Nicole has more than two decades of leadership experience in philanthropy, nonprofits, and fundraising. She has raised over $55 million for nonprofit organizations, designed and managed the strategy for $83 million in grants, and oversaw an additional $890 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. She is a certified philanthropic advisor and has worked with several family foundations, including the Gates Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Nicole served as the Chief Impact Officer at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. She was a member of the C-Suite Executive Team where she co-managed the $2.3B family foundation and worked directly with the family and foundation chair. Nicole started and led the Impact and Operations team to oversee grantmaking strategy, effectiveness, operations, and impact. She also led a grantmaking portfolio that improved college access and outcomes for first-generation college students and developed high-impact leaders of color. Nicole and her team led the organization-wide racial equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy to ensure equitable practices in grantmaking and improve organizational culture.
Nicole was the founder and president of The Expectations Project, the nation’s largest network of faith-motivated public education equity advocates. The nonprofit mobilized more than 49,000 Black and Latino/a constituents who successfully pushed for policy change at the local, state, and national level. Nicole also served as an executive coach for nonprofit CEOs with The Management Center. This built on her work as a member of Teach For America’s senior leadership team, which is a nationwide nonprofit that works to eliminate education inequality.
Nicole received her B.A. from The University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles. Nicole has authored two books and several articles about the intersection of racial equity, advocacy, and justice. She has served on several non-profit and private boards and is deeply committed to empowering communities of color to foster racial and economic justice, liberation, and systemic change.
LinkedIn: Nicole Baker Fulgham