Executive Director of AHF chosen as The Journal Record’s Most Admired CEO

With nearly eight years under her belt as the executive director of Anna’s House Foundation, Katherine Craig is a natural connector and is using that gift every day in her job. She was just 12 years old when the Oklahoma City bombing happened, and she remembers vividly the way the community came together. Seeing the power of community at that young age impacted her and it’s something she’s dedicated to carrying on – no matter how big or small her interactions are with people.

“I genuinely love the mission growth aspect of my job,” Craig told Journal Record. “There is real beauty in connecting people’s calling to give to a mission they care deeply about whether that be through their time, talents, or treasure. The work we do in foster care is a biblical calling and being a vessel for people to serve the Lord by caring for the vulnerable is incredibly special. I’ve worked in the nonprofit space for over 25 years, and what I’ve been shown repeatedly is – people genuinely want to make a difference. They just need to know when, where and how.”

Craig says that since the pandemic, the state of Oklahoma has seen a reduction in the number of families opening their homes to foster children, but the need for homes continues to grow. Meeting this need is her primary goal for the foreseeable future and in 2026, she and her team will launch a four-year strategic plan focused on growing existing programming. Partnerships with companies and volunteers have also been crucial to the success of Anna’s House Foundation, and Craig is looking forward to furthering those partnerships so a positive impact can still be made.

“This mission is important to so many people who can’t open their home at this time,” she explained. “We simply want to be a vessel to bridge those two things together.”

Looking ahead, Craig will continue to set the stage for growth at Anna’s House Foundation.

“I’ve had very good leadership demonstrate to me the power of connectivity and curiosity. I think those two things have provided me with so much growth that I’ve in turn been able to share with my team. There is real risk when you operate in a scarcity mindset and I’ve seen some of that in the nonprofit space; but I have served long enough to see there will be plenty – especially when we love, encourage, and support each other.”