March 13, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cynthia Branch, MBA, CAE, CGMS, Senior Manager of Operations at American Medical Association’s Education Center, won the Newton Award for Distinguished Service from the National Grants Management Association (NGMA). She won the award for her service in the nonprofit sector and her dedication to providing well-rounded educational programming to grants professionals.
Branch has more than two decades of grants management-related experience, including strategic planning and management, grants and contracts management, grant writing and resource development, and financial and nonprofit management. She has successfully written and directed numerous grant-funded initiatives, monitored performance, conducted comprehensive reporting, and ensured compliance through meticulous collaboration with internal and external auditors.
Before rejoining AMA in her current role, Branch held pivotal roles at the American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network (ATHN), the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA), and the Cook County President’s Office of Employment Training (POET). In these capacities, she collaborated with local, state, federal, and pharmaceutical funders to develop innovative programs promoting medical education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community-wide initiatives in hemostasis and thrombosis.
Branch holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in nonprofit management. She is a Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) and a Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Branch currently serves on NGMA’s Nominations and Elections Subcommittee and is co-chair of the board for the Diné Community Development Corporation, Inc., which serves the Navajo Nation and other indigenous communities. She previously served on the NGMA Board of Directors. She enjoys advising and promoting the grants community by mentoring individuals, including her AMA colleagues and those in other nonprofit organizations.
“The NGMA Board of Directors is excited to recognize Cynthia Branch for her extraordinary service to the organization and to the nonprofit sector,” said NGMA President Scott Sheffler. “During her time on the Board, we witness her passion for serving our community, and her deep expertise made her an asset to our leadership – especially our educational programming. We are thrilled to honor her with this year’s Newton Award for Distinguished Service.”
The NGMA Newton Award recipient is selected by the Association’s Board of Directors. Branch and the winners in the other NGMA Award categories (Impact Award, Public Sector and Impact Award, Private Sector) were recognized at the 2025 Annual Grants Training (AGT) on March 13 in Washington, D.C.
The National Grants Management Association (NGMA) provides tools and resources for grants professionals to support and maintain high levels of grants management competency and to establish standards of excellence for the profession. For more information, visit https://www.ngma.org/.