A New Chapter of Service: Kasey Fischesser Joins SFSM as Development Director
After 27 years in nonprofit work, Kasey Fischesser found herself asking a simple but important question: Where can I make the biggest difference close to home?
The answer led her to become the new Development Director at St. Francis Seraph Ministries (SFSM), drawing on her experience with organizations including the American Cancer Society, Northern Kentucky University, the Red Cross, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
“This organization has one of the most honorable, impressive missions around,” she says of SFSM. “The people here do this work quietly, without a lot of fanfare, consistently serving people so humbly and so kindly. They deserve support.”
Garnering that support from the community is Kasey’s focus. She’ll be working to grow SFSM’s fundraising base to help create more opportunities for the people SFSM serves.
“It takes every donor at every level to make this mission work,” Kasey says. “SFSM has a strong foundation. Now it’s about helping it grow, so we can provide more services, preserve the Franciscan legacy here, and secure our footprint in Over-the-Rhine.”
Kasey is especially energized by the chance to build relationships, both with donors and with SFSM’s guests. She was struck early on by the culture of dignity that defines SFSM.
“You look people in the eyes, and you care for them and relate to them,” she says. “That’s the expectation here. That’s emphasized from the top down — the executive director, the Board of Directors. Think about how wonderful the world would be if we all treated each other with that kind of respect and kindness and relationship focus.”
Kasey is a native of eastern Kentucky and attended Murray State University, but she’s always had a tie to Cincinnati through her passion for Reds baseball. Growing up before the internet and without cable, she listened to the Reds on WLW-AM (700).
“We had to wait until after dark to get the signal,” she recalls. “I would sit on the carport with my dad. I would hold the antenna on the transistor radio to be able to hear Marty (Brennaman) and Joe (Nuxhall). They were my family.”
Today, she is deeply rooted in the Greater Cincinnati area. Her family attends St. Barbara Church in Independence, and her in-laws are lifelong members of St. Gertrude Church in Madeira. Her son graduated from St. Xavier High School, and her daughter attends Notre Dame Academy.
“I love this community,” Kasey says. “Part of loving it is making sure we’re helping everyone — not just a few. I’m honored to have an amazing opportunity to serve the community in this way.”
Would you like to connect with Kasey? You can reach her at 513-926-2443 or kfischesser@sfsministries.org.