Shannon W. McKnight

Shannon McKnight is a nonprofit fundraising consultant who has been in the nonprofit sector for over fifteen years. Her passion for the under-served has led her to champion and raise funds for several nonprofit organizations, including workforce development, early childhood education, youth programming and services for adjudicated individuals. Her professional grant proposal writing, and fund development initiatives have raised well over $2.5 million throughout the scope of her career.  

McKnight has a breadth of experience in grant proposal research and writing, Nonprofit Startup and compliance, fund development strategy, board of directors’ recruitment and training, strategic planning for sustainability, Capital and fundraising campaigns, producing fundraising events, sponsor and donor cultivation and volunteer management. McKnight’s clients range from sectors in workforce development, community development, out of school-time programming, LGBTQIA, and Health and Wellness. She also has a podcast called NPOmg!, which can be found on iTunes, where she and invited guests discuss all things relating to the nonprofit sector. 

She is a member of the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Public Relations Society of America. She sits on the board of directors for the Charlotte Art League and the Muggsy Bogues Family Foundation. McKnight was selected to participate in the Inaugural Non-Profit Leadership Class hosted by Crumley Roberts, was named one of 50 Emerging Nonprofit Leaders across the country by the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Grant Program, earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Wake Forest University-Charlotte Center and was recently named one of Charlotte’s Forty Over 40 for her community leadership. Shannon is a proud graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. 

Shannon is a Charlotte, North Carolina native and the mother of three wonderful children: Elisia, Elaina and DJ.