Welcome to Fostering Solutions, the podcast where we explore the stories and strategies of

leaders who are transforming communities and holding their missions together through times of

challenge and change. I’m your host, Dr. Michelle Foster.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Heather Foster, a proud West Virginian and the newly

appointed Executive Director of the West Virginia Community Development Hub—a

statewide nonprofit committed to engaging community members in leadership development and

planning for economic success.

Heather brings more than fifteen years of experience in nonprofit governance, volunteer

leadership, and public service. Before joining the Hub, she served as Chief Impact Officer for

AmeriCorps’ Mid-Atlantic and Midwest Regions, where she oversaw federal community

investments across nine states and territories. Her leadership was marked by strategic growth,

strong staff engagement, and an unwavering focus on community impact. She also co-leads Red

Spruce Collective, a Charleston-based consulting firm that supports nonprofit leaders and

organizational planning.

In this conversation, part of our Holding the Mission Together: Leadership in the Face of

Uncertainty series, Heather shares her reflections on leading through uncertainty, sustaining staff

morale, and balancing organizational survival with long-term mission integrity.

We’ll talk about what guided her decisions during times of funding shifts, how she maintained

communication and trust, and what “holding the mission together” truly means to her as a leader

rooted in love for West Virginia.

So, grab your notebook—or just settle in—and join us for this inspiring conversation with one of

West Virginia’s most thoughtful and collaborative changemakers, Heather Foster.