Marcus Sabbs: Carter Malik Group
Marcus Sabbs is a Senior Consultant at Carter Malk Consulting Group with extensive experience in strategic facilitation, program development, and community engagement. This profile highlights Marcus' key projects, leadership roles, and achievements across various organizations, demonstrating expertise in capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and innovative program implementation.
Finance and Operations
Early Childhood Funders Alliance (ECFA) Project | Heinz Endowments
April 2022 – Current
Leadership in Program Development & Strategic Planning
Directed the creation and implementation of a $2.6 million initiative aimed at enhancing the capacity of nonprofit organizations in Allegheny County. Developed comprehensive strategies that aligned foundation investments with community needs, resulting in the systemic strengthening of early childhood services.
Staff Recruitment & Team Management
Recruited and managed a multidisciplinary team of consultants and professionals. Provided leadership in day-to-day operations and strategic planning, fostering a positive, inclusive workplace culture that emphasized transparency and respect.
Business Development & Stakeholder Engagement
Successfully built relationships with key stakeholders, including local government, nonprofit organizations, and funders. Led efforts to expand the alliance by securing additional funding and support, ensuring the sustainability of the initiative.
Organizational Assessment & Client Service
Spearheaded the development of assessment protocols to match services with the specific needs of organizations. Ensured the delivery of high-quality services through consistent client engagement and robust communication strategies.
Capacity Building & Innovation
Pioneered the Virtual Learning Circle series, providing accessible and effective learning opportunities for nonprofit leaders. This initiative significantly increased the capacity of small and midsized organizations to serve their communities more effectively.
Impact Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
Collaborated with evaluation partners to generate and track metrics that informed local, state, and national policy and system design. Utilized data-driven insights to continuously refine and enhance program offerings.
Visionary Leadership & Program Sustainability: Demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by designing and implementing innovative solutions that addressed gaps in service. Played a critical role in shaping the future strategy of the ECFA to ensure its long-term impact and sustainability.
Program Architect
CARE Package Relief | COVID-19 Crisis Response
February 2020 – October 2022
Leadership in Program Development
Spearheaded the nationwide implementation of a major capacity-building initiative, delivering over 13 million meals to vulnerable populations across six major U.S. cities. Developed and executed strategic plans to ensure sustainable impact, closely aligning with the vision of creating a stable, connected, and accessible network of resources.
Staff Recruitment & Team Management
Recruited and led a diverse team of financial professionals and operational staff, providing day-to-day management, strategic direction, and fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Ensured the program's success through transparent leadership and respect for diversity.
Business Development & Financial Management
Managed a budget that facilitated over $2 million in direct payments to gig economy workers, supporting the financial sustainability of the program. Collaborated with stakeholders to refine fee structures and identify opportunities for program enhancement, driving long-term stability and growth.
Organizational Assessment & Client Service
Developed and implemented critical assessment tools and protocols to align services with the specific needs of organizations. Ensured high-quality service delivery through continuous engagement with clients and stakeholders, maintaining robust communication to keep all parties informed.
Capacity Building & Sector Strengthening: Played a pivotal role in addressing gaps in service by establishing partnerships with local governments, nonprofits, and gig economy platforms. This initiative directly supported small and midsized organizations, enhancing their ability to serve communities effectively during the COVID-19 crisis.
Strategic Vision & Entrepreneurial Leadership: Demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by expanding the program to new cities and adapting to emerging challenges. Developed future strategies to sustain and grow the program, ensuring alignment with the broader goals of capacity building and sector strengthening.
United Way Engagements
1
United Way of Southwest Georgia (March 2023)
Facilitated a two-day convening with over 150 stakeholders, including nonprofit leaders, educators, and community advocates. Spearheaded strategies for participant engagement and integrated interactive tools to enhance discussions on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their impact, promoting a trauma-informed approach to improve regional education, health, and economic outcomes.
2
United Way of Greater Atlanta (Summer 2022)
Designed and facilitated a content kick-off training for diverse organizations in arts, health, early childhood, and social services. Focused on setting a collective vision, aligning on a service delivery model, and creating a plan for collective impact.
