Impact Sector Session: Keeping the People Who Power Your Mission

Keeping the People Who Power Your Mission

Learn best practices from local nonprofit leaders about retaining and engaging staff and volunteers. From creative benefits to a strong culture, explore how meaningful connection to the mission can happen without breaking the budget. The panel discussion will be followed by networking opportunities. 

Featured panelists:

• Sarah Craig, Executive Director of Caffe Lena
• Kari Cushing, Executive Director of Franklin Community Center
• Megan Quillinan, Executive Director of the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center

Sarah Craig has spent her career in nonprofit management and fundraising. After graduating from the University of Vermont, she learned about big ideas and how to implement them during a five-year stint as canvasser-turned-executive-director at Peace Action in Cambridge, MA. In the latest chapter of her 30+ years of service at Caffe Lena, Sarah has focused on expanding the Caffè’s community impact beyond award-winning concert programming. In 2018, she launched an outreach program that delivers live performances by the venue’s headline artists to more than 2,000 underserved people across three counties. In 2020, she oversaw development of a School of Music for youth and seniors that fosters social connection along with musical skill. Outside of work, Sarah serves on the board of Horns for Haiti and is board vice-president of the Cambridge Food Co-op in Cambridge, NY.

Kari Cushing has served as Executive Director of Franklin Community Center since 2004, providing leadership for the organization's mission to strengthen the community by supporting individuals and families in need. She joined the Center in 2001 as Director of Project Lift, the organization's after-school prevention program for at-risk youth, before being appointed Executive Director. Kari currently serves on the Saratoga Hospital Board of Trustees and previously served on the Supervisory Committee of Saratoga's Community Federal Credit Union from 2009 to 2022. Prior to joining Franklin Community Center, she worked as a Family Resource Coordinator for a New Hampshire school district and as a Children and Youth Services Coordinator for a human services agency. A graduate of the Leadership Saratoga Class of 2014, Kari has dedicated her career to strengthening communities through nonprofit leadership, youth development, and collaborative partnerships.

Megan Quillinan is the Executive Director of Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, where she has worked for more than 25 years. Her leadership has been pivotal in fostering community engagement and securing vital grant funding. During her tenure, the organization has become a beacon for diverse age groups, addressing needs from education to nutrition, and domestic violence advocacy. Megan's expertise lies in cultivating positive partnerships and steering the mission toward public service demand. With a solid foundation in communication, strategy, and marketing, her approach has consistently empowered teams and volunteers to drive impactful community development and support.