Cheryl W. Elliott, President & CEO
Cheryl joined the Community Foundation in 1992. In her 19 years at AAACF, she has filled multiple roles - as Program Director, Youth Council Advisor, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - before becoming AAACF's President in 2001.
Cheryl is everywhere in our community. She currently serves on a number of community boards and committees: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Council of Michigan Foundations Community Foundation Committee, Midwest Community Foundations’ Ventures and The LEAGUE Michigan. She has also served as a board member for the Ann Arbor Rotary Club, Junior League of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw United Way, Washtenaw Economic Club, NEW Center, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, and Washtenaw Community College.
Having spent 19 years here, Cheryl obviously loves this place. What does she appreciate most - beyond an endless supply of Diet Coke? "Whenever I walk around town or drive around our area, I'm always amazed at all the things I see that the Community Foundation helped make possible. . . . When I see a Food Gatherer's truck - I am reminded that we were there to support their beginning and at key points in their history. "
Neel Hajra, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Community Investment
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Neel considers himself an "Ann Arbor boy thru and thru." That counts for college too. He earned both an undergraduate and law degree from the University of Michigan. Neel recently joined the Community Foundation in November 2010 after a decade at Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW), including several years as its CEO. His local efforts there were recognized nationally through fellowships at the Independent Sector and the Aspen Institute. He brings a wealth of professional experience, community knowledge, and strategic perspective to the Community Foundation.
Neel's favorite part of working at AAACF is the opportunity to serve the community that has played such an important role in his life - and now the lives of his two young boys. He also appreciates the humble passion of his colleagues, and is grateful that their passion extends to keeping his clothes lint-free and his office plants alive . . .
Martha L. Bloom, Vice President
Martha joined the Community Foundation in 1996, and has served as the Youth Council Advisor and AAACF's Program Director before becoming Vice President in 2006. Before joining the Community Foundation, Martha spent a number of years as a volunteer in our community's nonprofit sector - on AAACF's Scholarship Committee, the Ann Arbor Symphony, Ann Arbor Hand-on Museum, Conger Alumnae Group, Greenhills School, and the Junior League of Ann Arbor.
Her favorite part of working at the Community Foundation? The many donors and community members she has had a chance to work with.
A native of Ann Arbor, Doug joined the Community Foundation in 2005 as CFO, and is responsible for overseeing AAACF's Investment portfolio and strategy. Prior to 2005, Doug spent a number of years as a volunteer on AAACF's Board of Trustees and our Finance Committee. With an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Doug's professional experience includes seven years at Accenture Consulting and eleven years as Chief Financial Officer at Edwards Brothers. Doug likes to use baseball analogies to explain the value of AAACF's long-term investment approach. Beyond working closely with AAACF's Finance & Investment Committee, he also loves working downtown and appreciates the free parking that comes with working at 301 North Main Street.
A native of Ann Arbor, Jennie moved back to Ann Arbor after spending 20 years away. Jennie joined the Community Foundation in 2000, and has held a variety of positions - first in Gift Processing, and as a Development Associate, Program Officer for Scholarships, Youth Council Advisor, and as a Development Officer. Jennie holds a BA in Political Science from DePauw University and has worked in the nonprofit sector her entire adult life - eighteen years at five community foundations in Hawaii, Virginia, and Washington State.
When asked what she likes best about working at the Community Foundation, Jennie supplied a rather long list: from Cheryl's court jester winter hat, celebrating staff birthdays, to helping donors "Sure, we can do that". At the top of her list: working to improve her hometown where she is raising her daughter Julia. "Everywhere I go, I find connections to the Community Foundation".
As an inaugural member of the very first AAACF Youth Council in the 1989-1990 school year, Chris has come full circle. He joined the Community Foundation in 2009 to serve part-time as the Youth Council Advisor. As a climbing enthusiast, Chris spends time at his other day job as the General Manager of Planet Rock. In his spare time, he also serves on Milan Township's Planning Commission. Chris is also a founding member of AAACF's next Generation Philanthropists.
Chris often speaks of how impressed he is with how AAACF's Youth Council has grown, and the commitment and wisdom current YC members have in serving the young people in our community. "I love working in an environment that promotes and celebrates civic participation. It is a privilege to get to know and work with nonprofits here in Ann Arbor. We are surrounded by so many caring individuals who work hard to improve our City. Working with them helps me feel even more connected to our community." We are not going to mention his comment about working with "powerful women".
Marsha brings more than 20 years of hands-on accounting management experience to the Community Foundation. A graduate of Indiana University’s School of Business, she has held professional positions in both the nonprofit and private sector, at a variety of small and large service and manufacturing organizations.
Marsha and her husband Michael live on 15 wooded acres in Dundee, Michigan. They have two grown sons and one adorable young granddaughter. When asked what she is most looking forward to at AAACF Marsha noted, “Being part of this great team that gets to do such important work, and being available to support donors’ charitable goals.”
Diann joined the Community Foundation in February 2005, and started as an Administrative Assistant to AAACF's President. Diann currently supports AAACF Donors as a Fund Specialist, and processes gifts and grants. Prior to the Community Foundation, Diann worked in the title insurance field for 20 years.
In addition to AAACF's endless supply of Diet Coke, Diann maintains her own supply of the "real thing" in a small retro refrigerator in her office.
Karen joined the Community Foundation in April, 2011. She is not new to the nonprofit world , having worked as a church administrator, and most recently for a low-income, multi-family housing community. She also volunteers for a number of local organizations including: Growing Hope and as the Coordinator for the Volunteer Corps of the Ypsilanti Police Department. Karen spent her early childhood in Ann Arbor, before moving with her family to a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Karen returned to Ann Arbor in 1991 for professional reasons sharing: “I have always considered Ann Arbor home and a place I wanted to come back to.” Asked what she appreciates the most about working at AAACF, Karen explained: “I really wanted to be part of an organization that has a wide reach in the community and plays an important role in supporting a number of nonprofit organizations and causes.”
Kuhu Saha, Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant
Kuhu joined the Community Foundation in October 2009. She is the first to greet our guests at the front reception area and covers AAACF's phone lines. She also lends critical support to a myriad of projects - most recently loading content for our new website. A 2008 University of Michigan graduate with a BA in Sociology and American Culture, Kuhu recently worked as an Americorps Vista employee at the Youth Empowerment Project.
Kuhu's favorite aspect of working at the Community Foundation? The many community members she gets to meet each day when they walk through our doors.
Sue joined the Community Foundation in 2009, and is responsible for AAACF's online and print communications. She also currently serves on the Council of Michigan Foundations' Communications Advisory Council. Sue has a BA in Economics from Trinity College and an MBA with an emphasis in marketing from U of M's Ross School of Business. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, she served as Ozone House's Development Director and spent a number of years as a volunteer at her children's schools and on a number of local community boards: Greenhills School, Angell Elementary School, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Junior League of Ann Arbor, and the Thrift Shop Association.
Her favorite part of working at the Community Foundation beyond Bank of Ann Arbor's summer ice cream delivery and waking up to an early morning email from Connie Dunlap? Connecting with local nonprofits to help share their stories and all the good work they do to make our community a better place.
Jennifer Balch Hale, Development/Program Officer
Christopher Lemon, Youth Council Advisor
Marsha Penner, Controller
Diann Moses, Fund Specialist
Karen Perkett, Executive Assistant
Suzanne Upton, Communications Coordinator
AAACF meets national standards for Community Foundations.