MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Marion Community Foundation is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kate McCleese as the new Program Manager. A native of Marion, McCleese brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the community, setting the Foundation up for next-level success.
In her new role, McCleese will oversee the Foundation’s annual Scholarship Program and the year-round grants programs. This includes the Community Grants program, the Racial Equity & Justice Grants program, and awards from the Foundation’s field of interest, donor advised, and designated endowment funds.
Julie Prettyman, President & CEO of the Marion Community Foundation, expressed her excitement about McCleese’s appointment. “Kate is 100 percent community minded. She brings both the technical skills and the heart to help the people and programs in Marion. We couldn’t be more excited that she is stepping in to manage the Foundation’s programs.”
McCleese is a strategic thinker with a wide array of skills, including project management, organizational development, process evaluation, and cross-functional team development. Her career includes roles at ParentsTogether, PL+US: Paid Leave for the US, Ohio Environmental Council, AFL-CIO, and AFSCME, where she gained experience in volunteer and stakeholder coordination, project management, and team collaboration.
McCleese shared her enthusiasm for her new role, stating, “It is this type of strategic thinking and program execution that I will bring to this Program Manager role. I thrive in a position where I can connect the dots between problems and solutions that lead to real community impact and foster relationships with instrumental leaders and organizations along the way.”
The Marion Community Foundation is steward to over 500 charitable endowment funds, annually providing more than $500,000 in college scholarships and $2.5 million in community-based grants to support local nonprofits and charities. The Foundation seeks to continually improve the Marion community through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement.
For more information about the Marion Community Foundation, visit marioncommunityfoundation.org or call 740-387-9704. Offices, located at 504 S. State St. in Marion, are open weekdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.