Amy Greil named Kenosha Community Foundation Executive Director

Due to the exponential growth of the assets of the Kenosha Community Foundation, we see that there is continued resonance and relevance of our mission by supporters.

As the Foundation’s mission is to enhance the present and ensure the future of the Kenosha area, we are pleased to announce that in 2021, the Foundation distributed $836,329 in grants, scholarships, and sponsorships; reflecting an increase of 287% from 2011 when distributions totaled $291,524. For the comparable time period, assets under management grew from $5.2 million to $15.9 million, up 306%.

Since being established in 1926, numerous families and individuals have entrusted the Kenosha Community Foundation as a primary conduit for their long term charitable and legacy gifting. As a Board, we are humbled by the generosity of our donors, and remain committed to diligently pursuing our mission. Thank you for all who have helped us along the way.

With gratitude, we announce the retirement of Jane Harrington-Heide from her role as Executive Director on Oct. 10 after leading the Foundation in this capacity since June 2020. Jane has served the Foundation in a variety of roles since the mid-1990s, though more recently by becoming the interim Executive Director and then part-time Executive Director beginning in March 2021. We are pleased she will continue to make contributions by rejoining the Board of Directors in her retirement.

We are excited to announce that Amy M. Greil will be joining the Foundation as our new Executive Director as of Oct. 10. Amy graduated in 2004 from University Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communications, then worked in Europe and Asia as a language instructor from 2005-10, while pursuing a Master of Arts – Government & Politics, which she completed in 2010 from St. John’s University at its Rome, Italy, campus.

“It is a special honor and treasured opportunity to serve in a leadership role to extend the legacy of the Kenosha Community Foundation.”

– Amy Greil, new KCF Executive Director

Working professionally in English, Italian and Spanish, Amy has leveraged her communication skills in a variety of nonprofit roles such as employment counseling, grant management and community and neighborhood coalition-building.

Since 2013, Amy has been employed as an Associate Professor of Community Development at University Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension in Kenosha County. In this capacity she has been successful in launching the Kenosha County Food Bank in 2020; chairing the City of Kenosha Commission on the Arts; and serving as a founding board member of the Kenosha Creative Space. Collectively her fund development efforts have raised over $200,000 for local community organizations.

As a Board, we realize the needs are many and there is much to do. We feel strongly that we are at a critical point where a full-time Executive Director will help us accelerate our growth and multiply the positive impact we can make upon our community. We also strongly believe that Amy’s education, career history and passion for helping others is fully aligned with our mission. It will be exciting to work with her to advance the Foundation’s goals.

“It is a special honor and treasured opportunity to serve in a leadership role to extend the legacy of the Kenosha Community Foundation,” Greil said. “I look forward to bringing together the work of its skilled Board of Directors and a growing base of donors and supporters. Together we will deepen ties to diverse communities and organizations, resulting in even more positive impacts locally.”

In closing, please join me in thanking Jane for her contributions as part-time Executive Director over the past two years and welcoming Amy to the role of full-time Executive Director. The Board looks forward to working closely with Amy to make a positive difference in our community and in the lives of others.