Staff and Board of Directors

Amanda Standerfer, Executive Director

Amanda Standerfer is the Executive Director of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations. For the past 20+ years, Amanda has worked to build capacity with nonprofit organizations and libraries through various roles in library administration and the philanthropy sector. In addition, Amanda serves as a consultant to nonprofit organizations and libraries on projects ranging from strategic planning to organizational development. She has a BA and MA in History from Eastern Illinois University and a MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Josh Gibb, Board President

Joshua D. Gibb (Josh) was named President & CEO of Galesburg Community Foundation in 2008. As President & CEO, Josh is leading the Community Foundation board, staff, and communities the Community Foundation serves to believe in and invest in the power of philanthropy to create healthy communities. Click the icon to the right to read more.

As President & CEO Josh has led the board and committees to invest more than $6.5 million in grants to nonprofits and programs that benefit Knox and Warren Counties to date. Additionally, he works every day with people who love their community and want to give back to their community in the best ways possible.

In addition to his service with the Community Foundation, Josh is an active member of the Council on Foundations Public Policy Committee, Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, Forefront, OSF St. Mary Medical Center Community Advisory Board, the Rural School Collaborative Board, Lions Club of Galesburg, and the Galesburg Downtown Council Committee.

Josh and his wife Stacy live in rural Galesburg with their four children, Esther, Miles, Maxwell, Harrison and their newest addition is expected in January.

John Stremsterfer, Board Vice President

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. ... Click the icon to the right to Read More.

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 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.

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. In 2012 John received the Rail-Splitter Public Service Award from the American Society of Public Administration, Central Illinois Chapter. In 2014 he received the Young Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Illinois College.

Mr. Stremsterfer has served as the Vice-President of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations and on the Board of Directors of Donors Forum. He is a past-chair of the board of Leadership Springfield and currently serves on the board of the Citizens Club of Springfield.

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

Nicole Smolkovitch, Board Past President

Nicole joined the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley in 2009 when she returned to her hometown of Kankakee after a 15-year career in business management with The Musicland Group and Delaware North Companies.... Click the icon to the right to Read More.

Nicole quickly stepped into a program coordinator role where she led an early childhood coalition while also handling the day-to-day operations of the Foundation. Nicole assumed the role of Executive Director in November 2014.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Music degree from Millikin University. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 795, County West Survivors Relay For Life team, and is a Cantor for St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church. She enjoys traveling with her husband, Joe, and hosting family and friends in their new home in Herscher, IL.

Anne Calder, Board Secretary

Anne serves as vice president of development at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, where she oversees gift planning and philanthropic services, planned giving, stewardship and donor engagement, nonprofit endowment building initiatives, and disaster fundraising.... Click the icon to the right to Read More.

Anne is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) a designation which provides expertise to guide charitable individuals and organizations in strategic philanthropic planning. Her career in philanthropy includes work with the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and nearly ten years at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, where she was awarded the Harold and Violet Jaeke Award. A member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the National Association of Planned Giving Professionals, the Quad City Estate Planning Council, Anne serves on the board of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations and as the president of the Quad City Planned Giving Council.

A native of Chicago, Anne holds a BA in English and secondary education from Augustana College. Anne and her husband have five children and live in Geneseo, Illinois, with their golden retriever, Islay.

Scott Witzig, Board Treasurer

Scott was named Executive Director of the Morton Community Foundation in 2007, becoming the first paid staff of the organization since it was founded in 2000. His extensive community leadership in both the non-profit and private-sectors equip him to guide the Morton Community Foundation into the future... Click the icon to the right to read more.

Scott's previous career experience included 17 years with his family’s clothing business, 4 ½ years as Executive Director of the Morton Chamber of Commerce, and 10 years as Marketing Director for RMH Foods. Scott is a life-long resident of Morton, graduated from Morton High School in 1977, and received a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Illinois State University in 1982.

While at the Morton Chamber of Commerce, he attended annual training courses at the Leadership Institute at the University of Colorado, Boulder. His volunteer work has included leadership and involvement with the Morton Downtown Business Association, Morton Fine Arts Association, Morton’s Community Development Committee, Morton Rotary Club, and Grace Church in Morton. Scott was the recipient of the 2013 Morton Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Darci, have been married since 1980, and have 3 daughters, 1 son, and 3 grandchildren.

Stephanie Sikorski, Administrative & Communications Coordinator

Stephanie Sikorski is the Administrative & Communications Coordinator of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations. For the past 25+ years, Stephanie has worked to foster connection and community while building an early childhood education program in cooperation with her local school district. In addition, she has an extensive background in executive administrative support roles, including specializing in internal communications best practices. Recently, Stephanie has served as the president of the University of Illinois Moms Association, the oldest known mom group in the nation, which focuses on philanthropic events to support student success.

Antonio Martinez, Jr., Board Member

Antonio Martinez, Jr. is president and CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. As president and CEO, Martinez leads and directs the advancement and fulfillment of the mission of the Community Foundation. He is responsible for the achievement of the operational and strategic goals, including fund and donor development, fiscal management, grants and programming, board relations, staff oversight, community relations and management.... Click the icon to the right to Read More.

Before joining the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, Martinez served as director of development for The Chicago Community Trust, Chicago’s community foundation.

Martinez also worked for the American Bar Association, Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago Cubs. Martinez serves on the national board of the Association of Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, and on the boards of The Resurrection Project and Future Leaders of Chicago. Previously, Martinez served on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professional – Chicago Chapter and Korean American Community Services. Martinez is founder and chair of LEARN West Rogers Park, a collaboration of nonprofits, community leaders, and business leaders focused on building solutions to address the needs of Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood.

A graduate of Columbia College, Martinez holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications. He has served on the Bateman Elementary Local School Council in Chicago, and has volunteered on aldermanic and congressional campaigns. Martinez is a 2017 Edgar Fellow, 2014 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, a 2012 Fellow of Great Cities Institute at University of Illinois Chicago, and a 2008 graduate of Metropolitan Leadership Institute

Catherine Meckes

Catherine was named CEO of the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri in 2019 after previously serving in development, marketing, and program roles since 2015. As CEO...Click the icon to the right to Read More.

Catherine leads donors, volunteers, staff, and community partners towards the Community Foundation’s vision of a thriving region through collaborative philanthropy. During her time as CEO, more than $16 million in grants have been awarded towards this vision.

In her capacity as CEO, she is a member and past chair of the Adams County Funders Collaborative, which works cooperatively to strengthen local nonprofit capacity and leadership development. In addition to her work with the Community Foundation, Catherine serves on the board of Tri-State Fundraising Professionals and the oldest continuously active women’s literary society in the nation, Friends in Council. She is also a member of Quincy Service League and a volunteer for Junior Achievement.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Catherine held a career in healthcare public relations in Chicago. Catherine holds a Bachelor and Master of Communication Studies from Eastern Illinois University. Catherine and her husband live in Quincy, where she was born and raised, along with their two children, Margaret and Charlie.

Dan Templin, Board Past President

Dan Templin has been with the DeKalb County Community Foundation since 2005, serving as Executive Director since 2008. Prior to working with the Foundation, he spent 15 years with the DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau (YSB) – serving as a mentor for youth, a family therapist, and Executive Director of the organization from 1996-2005... Click the icon to the right to Read More.