Shanna Charles joined Knight Foundation in 2025 and serves as director of investment operations. 

Charles brings more than a decade of investment operations experience to Knight Foundation, with expertise in both traditional and alternative assets as well as fund management. Previously, she served as senior manager of investment operations at an ultra-high-net-worth private family office, where she partnered with the CIO and president to build an in-house investment team, creating policies and procedures and expanding staff fourfold. Earlier in her career, Charles worked in investment operations at Cambridge Associates, where she managed trust, taxable entity and foundation portfolios, including that of Knight Foundation.

Charles holds a BA and MA in literature as well as a secondary education teaching certificate. Before entering the investment field, she taught at both the high school and university levels.

Born and raised in rural Lancaster, PA, she now resides in Washington, DC.