From California Consulting, Inc.
With over 25 years of experience in education and more than 12 years as a successful grant writer and reviewer, Maria Sokol brings deep expertise and passion to every project she leads. A graduate of Boston College and holder of two M.Ed. degrees—including one in Social Policy from Harvard—Maria began her career at M.L. King Jr. Elementary School in Washington, DC.
Her journey continued in New York, where she worked at the state education department across accountability and charter school offices, before transitioning into grant writing for K–12, mental health, and arts funding clients across more than 20 states.
Recent Grants Led by Maria:
• City of Calipatria PD — DOJ Bulletproof Vest Partnership Awarded $4,992.62
• County of San Diego — GO-Biz Cannabis Equity Grant Awarded $1,413,134
• San Gabriel Valley ROP — K12 SWP Round 7 & CTEIG Awarded $2,884,219
• Alvord USD — Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Awarded $10,000
• Coachella Valley USD — Restorative Practices Grant (CDE) Awarded $100,000
Together, these projects represent more than $4.4 million in newly secured funding, demonstrating Maria’s ability to navigate diverse grant programs and deliver mission aligned funding for education, health, public safety, and equity initiatives.
“Maria’s blend of educational insight, policy knowledge, and grant-writing excellence makes her an invaluable partner to clients striving to secure resources and drive community impact.” — Dan Rodriguez, Director of Operations, California Consulting