Grace Carter is a nonprofit operations professional specializing in grants management, communications, and community engagement. She currently serves as Manager, Operations and Administration at the Fund for Our Economic Future, ensuring the smooth, efficient, and well-organized operation of the Fund. Previously, she was Associate Director of Community Impact at ArtsNow, where she led grant operations and public programs, including serving as the primary contact for the ArtsForward regranting program, which distributed $1.4 million to support arts and culture projects across Summit County. She also led SEEN: Advancing Equity in Summit County, which engaged local photographers and videographers to capture the vibrancy of Summit County’s arts and culture sector, resulting in a searchable library of more than 1,000 high-quality visual assets, and worked on major initiatives such as the Creative Placemaking Conference and the NEA-funded River in the City public art project.
Earlier in her career, Grace was the first Community Engagement Coordinator at Summit Artspace, where she led marketing and communications efforts that significantly expanded audience reach. She directed a full website redesign and digital strategy, increasing the organization’s email list by 50% and achieving high engagement rates while overseeing media outreach and public-facing communications. Since 2022, she has also worked as a freelance writer, with work featured in regional publications including CAN Journal. In 2024, she was recognized for her contributions to the arts and culture sector with Summit Artspace’s Rising Arts Leader Arts Alive Award.
Grace has served on multiple grant review committees and artist selection panels across Ohio, is a member of the Grant Professionals Association, and has supported artists through coaching and public speaking engagements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in art history with a minor in pre-law from Kent State University and a master’s degree in arts administration from The University of Akron.
In addition to her professional work, Grace is a certified yoga instructor and has experience in the floral industry. She is deeply committed to advancing equity, accessibility, and community-centered opportunities that strengthen individuals and organizations alike.