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 has previously served as a board member for Leadership Wayne County, Richmond Civic Theatre, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.  Additionally, she is a long-time volunteer with Junior Achievement, serves on the Buy Local and Community Development Committees for the Chamber of Commerce and is actively involved with her church, Fountain City Wesleyan, where she co-founded the community food bank.

She is a twelve-year member of the Richmond Noon Kiwanis Club where she has held numerous leadership positions and currently serves as Young Children Priority One team leader and as vice-president of the board of directors of Safety Village, a Kiwanis affiliate program.  She is also a member of Altrusa.

Rachel received her undergraduate degree in speech, communications and theatre (with a teaching endorsement) from Indiana State University and a Master of Arts degree in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University.

She is married to Ron and has 4 children.