3
YMCA of Metro Atlanta
Managed partnerships across five school districts and over 15 childcare providers for the largest Early Head Start/Head Start service provider in the region. Prioritized increasing program enrollment, improving communication across agencies, and enhancing community outreach, resulting in streamlined systems and higher enrollment rates at partner sites.
Strategic Facilitation & Event Leadership
Richard King Mellon Foundation (RKMF) Economic Mobility Convening | October 2022, 2023, 2024
1
Strategic Agenda Development
Led the co-creation of the event agenda in collaboration with the Richard King Mellon Foundation and The Consortium for Public Education, ensuring alignment with key strategic objectives.
2
Facilitation Excellence
Directed the facilitation of critical breakout sessions, driving impactful discussions among grantees to achieve targeted outcomes.
3
High-Level Planning & Execution
Provided senior-level guidance in planning meetings, material development, and on-site execution, ensuring a seamless and effective convening experience.
4
Post-Event Impact Assessment
Conducted post-event debriefs to capture insights and optimize future initiatives.
Community Engagement
Atlanta Public Schools | Jul 2018 – February 2021 | Greater Atlanta Area
Capacity Building & Program Leadership
Spearheaded change management initiatives for community engagement programs with a $300K annual budget. Led the restructuring and rollout of new processes, facilitating training, and managing daily operations to enhance program efficiency and impact. This experience aligns with the RCBI's goal of creating stable and accessible networks of resources.
Strategic Financial Management & Business Development
Managed contracts totaling ~$1M, enabling $100K in annual savings through budget analysis and strategic reallocation of spending. Played a key role in business development by partnering with senior leadership to propose and implement solutions designed to increase operational efficiency and maximize revenue, reflecting the financial acumen required to develop sustainable programs under the SFS Pilot.
Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partnered with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to drive strategic initiatives, mirroring the collaborative and inclusive leadership approach needed to build strong relationships with nonprofit organizations, capacity-building providers, and RCBI stakeholders.
Director of Performance and Innovation
Municipal Court of Atlanta | Aug 2016 – Jul 2018 | Atlanta, Georgia
1
Operational Leadership & Program Innovation
Directed a $2M IT system replacement project, overseeing all aspects from RFP selection to contract execution. Developed cross-functional training programs and managed the restructuring of the court's alternative sentencing division, demonstrating the ability to implement innovative solutions and manage complex projects—key skills for launching and developing the RCBI's pilot programs.
2
Financial Oversight & Contract Management
Managed $3M in court contracts and secured over $150K annually through successful grant writing initiatives. This experience in securing and managing finances will be essential in refining the SFS Pilot's fee structure and ensuring program sustainability.
3
Data-Driven Decision Making & Performance Enhancement
As a Business Systems Analyst from Oct 2015 – Aug 2016, managed metric analytics for a $30M revenue court, analyzing data to inform decision-making and enhance performance outcomes. This experience will be valuable in assessing the needs of organizations served by RCBI and tracking performance metrics to ensure alignment with the Initiative's vision.
Early Career Experience
As a Search Analyst at On-Ramps, managed end-to-end recruitment for executive-level positions, showcasing the ability to build and maintain strong relationships. This skill is crucial for recruiting the initial team of financial professionals for the SFS Pilot and maintaining strong client relationships.
At Uncommon Schools:
- Built and implemented two year-long curricula for 6th and 8th grade English Language Arts courses, focusing on literary analysis, reading comprehension, and writing skills. Led students to achieve the highest performance in the Uncommon Network on key assessments.
- Founded and led the Excellence Boys' Step Team, creating performances that showcased African-American culture and promoted college awareness. Coordinated community meetings and student achievement presentations, contributing to a positive school culture.
- Managed a group of 25 college interns as Program Coordinator for the Student Teaching Fellowship, providing instructional feedback and leading professional development activities. This experience in training and development will be valuable in onboarding financial professionals and ensuring their alignment with RCBI's goals.