Katherine M. Ayson, whose career has centered on building community partnerships and fundraising for mission-driven nonprofits, has been named chief development officer of the Falmouth Housing Trust, as the organization works to keep moderate-income families and the local workforce living in town.

Ayson officially began the position this week following a two-month transition period with her predecessor, Karen L. Bissonnette, who retired at the end of December.

In her new role, Ayson will oversee fundraising, donor engagement and community outreach efforts that support the Trust’s mission to create and preserve affordable homeownership opportunities in Falmouth.

Founded to address the growing gap between market-rate housing and what many working families can afford, the Falmouth Housing Trust develops new homes and purchases existing properties to resell at affordable prices with the support of town funding and private philanthropy.

“I feel like my goal in the next year is to really maintain the value of the donors that we already have; the people that are involved and have really made the projects that we’ve already done possible,” Ayson said. “But then expand that foundation of donors to include more small business owners and more young students and families.”

chief development officer of the FHT