Nicole Sexton was named the President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) in 2017. EIF was established in 1942 to unify Hollywood’s generous giving to maximize the amount of charitable dollars raised annually, and guarantee that worthy charities receive these contributions. As President and CEO Nicole is responsible for day-to-day operations and for developing strategies and plans ensuring their alignment the with short-term and long-term objectives of the organization.
Prior to joining EIF, Nicole was Chief of Staff of the Central Park Conservancy. At the Conservancy Nicole was responsible for the development and stewardship of strategic projects as directed by the President and CEO of the Conservancy. Under Nicole’s leadership, the Conservancy implemented many corporate wide initiatives for the organization focused on organizational restructuring and long-range planning. She led the search for several key hires and was instrumental in developing significant relationships with other parks groups around the world. In 2010 Nicole helped to establish the FEED Foundation as its first Executive Officer and she has remained on the Board. As of 2018, the FEED Foundation, in partnership with FEED Projects, has provided over 100 million free, nutritious school meals to kids around the globe.
Nicole spent 10 years in Washington, DC where she was the Executive Outreach Director for DATA and ONE, the grassroots campaign and advocacy organization committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease. At ONE, Nicole managed the organization’s grassroots/VIP relationships. Nicole was the architect of the ONE VOTE 08 campaign which included sending a bipartisan delegation of legislators and their staffs to Rwanda, a trip that led to a renewed commitment by both parties to increase foreign investment in the developing world. In 2008 she wrote her first novel Party Favors, a deliciously witty peek into the secretive world of political fundraising in D.C.
Nicole was the 2013 Chairman of the Rita Hayworth Alzheimer’s Committee under Princess Yasmin Aga Khan and served in the role of Vice-Chair in 2014. The committee raises funds for the National Alzheimer’s Association by holding an annual Gala in honor of Princess Yasmin’s mother Rita Hayworth. Nicole is a member of the board of advisors of the Eastern Congo Initiative. She is a Same Sky Ambassador and has been a member of the Women’s Leadership Board of Harvard University. In 2015 Nicole had the distinct honor of being recognized as the Civilian Honoree at the prestigious Red, White and Blue Luncheon supporting The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club which has been serving servicemen and servicewomen, military retirees and veterans and their families visiting New York City since 1919. She graduated with a B.A. from Southern Methodist University and has completed graduate studies in Art History at Georgetown University as well graduate studies in Public Policy at Yale University.