McCleese is New Program Manager

JULY 2024 — Kate McCleese joins the staff of Marion Community Foundation as the new Program Manager. In this role, McCleese will oversee the Foundation’s annual Scholarship Program and the year-round grants programs, including the Community Grants program and the Racial Equity & Justice Grants program, as well as awards from the Foundation’s field of interest, donor advised, and designated endowment funds.

“As a Marion native, Kate’s knowledge and understanding of the community will set Marion Community Foundation up for next level success,” said Julie Prettyman, President & CEO. “She is 100 percent community-minded. Kate brings both the technical skills and the heart to help the people and programs in Marion. We can’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. Prior to joining Marion Community Foundation, McCleese’s career included 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.

“It is this type of strategic thinking and program execution that I will bring to this Program Manager role,” said McCleese. “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.”

Marion Community Foundation is steward to 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. Offices, located at 504 S. State St. in Marion, are open weekdays, 9 a.m. top 5 p.m., and reachable by calling 740-387-9704.

Learn More: Scholarships | Grants