Kelsa L. Zereski
President ׀ Reliant Foundation, Inc.
Kelsa Zereski brings over 20 years’ experience working in the non-profit sector, in various roles from advisor or Trustee to lead staff member, to the now-independent non-profit Reliant Foundation. She had previously served as director of philanthropy at Reliant Medical Group and clerk of Reliant Foundation for the past 10 years. Today Ms. Zereski is responsible for the operations, community outreach, grant making, and fundraising of Reliant Foundation. In addition, Ms. Zereski is a Trustee of the George F. & Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, a non-profit private Foundation with assets over $50 Million, making annual grants totaling more than $2.7 Million.
A fundraising and grant making expert, Ms. Zereski has served as Trustee on several community non-profit’ boards, including the American Red Cross of Central MA, Nativity School of Worcester, Higgins Armory Museum, and Seven Hills Foundation. She is a community volunteer or corporator for numerous local organizations including Be Like Brit, EcoTarium, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Nativity School of Worcester, and Seven Hills Foundation. She also sits on the grant making committee for Fallon Health. Ms. Zereski takes pride in her community work, doing personal outreach to charities to make them aware of grant opportunities, and touring programs in the Central and MetroWest regions of Massachusetts.
These activities, along with annual fund drives, have allowed Reliant Foundation to increase its annual grant making capacity to a record $737,000 in 2020. The Reliant Foundation has positively impacted 107 public charities in its service area, granting millions over time to improve community health.
Ms. Zereski earned her B.A. in Marketing from Assumption College with a minor in English. She was honored as one of Worcester Business Journal’s 40-Under-40 in 2003 and received her CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) designation in 2005.
Ms. Zereski is an avid equestrian, having ridden and competed horses for more than 40 years, and as part owner of Triple Crown Tack Shop, a local equestrian retail store. She is also a member of Worcester Country Club, home of the first Ryder Cup golf tournament, where she served on the Board of Governors. Ms. Zereski is a life-long resident of Massachusetts and lives in Shrewsbury with her husband Don. She has two adult sons, Connor and Brendan Hicks.
