Community Foundation Executive Director Named President & CEO

The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri has announced that Jill Arnold Blickhan has been advanced to President & CEO effective January 1, 2017.

Blickhan has served as Executive Director of the Community Foundation since October 2001.

“This appointment signifies the Community Foundation’s growth as well as the responsibilities of the person leading it,” said Board Chair William McCleery, Jr. “As the Community Foundation continues to grow in both resources and impact, the Board of Directors recognizes the need to elevate and empower its leadership.”

Blickhan is responsible for the Community Foundation’s leadership, management and development. During her time as Executive Director, the Community Foundation’s assets have grown from $500,000 to $30 million with more than $4 million granted to date from 170 charitable funds. She is a member and secretary of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, a 2014 participate of Leadership Illinois and has completed the National Planned Giving Institute Program.

Prior to the Community Foundation, Blickhan spent many years working in the tri-state region for not-for-profits as an executive director and development director. Her career also includes experience in higher education admissions, alumni relations, and public relations in northeast Missouri and Kansas. She began her career teaching secondary English, journalism and psychology in northwest Iowa.

Blickhan was raised in Fowler, Illinois, graduated from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and did some graduate coursework at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.