Grace Bailey, Operations Director
Washington County, OH — For nearly 50 years, Marietta Community Foundation has served as a cornerstone of Washington County; connecting passionate donors with worthy causes and seeking to improve quality of life for all.
This important work has been completed by a small but mighty team. As the number of funds and requests for support have increased, so has the need for additional staff.
Marietta Community Foundation is proud to announce the addition of a full-time Operations Director, Grace Bailey.
A Marietta native, Grace attended Saint Mary’s Elementary School and graduated from Warren High School. She then obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in international studies from Xavier University, and a Master’s Degree in middle childhood education from Ohio University.
After teaching middle school English for a couple of years in Dayton, Grace moved back to the Mid-Ohio Valley to be closer to family and make an impact in her hometown.
“I believe in the importance of blooming where you’re planted, and improving your community,” said Grace. “I grew up knowing the importance of community coming together, and I am so blessed to be in a position where I can return the kindness and generosity afforded to me by becoming a steward for the community that set me up for success. Marietta Community Foundation is a pillar of our community, and I can’t think of a better place to make a local, yet widespread, impact.”
Grace joined the Foundation on July 25, 2022 following employment at Rigel Recovery as a program assistant and then a program and enrollment specialist. At Rigel Recovery, Grace organized and streamlined chemical dependency programming for 4 separate facilities across the county.
Grace enjoys weight lifting, reading and gardening. She volunteers for Light the Night leukemia organization and often participates in 5K’s for charities supporting causes like the National Park Foundation, Global Kitchen, and the Organization for Autism Research.
The internal structure of the Foundation has shifted slightly to accommodate this growth. Heather Allender remains President & CEO, Britani Merritt has transitioned to Donor and Program Services Director, and Courtney Wentz has shifted to Communications and Marketing Director.
“Growth is the most exciting kind of change,” said Heather Allender. “We believe that this new structure better utilizes the individual strengths of our team members, and in turn, will provide better support for our fund holders, donors, local nonprofits, and community members seeking assistance.”
“If you’re not familiar with the services of the Foundation, I encourage you to visit our office or website to discover how your neighbors are making a difference and how you can get involved in making our community a better place,” added Allender.
The Foundation’s operation is uniquely reliant on community support. Administrative and overhead costs are satisfied through donations to the Friends of the Foundation fund, which allows the Foundation to not assess fees for performed services and ensures that Community Impact donations maintain their integrity. Donations to support the Foundation’s operations are greatly appreciated and can be made online at www.mcfohio.org/donate or via cash or check delivered to P.O. Box 77 Marietta, OH 45750 or the Foundation’s office, located at 100 Putnam Street in downtown Marietta.
Marietta Community Foundation brings together passionate donors and causes to improve Washington County, Ohio for generations to come. Founded in 1974, the Foundation manages more than 350 funds and has distributed more than $24.5 million to charities while meeting rigorous national standards in the community foundation sector.