Rachel Werner and James Spencer

Rachel Werner is the owner and CEO of RBW Strategy. She began her career as a New York City public-school teacher, which parlayed into a two-decade career of work in the public sector. She has served as a nonprofit fundraiser/grant writer, grants manager at an education management organization, and management consultant overseeing federal government contracts. Since the beginning of her career, she and her firm have helped secure millions in funding from government, foundation, and corporate sources and managed over $2.5 billion in grant funding. She studied at Vassar College and received a Master’s in Public Administration from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. She has a Certificate in Grants Management, is a certified Project Management Professional, and is a Certified Grants Professional. Rachel is an active member of the Grant Professionals Association and Association of Fundraising Professionals.

James Spencer has more than 11 years of experience in grant management, solicitation, and policy development supporting farm-to-school, nutrition education, marketing, conservation, and research projects. He specializes in grant application training, concept and proposal phase assistance, and post-award administrative services. James has served across multiple sectors including non-profit and for-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities, including tribal governments; and colleges and universities. James also provides additional assistance to historically underrepresented organizations supporting beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers. At any given time, James administers post-award support for 30 to 40 grants with a total value of over $12 million.