Northwest Area Foundation Announces Next VP Program

A big congratulations to Nikki Foster, who steps into a new leadership role at the Foundation!

When Nikki Foster started as a program officer at the Foundation more than a decade ago, her two kids noticed a change: their mom was smiling a lot more. “They saw the difference,” she recalls. “I’m happiest when I can bring my whole self to helping build an equitable, inclusive society. That’s at the core of Northwest Area Foundation’s mission, and I’m honored to be a part of that.”

Now we’re thrilled to welcome Foster into a new role at the Foundation: Vice President, Program, where her extensive experience, passion, and dedication will continue to inform our work in new ways.

“Nikki brings a great deal of trust capital with our grantee partners, our colleagues internally, and other external partners,” says Kevin Walker, president and CEO. “We’re excited to invite her to take a new level of leadership in our work.”

Building on institutional knowledge, trust, and expertise.

For Foster, building relationships has always been an important part of working toward change that reimagines and restructures the systems that create injustice. And she plans to maintain that focus in her new position: “With this role change, I hope to have opportunities to do that in more and different ways that serve our partners and their communities.”

In her 13 years as a program officer, she’s experienced how the Foundation’s funding approach and strategy have grown and transformed. She steps into this leadership position with a broad understanding of the Foundation’s mission to stand alongside changemakers and advance racial, social, and economic justice.

“Nikki’s expertise, warmth, and empathy are profound assets for the Foundation,” says Joyce Lee, board chair. “She’s adept at building deep relationships with our grantee partners. Plus, she brings a continuity and deep familiarity with the Foundation’s work.”

Collaborating with grantee partners to evolve our funding to meet the moment.

According to Walker, this moment—and the years ahead—will require the Foundation to further evolve its thinking and its funding approach. Foster’s experience, energy, and creative vision will help fuel that work. “Nikki is a creative and strategic thinker,” Walker observes. “She’s uniquely positioned to help the Foundation find the path forward that’s authentic to our mission and in thoughtful partnership with our grantees.”

“We have an opportunity to really build on the past couple of years of enhanced grantmaking,” Foster says. “So, I’m excited to continue asking: How are we showing up for our priority communities? What can we do better?”

Bringing a background in impact-focused work.

Foster’s career started in nonprofits, including a position at the Foundation focused on mission-related investing. Before returning as a program officer in 2013, she worked in financial services serving low-income and underserved communities, at a community development financial institution, and at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, among other organizations.

She holds a master’s degree in applied sociology, with an emphasis on public policy, from American University in Washington, DC. She is also a First Movers Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program.

For more information, contact Paul Bachleitner, communications director, at pbachleitner@nwaf.org.