The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta names nonprofit financial veteran, Mark Sutton, as chief financial officer (CFO), and announces the addition of Kara Gardner as scholarships manager and Nichole Owens as public relations manager.

“As the Community Foundation embarks on bringing to life our new TogetherATL strategic plan, a keen sense of financial management and financial growth is essential to meeting our goals. Mark’s extensive financial leadership experience with nonprofits large and small is aligned with both our short and long-term needs,” said Frank Fernandez, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “Toward those same goals we have added proven leaders and elevated staff in key positions that will help drive our efforts forward.”

Previously, Sutton served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at United Way World Wide for four years, leading financial operations, IT and merchandising/vendor relationships for more than 1,800 United Ways in 41 countries. He managed an investment portfolio of more than $40 million, as well as a diverse revenue portfolio consisting of donor-advised funds, corporate contributions, overseas transactions and private and government grants.

Sutton knows the metro Atlanta region well, previously serving 17 years as Executive Vice President and CFO for United Way of Greater Atlanta, responsible for operating an annual budget of more than $100 million serving Atlanta and 13 surrounding counties. He managed all financial affairs, including the creation of a board designated operating reserve policy that went from $0 in revenue cash reserves to over $11 million in five years. He also led a sub-committee of the United Way’s board of directors focused on fundraising strategies and negotiated the employee benefits plan along with a number of successful initiatives around fundraising and digital strategy.

Prior to his tenure at United Way, Atlanta, Sutton was a CFO for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia for five years. Sutton is a change management champion and Six Sigma Green Belt expert leading transformational changes and driving organizational efficiencies. A licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Sutton holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from George Washington University.

The Foundation recently welcomed two new team members:

Kara Gardner, Ed.D. oversees the Foundation’s scholarship portfolio, which administered $12 million in scholarships in 2021. Gardner joined the Foundation after serving an eight-year tenure as assistant director of scholarship and stewardship at Perimeter College/Georgia State University. Prior experience includes six years as assistant director of admissions and scholarship coordinator at Spelman College. She earned her undergraduate degree in public relations from Central Oklahoma, a graduate degree in higher education administration from the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate in educational leadership from Clark Atlanta University.

Nichole Owens serves as public relations manager, amplifying the Foundation’s mission through strategic storytelling and media outreach. Prior to joining the Foundation, Owens served as communications director for The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta. An accomplished editor, ghostwriter, strategist and storyteller, she is the author of “The Industry Yearbook: 40 Years of Georgia Filmmaking & the People Who Made It Happen,” published by Oz Publishing in 2013. Owens is a graduate of Ithaca College in New York, with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

The Community Foundation further announces several staff promotions in recognition of these individuals’ growth and expansion of professional responsibilities and their contributions. These include:

· Erin Dreiling’s elevation to senior marketing and communications manager, focused on driving brand strategy, communications data and metrics, digital and print marketing, social media and relationship development.
· Jill Clark’s promotion to prospects and project manager, responsible for maintaining a prospect management pipeline and assisting with decision-making for front-line fundraisers.

The growth of senior leadership and staff bench strength comes with our intentional focus on talent development and opportunities to promote from within, doing this on the heels of creating a five-year strategic plan, TogetherATL, which focuses on building a more equitable region. TogetherATL drives place-based work that goes deep into communities working with, and for, residents to identify and empower positive change. The plan also focuses on systems change, examining broader issues like affordable housing, voting rights and equity in the arts that are each essential to building a thriving region.