The Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Natalie Rospierski Green and Jonathan Ganci to the team, adding new talent and experience to the Foundation’s work helping donors make meaningful connections and achieve their charitable goals.

Natalie joins the Foundation in the newly created role of Director of Donor Relations, while Jonathan joins the donor relations team as Donor Relations Officer. Both will work closely with Vice President Jackie Hanton to serve donors, fundholders and professional advisors throughout the region.

“Natalie and Jonathan each bring a unique set of experiences, but what really stands out is their genuine desire to connect with people and make a difference,” Jackie said. “Our donors value the personal relationships they have with our team, and as the Foundation continues to grow, Natalie and Jonathan will help us maintain and strengthen that personal approach to helping our community give back.”

For Natalie, joining the Community Foundation is a return to an organization that helped shape her interest in philanthropy years ago. She was a former Youth Advisory Council (YAC) member and president, as well as a Community Foundation scholarship recipient.

A Marysville native, Natalie’s connections to local philanthropy also run deep. Her mom spent much of her career working alongside former Community Foundation Board Chair, Donna Niester, and supporting the work of the James C. Acheson Foundation, giving Natalie an early window into philanthropy and its impact in our community.

While attending Michigan Technological University, Natalie remained connected to philanthropy through Youth Advisory Councils at the Keweenaw and Baraga County Community Foundations and later through the statewide MCFYP committee.

Natalie comes to the Foundation after more than four years with General Motors, where her engineering and project management work included leading cross-functional projects, coordinating funding and working with external partners. She holds both an engineering degree and MBA from Michigan Technological University.

Jonathan brings extensive nonprofit leadership, program development and donor relations experience to the Foundation. A Brighton native and Michigan State University graduate, he began his nonprofit career with City Year Chicago through AmeriCorps, working to help students reach their potential and stay on track to graduate. He later earned his master’s degree and joined City Year’s staff, serving in both program and development roles.

After returning to Michigan with his family, Jonathan took on a leadership role with Best Buddies in Michigan, where he led statewide operations, fundraising and programming designed to expand opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Jonathan will work alongside longtime and beloved Community Foundation employee Sue Schmid before her retirement later in September. Sue has served the Foundation and its donors for more than 20 years, building relationships characterized by exceptional care, kindness and personal service.

“Jonathan working alongside Sue during this transition is incredibly valuable,” Jackie said. “Sue has spent more than two decades showing us what it means to truly care for our donors. As we celebrate everything she has given to the Foundation, we’re also excited to have Jonathan learn from her and carry that same spirit of service forward.”

Together, Natalie and Jonathan will help the Community Foundation continue providing the thoughtful charitable planning, local knowledge and personal connections donors have come to expect — while expanding the Foundation’s ability to serve an increasingly generous region.

The Community Foundation will host a meet and greet on October 22, giving donors and community members an opportunity to meet Natalie and Jonathan and welcome them to the team. Additional details will be shared in the coming weeks.