Tamika Gibson joined McKnight in June 2024 as a Program & Grants Associate for the Vibrant & Equitable Communities program. In this role, Tamika supports all aspects of the grantmaking process for Vibrant & Equitable Communities program grantee partners. 

Prior to joining the McKnight Foundation, Tamika served as a Public Grants Manager at the Minnesota Land Trust, where she led grant training for finance and program staff, analyzed grant budgets for consistency, and maintained a shared grant calendar for all new and existing grants. Her previous role as a Financial Assistance Specialist at Dakota County involved handling cases daily, ensuring compliance with various guidelines, and creating first-rate client experiences by delivering program strategies that optimized productivity. 

Tamika’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Resources from Southern Illinois University and an Equity Certification from the University of Minnesota. She is also an active member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and the National Grants Management Association (NGMA). 

Tamika is an adventurer at heart and enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen, road trips, and visiting museums and art galleries.

Favorite quote: “They say to serve is to love. I think to serve is to heal, too”. – Viola Davis