Overbey Uses Problem-Solving Skills As Community Foundation CEO

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Stephanie Overbey is a problem-solver.

Stephanie Overbey

“I love to solve problems,” she said. “There’s something really satisfying about being able to bring together some really wonderful people, really smart people and just watch that happen. I don’t even have to be the problem-solver, but just to convene and to watch people work together to get things done.”

It’s a skill she enjoys using as the Kosciusko County Community Foundation CEO. Overbey took over the position on March 1 from Suzie Light, who retired.

It’s also something she’s most likely used a lot this year due to COVID-19. Overbey stepped into her role just days before the pandemic hit.

“Our first priority was just making sure that we were using our resources to help meet urgent community needs,” she said. “I would say it wasn’t hard in terms of we were fortunate to already have the relationships that we needed to have to bring the right people together to have those discussions. … I think the hardest part is just making sure that we’re always checking in and understanding what the needs are and then communicating those to our donors, so that if they want to come alongside and help, they can.”

On a monthly basis, the foundation meets with local leaders to learn what needs they have or see, said Overbey. The foundation is also giving nonprofits $100,000 collectively from a special emergency fund.

Overbey noted the funds under the foundation’s umbrella suffered not from a lack of giving during the pandemic, but from the stock market’s troubles this year. All the funds are invested in the stock market.

Overbey prepared for her role of CEO by spending the previous 20 years at the foundation in a variety of positions. She started off as program officer, then was program director, communications director and associate director.

She has a Bachelor of Science in communications from Ball State University and a Master in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Overbey is married to James Overbey, and they have three children, Gage, Ellis and Maris.

She would advise others to consider working with a nonprofit or community foundation.

“If you have skills, whether it’s in accounting or business or communications, finance, nonprofits need those skills just like a business would,” she said. “The beauty of working for a nonprofit is that you get to use the things that you’re good at to accomplish something good. … And so it’s a way to earn a living, but to do it in a way that makes a difference.”