Atchison Foundation names Christa Rieger new executive director

The Atchison Foundation, which was created in 2019 to connect local generosity with local needs, named Christa Rieger as its next executive director, a move that puts one of Atchison County’s main philanthropic channels in the hands of a leader with deep ties to local nonprofits, education and community organizing. Rieger will step into the role June 8 and oversee the foundation’s strategic direction, daily operations and community partnerships as it continues to support charitable gifts, permanent funds and local nonprofit work across the county.

The appointment carries practical stakes for Atchison County. The foundation’s first year under Rieger will shape how it communicates with donors, how it works with nonprofits competing for limited resources, and how confidently local supporters view the foundation as a steward of money meant to stay in the community. That matters in a county where small organizations often rely on coordinated grantmaking and steady donor relationships to keep services going.

Rieger arrives with more than 15 years of experience across nonprofit, health care, higher education and community organizations. Her background includes donor communications, fundraising campaigns and strategic partnerships, along with work in branding and creative marketing through Storyweaver Brands and Storyweaver Studio. She also held advancement and communications posts at Benedictine College and Donnelly College, and she holds dual degrees in public relations and advertising and graphic design from Drury University, with additional MBA coursework at Benedictine College.

Her local profile may help the transition land smoothly. Rieger currently serves as president of Project Atchison, the volunteer-driven group founded in May 2015 from the Facebook community Young Atchison Making a Difference. Project Atchison has become a familiar civic presence in town through service projects, monthly meetups and events such as Porchfest, which is scheduled for May 9, 2026 and is expected to draw more than 600 people and more than 20 regional bands. That experience gives Rieger a ready-made network of residents, volunteers and community partners in the same civic space the foundation serves.

The foundation’s structure also gives the change broader significance. Atchison is listed by the Kansas Association of Community Foundations as a member foundation in Atchison County with a host affiliation to the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, which provides investment management, fund accounting and administrative staff support. That arrangement allows local leadership to set community priorities while tapping professional back-office support in Manhattan.

Rieger succeeds Grace Sammoury, who was named executive director in August 2024, underscoring a period of transition for the organization. With a local board, regional support and a new executive director about to take over, the foundation will be judged not just by who leads it, but by whether it can deepen nonprofit partnerships and keep donor confidence strong in Atchison County.