Nicole Suydam
Meet our new CEO
Nicole Suydam is a non-profit executive with more than 16 years of management and leadership experience working with local and national organizations dedicated to meeting human service needs. During her career, she has developed an expertise in fundraising, strategic planning, board development and organizational management.
Nicole most recently worked as Vice President of Development for Goodwill of Orange County from 2003 to 2012. While at Goodwill, the largest social service organization in Orange County, Nicole served on the Senior Leadership Team that managed more than 1,000 employees and a $70 million annual operating budget. In her role, Nicole expanded charitable giving and developed new strategies for donated goods acquisition, business development and community partnerships. One of her most significant accomplishments was completing the organization’s first capital campaign in 2008, which raised $7 million to build the only specialized fitness center for people with physical disabilities and chronic illness in Orange County.
Nicole returns to the Food Bank where she served as Development Manager from 1997 to 2001. During that time, she directed the organization’s fundraising and communications programs, doubling financial support from individuals, corporations and foundations from $900,000 to $1.8 million. In addition, Nicole managed the organization’s name change, re-branding and public relations campaigns in the late 90’s, which generated a record amount of funds, food and volunteers to support the Food Bank’s mission.
She has also served in management and fundraising roles for the California Republican Party in Burbank, California from 1995 to 1997, and Women in Community Service in Alexandria, Virginia from 2001 to 2002.
In 2005, Nicole was recognized by the Nonprofit Times as one of the nation's "Top 10 Nonprofit Fundraisers Under the Age of 40” and named in 2011 by OC METRO as one of the “40 Under 40” top professionals in Orange County.
Nicole received her B.A. degree in History and Political Science from Vanguard University of Southern California in 1995 and was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 2006. She also earned her certificate in fundraising from the University of California Irvine Extension in 2001 and her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) professional designation in 2004.
As a professional dedicated to the non-profit sector, Nicole is a frequent presenter and panelist at nonprofit industry conferences.
Nicole and her husband Michael live in Aliso Viejo, California with their two daughters Lauren and Hannah.
Check out Nicole's article in the OC Register!