Catering to the Changing Needs of Our Neighborhood
Our Mission
To secure PERMANENT and GROWING ASSETS for the area’s changing needs.
The Middletown Community Foundation was incorporated as a component of the United Way in 1976. It grew slowly until 1986, when it became a freestanding foundation. Elliot and Mae Levey challenged the community to match their $1 million donation and create a true community foundation. Middletown committed $6.7 million and continued their generous support. Since then, assets have grown to more than $41 million.
Meet Our Staff
Executive Director: Dr. Sarah K. Nathan
Sarah K. Nathan, Ph.D., joined the team of the Middletown Community Foundation in January 2022. Dr. Nathan is a self-described “pracademic” who has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector as a fundraiser, educator, volunteer, and leader. She spent five years prior as the Associate Director of The Fund-Raising School (TFRS), where she managed all aspects of the curriculum designed for fundraising practitioners. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy at Bay Path University, where she taught and advised online graduate students in the master’s degree programs in nonprofit management and in strategic fundraising. Dr. Nathan began her philanthropy career as a 19-year-old student, calling alumni at her undergraduate alma mater, Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she later became Associate Director of the Annual Fund. When living in Indiana, she supported her local community as a volunteer and board member of the Johnson County Community Foundation, where she helped establish the county’s first giving day. Dr. Nathan is an avid Girl Scout and spends countless hours joyfully guiding young leaders. She is a proud graduate of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in philanthropic studies.
Program Officer: Sarah Watson
Sarah A. Watson joined the team of the Middletown Community Foundation in August 2019. Sarah studied Business Administration at Miami of Middletown and has over 20 years of administrative experience. Sarah oversees the Scholarship program, the Competitive Grant program, Donor Advised, and Donor Designated distributions. She also oversees all the day to day Accounting and yearly Audit related tasks for the Foundation.
Sarah supports her local communities as a volunteer and she enjoys fostering animals in her spare time. She came to the Foundation highly recommended, and we are very pleased to have her on the team.