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* Photo courtesy of AQHA.

American Quarter Horse Foundation Hires Interim Officer

The American Quarter Horse Foundation recently hired Christine Sitz of Edmond, Oklahoma, as interim chief Foundation officer. Sitz began her role with the Foundation last week.

In her role, Sitz will partner with Foundation staff, the Board of Trustees, Foundation Council and committees to enhance and implement the Foundation’s mission and vision; oversee annual operating budgets and endowment fund management practices to ensure fiscal transparency; provide oversight and growth strategy for fundraising and advancement services; and guide the grant-making and scholarship program to enhanced impact with a goal to serve the current and future needs of AQHA membership and the equine industry.

“We are excited to welcome Chris back to our team as the interim chief Foundation officer,” AQHA Executive Vice President Craig Huffhines said in a statement. “Her experience with foundation management, fundraising and outreach programing are fantastic assets to add to our team to serve AQHA members through Foundation initiatives. Her background with non-profit work paired with her roots in our industry make her a great fit to move the Foundation forward.”

Sitz’s Background

Sitz has spent the majority of her 30-year career in the nonprofit sector where she served as executive director of the Simmons Center in Duncan, Oklahoma, and then followed her love for horses to provide leadership of the marketing department at Sooner Trailer Manufacturing Company. Her time at Sooner provided the opportunity to serve as liaison to AQHA as the official trailer of the Association. This set the stage for her role leading the American Quarter Horse Foundation and working in partnership with trustees and the advisory council to drive a successful endowment campaign and oversee the Foundation’s impactful grantmaking activities.

After returning to her home state of Oklahoma, Sitz joined the Oklahoma State University Foundation in support of the Center for Veterinary Medicine where she worked closely with alumni, faculty, industry stakeholders and pet owners to raise significant support for the veterinary college through major and planned gifts. Sitz was recruited to oversee the grant-making programs of a private foundation in the animal wellbeing sector. The time spent working as a funder not only informs Sitz’s fundraising expertise, but motivated her to form Tall Grass Philanthropy Solutions, a fundraising consulting and coaching company where she currently helps nonprofits develop their major and planned giving programs and coaches board engagement in fundraising.

“I am thrilled to be rejoining the team at AQHA as I am passionate about the charitable work of the Foundation and count the friends I have made through my time there as family,” Sitz said in the statement. “We have exciting work ahead, and I look forward helping usher the Foundation into a new era benefitting the horse that we all love so much.”

Sitz has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Oklahoma State University.