Nicole Wickenhauser joined the Pacific Institute in 2024 as Director of Development. She is poised to spearhead the Institute’s strategic growth initiatives. Her mission is to craft a dynamic fundraising strategy that will empower the Pacific Institute to realize its ambitious objective of catalyzing the transition to water resilience in the face of climate change by 2030.

A seasoned water fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience in steering revenue growth for water-focused non-profit organizations, Nicole brings a wealth of expertise to her new role. She served at Water.org from 2006 to 2021, assuming progressively challenging leadership positions. Subsequently, she served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Advancement at the Stroud Water Research Center.

Nicole holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a BA in Communications and English Literature from the University of Iowa.