Upfront with Ann Engelhard

by Tim Froberg

Ann Engelhard’s optimistic nature gets reinforced every time she starts work.

As Vice President of Donor Services and Gift Planning for the Community Foundation of the Fox Cities Region, Engelhard gets a close look at generosity.

Engelhard works with donors to explore their philanthropic interests and secure financial gifts to help individuals, families, and supporting organizations in the Fox Cities.

A Chicago native who graduated with a psychology degree from Bradley University, Engelhard and her family relocated to the Fox Cities from Philadelphia in 1999.

Engelhard has served in her current position since 2017. She joined the Community Foundation in 2013 as its Donor Services Manager. Prior to that, she worked to secure third-source funding for the Twin City Catholic Educational System.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT YOUR JOB?

“The most rewarding part is seeing the generosity of our community. Our community has a history and a passion for being charitable and taking care of community issues and problems by solving them collaboratively.” 

HOW HAVE GIFTS TO THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BENEFITED OUR AREA?

“Last spring, we had a donor who gave money for ThedaCare and Ascension to purchase additional ventilators at the beginning of the pandemic. We also had a donor who gave an extremely generous gift in the six figures to the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 response fund.”

HOW HAS YOUR PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE HELPED WITH YOUR JOB?

“It’s helped in so many ways — especially when it comes to working with different people and different purposes and trying to move things forward in a smooth way.”

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED GIFTS FROM DONORS?

“Gifts have been incredibly strong. Donors have been very generous. They’re granting at unprecedented numbers right now.”