Community Foundation growth spurs hiring, realignment

Joe Lyons • May 3, 2024

                                     Group Photo: Courtney McNaull, Lanie Hartge, Liz Hosfeld, Jim Cutright, Mindy Howman, Kristin Aspin, Brittaney Reep

ASHLAND – In response to the continued growth of the organization, Ashland County Community Foundation is hiring an additional staff member and realigning other staff responsibilities.

As the foundation approaches its 30th year, it provides careful stewardship of more than 670 funds, with over $87 million of assets under management. Importantly, ACCF has given back to the Ashland County community more than $30 million in grants, scholarships and fund distributions.

“Thanks to the more than 7,500 donors who have entrusted us to manage their charitable funds and steward their gifts, our resources have grown significantly, as has our ability to positively impact our community,” said President/CEO Jim Cutright. “With eyes to the future, we’re now building out our staff capacity to match that growth, achieve even greater impact and ensure organizational stability for many years to come.”

The realignment places greater emphasis on the foundation’s strategic priorities, including effective grantmaking and community engagement.

While Cutright focuses his efforts on setting vision and strategy, cultivating board and staff leadership and developing donors, Kristin Aspin is being promoted to a new role in which she will help execute ACCF’s vision and mission in managing the foundation’s day-to-day operations as Chief Operating Officer.

    Kristin Aspin

In her 26-year tenure at ACCF, Aspin has performed nearly all job functions at the foundation. Most recently, she oversaw the grant and scholarship programs as Chief Program Officer.

“As anyone knows, who has worked closely with Kristin, her organizational skills and attention to detail are second-to-none. She is so deserving of this advancement of her role at ACCF, as she takes this next step in her leadership journey, helping to propel ACCF into the future,” stated Cutright.

Courtney McNaull is stepping into a new role as Community Engagement Director, a two-pronged assignment that includes grants management as well as communications management. McNaull had previously served as Communications Director since she was hired in 2019.

“When I asked Courtney to join the staff at ACCF, I had no idea of the breadth of her talents. She is not only a great communicator, but a highly-skilled facilitator, graphics designer and project manager. Her expanded role will give her and ACCF further opportunities to flourish,” continued Cutright.

A new employee, Liz Hosfeld, has been hired as a communications specialist to support McNaull’s communications strategies and create materials such as newsletters, annual reports, website and social media content, and printed materials. She will also assist with general office duties and scholarship administration.

Hosfeld comes to ACCF with wide-ranging expertise in the communications field, including experience as a news reporter, photographer and copywriter. She also is a familiar face at ACCF, where she has been a longtime volunteer.

    Liz Hosfeld

“Liz is someone whom we have long valued and so she was the first person who came to mind for this new staff opportunity. Already a part of the ‘ACCF Family’, she will be a perfect fit,” said Cutright.

Meanwhile, Office Administrator Mindy Howman is being promoted to the new role of Grants Administrator. While retaining oversight of office management functions, she also will support McNaull with coordination and administration of grants, grantmaking committees and events.

“Mindy has been the ‘hub’ of our office for 12 years now, and we’re excited to see her step into new and expanded responsibilities with our grants management. For many of the nonprofit agencies we serve, she has long been the initial point of contact, so this is an evolution that makes total sense on so many levels,” summarized Cutright.

  Mindy Howman

A majority of ACCF’s staff work part-time, flexible schedules, allowing the organization to employ highly skilled professionals on a modest budget. This realignment brings the employee headcount to seven, but with a full-time equivalency of just over five employees.

“Together with Chief Financial Officer Brittaney Reep and Educational Programs Director Lanie Hartge, who each remain in their current roles, these newly-promoted and newly-hired staff members will round out our team as we continue to pursue excellence, foster growth and create positive impact in Ashland County,” Cutright said.

About Ashland County Community Foundation: Ashland County Community Foundation advances philanthropy and improves the quality of life in Ashland County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. ACCF has awarded over $30 million in scholarships, grants and distributions.