Nicole Rom Email & Phone Number

Carbondale, Co, Us

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Thought-partner to Founder & CEO Kristi Kimball on strategy, org development, and fundraising as she ramps up revenue generation for the Clean Energy Communities Fund, an innovative and ambitious new philanthropic fund focused on climate mitigation at the community level nationwide.The Clean Energy Communities Fund - designed with 100+ community-based partners across the country - will help 1,000 communities reach out via trusted local messengers to millions of residents to build hope, agency and equity by working together to get fossil fuels out of their homes, vehicles and communities. Community grant funding will be paired with significant investments in peer-learning cohorts and technical assistance – on program design and implementation, local policy changes, workforce development, and fundraising – to help make this work in each community successful and sustainable over time.

Climate Voice's mission is to mobilize the voice of the workforce to urge companies to go “all in” on climate, both in business practices and policy advocacy. I serve on the volunteer Advisory Board of Directors.

Provide strategy and management consulting services for innovative startup and high-performing environmental and climate nonprofits. Work includes: executive leadership coaching, organizational development, strategic thought leadership, effective board governance, operational effectiveness, business engagement, philanthropic and grantmaking strategy.Clients include(d): Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES); Clean Energy Communities Fund; Deep Portage Environmental Learning Center; National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation; The Steger Center (Steger Wilderness Center for Innovation and Leadership); Table Forte/Wakan Tipi

Chief executive responsible for over 30-year-old organization dedicated to funding and advocating for the protection of North America’s wild places. Leveraged 270+ business members from the outdoor industry and associate businesses through $2 million in annual grantmaking and advocacy campaigns that support public lands conservation and natural climate solutions. Implemented a turn-around transition, doubled staff, recruited 4 board members, a new Pinnacle ($100K) business member, rebuilt the major donor program (Leading Edge), and set up new systems to integrate equity and increase team effectiveness and impact.Our precedent setting grantmaking and associate advocacy campaigns secured over 11 million acres in expanded or new land and water protections in 2023. We also removed a dam and canceled oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We successfully organized a coalition of more than 30 businesses campaigning to permanently protect up to 3 million acres through the Mobilizing for Monuments Coalition. We welcomed 36 new members across a variety of industries, and organized the first-ever TCA Summit, convening more than 100 member companies around a shared conservation agenda where wild places, wildlife and people thrive together.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

With founder Will Steger, we established and built the Will Steger Foundation in 2006, now Climate Generation. For over 15 years I provided visioning, fundraising, and oversight of its climate change education, youth leadership, and advocacy efforts. Under my leadership, the organization transitioned from a founder start-up to a nationally recognized nonprofit with $2 million in annual revenue, over 15 employees, and thousands of educators, communities and youth leaders engaged in climate change solutions. I worked directly with our 14-member Board of Directors and built the 40+ professional Advisory Board. I was the chief fundraiser, responsible for raising and managing the organization's annual budget. Secured corporate sponsorship, major individual, foundation and government support. We convened community leaders, experts, and philanthropists on a range of topics, resulting in deeper engagement in equitable climate solutions.Our winning advocacy campaigns aimed at state venues resulted in advancing renewable energy standards, clean energy goals and transportation initiatives. We positioned Minnesota as a national leader for economy-wide greenhouse gas emission reductions.Furthermore, Climate Generation became a leading youth organization in Minnesota and climate change education organization nationally, earning recognition from Environmental Initiative, the Obama White House, and presentations at the Global Climate Action Summit and United Nations climate conferences. We advanced DEI efforts at the organizational, programmatic, and individual level, implementing an Equity Strategic Action Plan and recent efforts to center equity and climate justice.While leading Climate Generation, I was recognized by Energy News Network as a 40 Under 40 Clean Energy Leader and Women in Energy by the MN Clean Energy Resource Teams. Our work has been featured in a range of outlets: New York Times, Associated Press, MinnPost, Star Tribune, MPR, and NPR.

Midwest

Served on the Executive Committee and as an at-large Steering Committee member guiding the RE-AMP network of 175+ nonprofits and foundations across eight Midwestern states working on climate change and energy policy with the goal of equitable decarbonization, reducing global warming pollution economy-wide 80% by 2050. Joined the Action Fund Committee in January 2016 to help evaluate and distribute $1.5 million in annual grants across the network.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Taught graduate level course on communicating climate change in the classroom.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Managed NWF's Education Program for the Great Lakes Region based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Implemented local and regional Schoolyard Habitat Initiatives and Community and Backyard Habitat Programs with school districts, NWF affiliates and community partners. Managed NWF's Earth Tomorrow Program, an urban environmental leadership program for high school students in Detroit and Milwaukee. Co-leader for NWF's Family Summits Teen Program from 2004-2005.

Talgar, Kazakhstan

Environmental educator in an elementary, middle and high school; taught environmental classes to 5th-11th grades and assisted with local NGO capacity-building. Certified trainer in GLOBE, Project WET, WILD and Learning Tree. Executed two environmental English summer camps and secured funding from USAID and corporate sponsors for Girls Outdoor Adventure and Leadership Camp. With in country Peace Corps staff, oversaw Small Program Assistance grant program, distributing $100,000 annually for Peace Corps Volunteers.

Master Of Science - Ms, