Grant Administration

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 and commitment, let us know.

Contact us via ServiceNow - Employee Service Center
https://psdschools.service-now.com/esc
Select 1. Request, 2. Finance, and 3. Grant Administration

Pre-award

Researching opportunities; preparing, submitting, and revising applications

The Grants team will:

Research grant opportunities that support your project
Assist with language, editing, and proofreading your application
Assist in budget creation and identifying allowable costs
Assist with submitting your grant application
Assist with tracking your grant application and award information

Your team will:

Contact the grants team as soon as possible when seeking funding
Answer narrative questions specific to the vision and goals of your program
Identify and gather required data or information specific to your area, department, or program
Assist in creating a realistic program budget
Secure administrative approvals for work related to your project (e.g., capital improvements, changes to facilities, etc.) prior to applying
Identify a fiscal manager from your team

Post-award

Fiscal responsibilities, fiscal reporting, grant close, records retention

The Grants team will:

Assign a grant specialist to assist your team
Establish account codes and set up project budgets
Assist with interim and final financial report
Collaborate with your team to prepare and submit budget revisions
Submit payment requests
Serve as a conduit between you and your funding partners for questions, concerns, or grant changes
Help you develop grant tracking and reporting systems for your applications and awards
Share your project success with the community, district leadership and the Board of Education

Your team will:

Manage your project in compliance with grant requirements and application narratives
Communicate with your grant specialist to ensure grant program objectives are met
Manage all expenses related to the grant, including managing staff, purchasing supplies, and retaining receipts/ documentation
Alert the grant specialist of any upcoming reporting or filing deadlines
Provide program narrative details (data, evaluations, etc.) for interim and final reports
Share success stories, photos, videos, or other materials with your grant specialist when possible so we can share your story

We look forward to working with you to create exceptional programs and opportunities for your students, staff, and schools!

The Grants Team

Maria Ortiz, Grant Administration Manager

María has been with PSD for over 25 years and brings a wealth of experience in grants administration, program development, and financial oversight. In her most recent role as Grants Specialist, she has been instrumental in the fiscal management of several large-scale grant programs and supporting the administration of the District’s Medicaid program.

Her past 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.

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 can help you with post-award grant fiscal transactions, transaction documentation, and monthly reconciliation.