Jake Penders

Jake Penders is the associate director of development at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Penders works closely with the executive team and research programs as the lead in developing, managing, and overseeing the Center's grants and contracts from U.S. government and foundation entities. In this role, he routinely assists in proposal development, funder cultivation, and fulfilling reporting requirements for the Center’s research projects. Penders also serves as the administrator of the Center’s CRM database (Salesforce), focused on adhering to data best practices, adoption of the tool across the organization, and record keeping of all Center-wide contributions. Finally, Penders works with CNAS’s finance director on all project budgets and financial reporting. Penders is the proud recipient of the 2023 1LT Andrew J. Bacevich Jr., USA Award as an emerging leader recognized for his courage, integrity, and commitment to public service.

Prior to joining CNAS, Penders worked for Elevate, a grant-writing firm in Washington, D.C., focused on providing grant proposal development services and institutional fundraising support for nonprofit organizations located across the United States. While there, he held senior-level positions in both the project coordination and business development departments.

Before moving to Washington, D.C., and joining Elevate, Penders worked as a grants manager at HELP USA, a nonprofit headquartered in New York City that provides access to affordable housing for military veterans and their families, as well as other groups afflicted by homelessness.

Penders is currently a master of public administration candidate at SUNY Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. Penders received his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, where he double majored in history and political science and minored in humanitarian affairs. He also graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Upon graduation, Penders was awarded a grant through the U.S. Fulbright Student Program and served as an English teaching assistant in Novaky, Slovakia, for a year. Penders is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Washington D.C. Metro Chapter.