October 22, 2025 – The Central New York Community Foundation has hired Sarah Edlund as Office Manager and Nikki Poles as Executive Assistant.
Sarah Edlund, Office Manager
A lifelong Central New Yorker, Edlund brings extensive administrative expertise and a passion for nonprofit service. She spent nearly a decade at Syracuse University in a variety of roles, most recently as director of administration for the Office of the Board of Trustees. She lives on the south shore of Oneida Lake with Tom and their two dogs. She is the proud mother of a son, a SUNY Potsdam freshman studying finance and business and playing lacrosse, and a daughter who teaches at Grant Middle School.
Nikki Poles, Executive Assistant
Poles has more than a decade of experience in administration, staffing management and operations. Most recently, she served as staffing manager and administrator for ATN Event Staffing, overseeing national recruitment, scheduling and client relations. An entrepreneur at heart, she previously founded a men’s accessories brand and opened a downtown Syracuse café. She is known for building relationships, streamlining processes and helping teams thrive.
The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that turns community dollars into community change. Established in 1927, it receives contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to address the region’s greatest needs. The foundation has invested more than $320 million in community projects that benefit Central New York. It also serves as a civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives that foster a thriving and equitable region and address the most critical issues of our time.
