About Us

Rachel Hughes

Rachel joined the Wayne County Foundation staff in March 2006 as the first Development Officer.  Under the Foundation’s Sustaining Resource Development Plan - initiated by a Lilly Endowment grant - she works to grow the Foundation through sustained relationship development and to empower nonprofits through endowment building, professional development opportunities and other resource development activities.

Early in her professional career, Rachel worked as a free-lance writer for several newspapers and a professional business journal.  She also served as the liaison between the state government and local United Ways while revitalizing the State Employees Community Campaign.  More recently she served as the Resource Development Director for the United Way of Whitewater Valley, a position she held for nearly 13 years. 

Rachel is actively involved in the community.  She previously served as a board member for Leadership Wayne County, Richmond Civic Theatre, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Indiana University East School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Whitewater Valley Chapter of the IU Alumni Association. She is the current vice-chair for the local 211 Advisory board, and the Urban Enterprise Association, is a long-time volunteer with Junior Achievement and serves on the Community Development Committee for the Chamber of Commerce.  Additionally, Rachel is actively involved with her church, Fountain City Wesleyan, where she co-founded the church's community food bank.

She is a fifteen-year member of the Richmond Noon Kiwanis Club where she has held numerous leadership positions including her service as board member and vice-president of the board of directors of Safety Village, a Kiwanis affiliate program.  She is also a member of the Altrusa Club of Richmond, having recently served as its president and is active with the Women's Club.

Rachel, a Certified Fund Raising Manager, earned a Master of Arts degree in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in speech, communications and theatre (with a teaching endorsement) from Indiana State University.

She is married to Ron, has 4 children and 2 granddaughters.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelwhughes