Tracy Harbold is the new executive director of the Upper Arlington Community Foundation. Buy This PhotoLORRIE CECIL/THISWEEKNEWSTracy Harbold is the new executive director of the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.
An Upper Arlington transplant who has spent her career in fundraising is ready to take on the community’s next “signature” project, just one month after taking the helm at the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.
Tracy Harbold was hired last month as the full-time executive director of the Upper Arlington Community Foundation, a local nonprofit that seeks to enrich the community through capital campaigns, providing grants, beautification projects and managing public donations.
Since its establishment in 2004, the UACF has raised and donated more than $1 million to local projects and initiatives, including the restoration of the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park, new playgrounds for local children and support of a variety of cultural arts endeavors.
In addition to day-to-day operations, the next UACF priority is the redevelopment of Northam Park.
The city plans to spend upwards of $10 million to improve drainage, parking, athletic fields and other park amenities, while Upper Arlington schools will contribute approximately $5 million.
The UACF is expected to launch a capital campaign to fund a variety of garden spaces at the park, and possibly a public recreation facility that could feature two gymnasiums, a walking track, cardio-exercise space and locker rooms.
That’s where Harbold, with her years of fundraising expertise, is expected to step in.
“I report to a fabulous foundation board and they have decided they want the foundation’s focus to be supporting the efforts of the city and schools,” Harbold said. That’s what we want to do.”
While a design for the park’s redevelopment still must be completed, the UACF has begun a fundraising feasibility study it hopes to finish this spring.
“The Upper Arlington Community Foundation is excited about the opportunity to modernize Northam and we believe the members of our fine community are ready to invest with us in making the park more functional, attractive and inviting,” said Greg Guy, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees.
The feasibility study will give the organization a better picture of how much money can be raised, but it’s estimated that $7 million will be needed to complete the amenities targeted by the UACF.
Harbold said she’s been in fundraising since about 1991.
A Michigan native, she worked as a development assistant and manager in various departments at Michigan State University from 1993 to 1999.
In July 1999, Harbold moved to Columbus to work at Ohio State University, where she was a manager of the Wexner Center Foundation and an assistant development director for the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. “She comes to this position with much professional experience in fundraising, public relations and management.”
Despite her years in fundraising, the UACF position offers Harbold her first chance to lead a capital campaign, something she said helped her decide to take the job.
Other factors, she said, were the strength of the UACF board of trustees and the chance to “use my skill set to help the community I love.”
“Fundraising is all about relationship-building,” Harbold said.
