Foundation Staff

At the Athens Area Community Foundation, we work to help you Create a Dynamic Legacy.

Sarah McKinney began serving the Athens Area Community Foundation as President | CEO in March 2017. When she accepted the position, she was the Director of Development for the Georgia 4-H Foundation at the University of Georgia. Prior to her work with Georgia 4-H, Sarah served the Athens Community Council on Aging for fifteen years, beginning as an intern in college, and leaving having successfully created and filled the first position of Director of Development.

Sarah graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She continued her education with a Certificate of Gerontology from Kennesaw State University, a Certificate of Leadership from the University of Dayton, and Certificates of Basic and Advanced Nonprofit Financial Management from Duquesne University’s Nonprofit Leadership Institute.

Today, as a professional working in philanthropy, Sarah’s role is centered on helping convene the interest of donors, nonprofits, and community institutions to build, distribute, and preserve philanthropic assets that will enhance quality of life in the Athens area for generations to come.

Sarah is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Athens, the Leadership Georgia Class of 2019, and 2017-2018 LEAD Athens class. She serves the Rotary District 6910 Board of Directors as well as the Jackson EMC Board of Directors.

Sarah and her husband of 22 years, John, are parents to Nathan and Anna.

Stephanie Mann joined the work of the Athens Area Community Foundation in December 2019 to coordinate Empty Stocking Fund grants and now serves as the Vice President of Strategy and Operations. In her role, she is responsible for driving the execution of strategic planning, marketing and communications, key community leadership activities, and oversee the leadership of all operations.

Stephanie graduated from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia with a B.B.A in Accounting. She continued her education with a Master’s of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of Georgia. She has passionately served with local nonprofits in the Athens Area prior to this role focusing on administrative leadership, grant writing, and event planning.

Stephanie and her husband Michael are glad to call Athens home and are proud parents of their sons, Estiven and Thomas.

Meredith Lysaught joined the work of the Athens Area Community Foundation in January 2021 as a Community Foundation Fellow before transitioning to contracting as Project Manager and then on to her current role as Program Manager. In this role, she manages the implementation of the Foundation’s Resilient Northeast Georgia trauma-informed communities grant and supports the research, development, and communication of key strategic philanthropic initiatives within the region.

Meredith graduated from the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia in 2021 and holds a B.S. in Health Promotion and Behavior, with an emphasis on prevention and community-based public health. She also has prior experience as an evaluation specialist for school-based substance abuse and suicide prevention programming.

Meredith has lived in Athens since 2017 and loves to find new ways to connect with the community. She is a proud member of the LEAD Athens Class of 2023-2024.

Destin Newfont joined the work of the Athens Area Community Foundation in April 2023 in the role of Donor Services Coordinator. In this role Destin will assist in all aspects of internal operations with the foundation as well as play a key role in the Community Foundation grant process.

Destin graduated with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor in Religious studies from the University of Puget Sound. He has a diverse background of work experience as a service professional at ski and island resorts, functioning in multiple roles in the yachting industry, and is a former local radio talk show host. He has also served as a volunteer with the Public Library System.

Destin is a North Carolina native who is passionate about the ways in which strong communities can have lifetime impacts across generations and looks forward to familiarizing himself with the Athens Area community.

Nicole Washington joined the work of the Athens Area Community Foundation in May 2024 in the role of Operations Manager. In this role Nicole is responsible for managing effective internal processes that ensure excellence across all aspects of our mission.

Nicole is a seasoned professional with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Brenau University’s Women’s College, specializing in journalism and public relations. With a robust background in Operations and Marketing spanning diverse industries such as poultry, off-campus student housing, health, and fitness, Nicole brings a wealth of experience and expertise.

Nicole and her husband have resided in Athens since 2017. Known for her strategic thinking, sincerity and passion for DE&I, Nicole is excited to be part of making a long lasting impact within the community.