Policy Ink’s Principal
Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly has successfully managed public policy research, communications and strategy projects for businesses, associations, and federal, state and local government clients for over 25 years. He founded Policy Ink in 2012 to serve associations, companies and non-profits with a specialty in public policy, policy research, communications, and fundraising.
Joe’s key area of emphasis and success: winning federal, state, local contracts, loans, and private grants for clients.
Between 2012 – 2023, Joe has managed successful federal, city/county and foundation funding proposals with awards totaling over $800 million.
Joe has managed health care policy and program consulting projects on: clean energy; energy efficiency; electric vehicle infrastructure; public health strategies and policies; HIV and hepatitis prevention, care and treatment programs; mental health and substance use services; clinical care and research; Affordable Care Act program implementation; state health insurance exchange policy and programs; health information technology improvements; integration of Medicaid, CHIP and health insurance eligibility, outreach and enrollment; health insurance navigators; community health program transformation; and health program innovations. He has developed business plans and has overseen project management teams for health insurance projects and innovative integrated care model programs. Between 2012 – 2023, Joe has managed successful federal, city/county and foundation funding proposals for organizations with awards totaling over $800 million from CMS, CDC, HRSA, OMH, Detroit/Wayne County, MI, the Kellogg Foundation, and corporate donors, among other funders.
Select Policy Ink clients include: Stak Mobility (NY), U=U plus (DC), FHI 360 (DC), Prevention Access Campaign (U=U) (NY, DC), New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute (NY), NASTAD – National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (DC), Wills Eye Hospital (PA), Michigan Consumers for Healthcare/Enroll Michigan (MI), Freelancers Union (NY), PICO National Network (DC), Iora Health (MA), Community Catalyst (MA), Rutgers Center for State Health Policy (NJ), Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers (NJ), Gateway Community Health (MI), Multi-Cultural Primary Care Medical Group (CA), Truman Medical Centers (KS), Metro Community Provider Network (CO), Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley (PA).
Joe brings deep knowledge of public policy and regulatory issues to advising businesses and associations. He liaises with federal program officials at the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including CCIIO, CMMI, Medicaid and CHIP Services, and public health officials at CDC, HRSA, OMH, NIH and SAMHSA to fully understand and communicate rules and guidance.
For over two decades Joe has managed projects that have successfully raised multi-billions of dollars in federal, state and local funding for organizations, providers, and for patients. He has successfully delivered expert advice to clients on effective coalition building, and legislative/regulatory strategy, prepared senior organization leadership for achieving successful outcomes in Congressional and state legislative hearings, and facilitated successful regulatory relations with federal, state, and local agencies.
Joe has served in a leadership role in developing and enhancing public health policies, programs, and planning at the national, state, and local levels. As the former Deputy Director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), Joe was intimately involved with the development and roll out of national HIV/AIDS policies and regulations, especially for state and local programs. He has provided technical assistance to federal, state, and local grantees on issues such as: pharmaceutical benefits programs, health insurance coverage, comprehensive plan development, coordination and integration of prevention, primary care, and support services, federal policies and regulations, needs assessments, priority setting and resource allocation, program planning, design, and management, and identifying unmet need. While with NASTAD, Joe initiated and led policy research that documented severe prescription drug coverage needs among low-income people living with HIV/AIDS through published reports sponsored by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Joe had a leadership role in a national coalition during multi-year consensus-building processes that led to successful congressional passage of two reauthorization cycles of the Ryan White CARE Act. He served as key organizational liaison with members of Congress and Congressional staff, both on federal appropriations and authorizing committees. Joe also facilitated successful state and local policy communications with the White House, OMB, and federal health agencies, including CDC, HRSA, NIH, CMS, and the Office of the Secretary of HHS.
In more recent years, Joe supported NASTAD in its organizational goal to expand its federally funded projects to include important work in capacity building assistance, ending the HIV epidemic, hepatitis elimination, syringe services program support, AIDS drug assistance programs, insurance coverage, evaluation research, and providing assistance to state and local infectious disease programs.
Prior to his work with NASTAD, Joe advocated on behalf of U.S. cities for the development and passage of the first Ryan White CARE Act legislation. While with the Mayors, Joe initiated and developed a grants program for local HIV/AIDS early intervention projects funded by CDC, and provided technical assistance and training to local grantees funded by a CDC/Mayors collaborative.
Joe has a Masters degree in International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, a Masters in Communications from Syracuse University S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and he is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate with a B.A. in English from the University of Rochester.
Policy Ink Provides Specialized Services to Support Innovative Technology Proposals to U.S. Department of Energy
Joe Kelly has gained valuable experience by supporting a business client through the multiple stages of federal financing applications through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO). Kelly/Policy Ink brought decades of experience in federal procurement processes to a large scale infrastructure project. Work involved many steps that can be translated and deployed for other business applications and proposal development efforts, including:
• Matching up business plans with funding requirements in guidance and RFPs
• Developing practical application summaries and detailed outlines to guide planning and processes
• Organizing and supporting project team and advisors through meetings/calls
• Conducting background research on business, marketplace, technology and technical requirements
• Developing materials in support of business canvas, business plan, marketing plan
• Organizing and preparing team biographies, resumes, company qualifications
• Demonstrating environmental and technical requirements are met for emissions reductions and innovation
• Supporting negotiations on strategic partnerships to enhance project
• Producing support letters and templates for community engagement
• Developing and implementing strategies for workforce development
• Researching and supporting identifying real estate strategies for locating sites
• Supporting market research and analysis for business plans
• Serving as lead writer on developing the application sections, perfecting review drafts and final submissions
• Drafting and editing sales, marketing and business plan sections
• Drafting and editing engineering and construction plan sections, including incorporating Applicant’s Engineer’s Report and revising to match requirements
• Translating detailed financial modeling for narrative summaries in financial plans
• Managing follow up responses to questions from agency contacts
• Writing and submitting addenda and revised application content
• Managing and supporting approval processes, press releases, media outreach
• Integrating mid-stream changes in federal policy guidance into revised, retooled applications
• Integrating technology strategies (e.g., solar, battery energy storage systems) into proposed project to support achieving technology and emissions benefits
• Researching and implementing National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for project application
• Developing compelling community benefits plans to meet and exceed federal standards
• Integrating credit rating and equity financing plans
• Organizing exhibits, attachments and final formatting
• Managing crosswalk of all application materials with solicitation guidance to aim for achieving maximum points in the review process
• Guiding and uploading submissions through agency portals
‘I am delighted to provide an endorsement for Joe Kelly, our esteemed grant writer. Over the past two years, Joe has played a pivotal role in advancing Stak’s initiatives, particularly in navigating the complexities of the DOE loan application process for up to $200m in project financing.
Joe’s exceptional knowledge in government grants and funding opportunities has been instrumental in positioning Stak for success. His keen understanding of the intricacies involved in grant applications has significantly contributed to our achievements thus far.
Beyond his professional expertise, Joe is a pleasure to work with. His collaborative and amiable nature makes the challenging task of grant writing a seamless and enjoyable process. Joe’s commitment to excellence, coupled with his passion for our mission, has truly set him apart. His dedication, expertise, and positive attitude make him an invaluable asset to any team.’
Santiago Rios
Stak Mobility Co-founder / Chief Design Officer