Meet our Executive Team

We are proud of the accomplishments and dedication of our executive team at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.

John G. Stremsterfer

As President and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln (CFLL), John Stremsterfer oversees the development, grant making, expansion and leadership activities of the Community Foundation.

John came to CFLL from the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) where he worked for the University of Illinois Foundation. Prior to UIS, he worked for his high school alma mater, Ursuline Academy in Springfield and also spent two years working in the Illinois Governor’s Office, where he was a Dunn Fellow and Legislative Liaison for the Department of Corrections.

In 2012, John was among the inaugural class of the Edgar Fellows, a fellowship designed by former Illinois Governor, Jim Edgar, focusing on the requirements and responsibilities of leadership and governing for emerging leaders across Illinois. In 2006, John was a participant in the American Memorial Marshall Fellowship, a trans-Atlantic exchange program for future European and American leaders, through the German Marshall Fund.

In 2018, John received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Leadership Springfield for his leadership contributions and dedication to the community of Springfield, Illinois. In 2014, he received the Young Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Illinois College. In 2012, John received the Rail-Splitter Public Service Award from the American Society of Public Administration, Central Illinois Chapter. John was the 2007 recipient of the “Outstanding Fundraising Professional” award of the Springfield, IL chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and in 2008 was recognized by the Springfield Business Journal by receiving the “Business Ethics Not-For-Profit” award.

Mr. Stremsterfer serves as Secretary of the Board of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations and has served on the Board of Directors of Forefront. He currently serves on the Board of the Citizens Club of Springfield and the Community Health Roundtable of Springfield and Sangamon County. John is also a past-chair of the Board of Leadership Springfield.

John is a Springfield native. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Illinois College. John lives in Springfield with his wife Trina and children Ileana, Dean and Cora.

Sarah Helm

Sarah joined the Community Foundation in May 2021 after serving as executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation in Lincoln, Illinois where she managed a comprehensive fund development program aimed at generating philanthropic support to improve local health. Prior to that role, she worked for the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies as director of research and administration helping serve member agencies of Illinois’ Poverty Fighting Network. At the Community Foundation, Sarah oversees the planning, directing and evaluating of fund development activities.

Sarah earned a B.A. degree in Psychology from Purdue University, M.P.A. from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University, and she has obtained the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation. She resides in Lincoln with her husband and children.

Stacy Reed

Stacy joined the Community Foundation in February 2009 after a ten-year career in public affairs. She manages grantmaking activities in keeping with current policies and procedures; coordinates special initiatives; articulates Foundation goals and programs; and develops and maintains strong relationships with community leaders and peer foundations.

Stacy came to the Community Foundation from Public Communications Inc. in Chicago where she served as an account supervisor managing public awareness campaigns for a variety of nonprofit, education and health care clients. Prior to that role, she coordinated internal and external communications efforts for Peoples Energy and was a senior account executive at Jasculca/Terman and Associates in Chicago.

She currently serves on United Way's education vision council and Nurse-Family Partnership's community advisory board. Stacy earned a B.A. degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa and M.A. degree in organizational communication from DePaul University. A native of the area, Stacy lives in Springfield with her husband Scott and two daughters.

Betsy Weidner

Betsy joined the Community Foundation in June 2014. Betsy is responsible for organizing, planning, directing, and evaluating the Community Foundation’s financial functions.

Betsy came to the Community Foundation from H. D. Smith in Springfield where she served in many roles for nearly seventeen years, the most recent position being Manager of Treasury Operations. Prior to that role she worked in the nonprofit sector for Bradley University in the Controller’s office.

Betsy holds a B.A. degree in Accounting and an M.B.A., both earned from the University of Illinois Springfield. Betsy and her husband Mike reside in Rochester with their two sons, Zane and Sawyer.

Aren Dow

Aren joined the Community Foundation in September 2017 after five years in journalism. At the Community Foundation, Aren is responsible for coordinating grant programs and special initiatives and overseeing marketing and community outreach activities.

Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Aren worked as a reporter, copy editor and page designer for the Herald & Review in Decatur, IL. He earned his B.A. in mass communications from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Aren is a Springfield native and came back to his hometown with his wife Julie and two children, Clara and Maggie.

Marcia Short

Marcia joined the Community Foundation in August 2019. She is responsible for managing the office, meeting and event planning, data entry, and supporting the work of the president and CEO.

Marcia came to the Community Foundation from Illinois College in Jacksonville with three decades of experience in non-profit fundraising and donor relations. She began her professional career at her alma mater as an admission counselor and spent the majority of her career in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

She earned a B.A. in communications from Illinois College. Marcia has lived in Springfield for more than 25 years. She has volunteered at the Illinois State Fair, Downtown Springfield, Inc., and the Springfield Area Arts Council.