Our Team

Sara Ward leads the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, a position she has held for 2 of the 9 years she has been with the organization. Originally from metro Detroit, Sara moved to northern Michigan, where she has built a fulfilling career in community nonprofit work. She believes in continuous improvement, including learning about nonprofit management, fundraising, and community philanthropy both formally and informally.

Sara has served on regional and statewide committees through the Council of Michigan Foundations as well as a variety of local groups. She has led community grantmaking, student scholarship, and donor development programs in Charlevoix and Emmet counties. Sara is proud of a 'collaborative' format that allows endowments with the same purpose to be used together for greater impact, which has grown the Community Foundation's permanent charitable capital for community priorities by over $3.8 million.

Sara moved to Boyne City with her husband and two sons in 2016 and currently serves on the Boyne City Public Schools Board of Education. She is dedicated to making a difference close to home.

Ashley Cousens joined the C3F team in early 2019 in the Communications role and quickly transitioned to Community Grantmaking later that same year. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for almost her entire career in some way, but this is by far her favorite role.

In her Community Grantmaking role, Ashley is responsible for hosting many grant cycles throughout the year including promoting the availability of funds, helping nonprofit organizations navigate C3F processes and have their best chance of funding, and facilitating the grant review and allocations processes. She also builds and maintains relationships with nonprofit partners serving Charlevoix County and works to collaborate with other funders and community partners towards C3F’s mission to improve quality of life for all in Charlevoix County, now and for generations to come.

Outside of work, Ashley enjoys exploring Michigan with her husband and their miniature schnauzer. She loves hiking, kayaking, boating, downhill and cross-country skiing, reading, cooking, and baking. Ashley especially enjoys baking during the holidays, which, along with her enthusiasm for gift-wrapping, has caused at least one co-worker to nickname her “Mrs. Claus!”

Matt Greer joined C3F in June 2021 following several years of experience on the organization’s audit team. In his role overseeing Finance and Operations, he is responsible for overseeing accounting systems, investments, gift processing, budgeting, audits, and human resources.

A lifelong resident of Northern Michigan, Matt values the region’s natural beauty and strong sense of community. Outside of his professional role, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, engaging in outdoor activities throughout the year including skiing, hiking, camping, fishing, and making the most of their time on Walloon Lake.

If Matt won the lottery, he’d start a food truck called “Matt’s Favorite Foods” that would consist of all his favorite foods including a garlic bread lasagna panini.

Megan joined C3F in the Youth Advancement role in September 2022. She wasn't a stranger to C3F though, as she worked in the non-profit sector and applied for local grants offered in Charlevoix and Emmet counties. Today, Megan facilitates the Youth Advisory Committee and oversees the Youth Needs cycle, Scholarships, and school grant programs such as Student Success. She is passionate about engaging youth voice and providing them a seat at the table.

Megan's favorite things include winter campfires, jigsaw puzzles, popcorn, and spending time with her 2 daughters and spouse.

Silly fact: My family was pretty sure I'd be a meteorologist when I grew up before they realized I'm terrified of storms. The movie Twister was really pivotal for me - love and fear it – original movie and the newer movie!

Pam joined the C3F team in February of 2023 as the Communications and Development lead. Born and raised in East Jordan, Pam has deep roots in Northern Michigan where her family has lived for generations. She has a long history in the nonprofit world working in animal welfare and therapeutic riding as well as art and human services organizations.

She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with specialized Fundraising Management training at the University of Washington. Pam is passionate about traveling and the arts, and loves collecting unusual folk and outsider art pieces. Animal welfare is also a big focus for her, and she enjoys sharing her life with her rescue pets. Pam embraces the idea of volunteering and community involvement and currently sits on the Board of the Boyne District Library and serves as the Public Relations Chair of the Rotary Club of East Jordan.

Silly Fact: Known around the office for being a bit clumsy, Pam would likely be voted “Most Likely to Hurt Herself in an Unusual or Ridiculous Way”.

Bekah has been the Administrative Assistant at C3F since May 2024. She manages our database, website, donations and facilities, keeping everything up-to-date and accurate. She assists others in grant processing, event support, research and proofreading, and serves as a scholarship reviewer. Her background is dynamic including serving at retirement homes, administrative work, farming and event planning. She is passionate about sustainability, volunteering and advocacy.

Outside of work, you will find Bekah hiking, camping, dancing, hanging out with friends and her pups, and lounging at the beach.

Fun fact: Bekah’s favorite word in the English language is petrichor - a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.