Said Amali, PE, PhD

Said leads Akana’s Grant Funding Group, which provides grant development, writing, and management services exclusively to Tribal Nations, Tribal Enterprises, and Tribal non-profits nationwide. With more than 30 years of experience, Said is a trusted leader in infrastructure strategy—with a strong record of helping communities unlock funding for technically complex, multi-phase projects.

Before specializing in grants, Said built a career as a civil/environmental engineer, water resources engineer, and soil scientist. He has done economic development planning and owned and operated private businesses. That technical and business foundation is what sets him apart: He understands what and how infrastructure gets built and uses that knowledge to help clients plan, position, and fund projects from the ground up.

Akana’s grant funding approach is hands-on and collaborative. Said and his team work closely with clients to understand their long-term goals and develop tailored funding strategies that can be implemented over many years. They have deep experience with grants serving Tribal communities, and bring a multidisciplinary lens that blends public planning, engineering, environmental science, and strong project management.

Whether developing funding strategies, writing grants, or planning infrastructure systems, Said’s strength lies in connecting science, funding, and implementation.