant Finance Specialist
Cindy is an accomplished finance professional with years of experience in the private sector including financial transactions and accounting functions. She has a passion for numbers and the story they tell. Cindy supports post-award fiscal transactions, transaction documentation, and monthly reconciliation for grant awards in PSD.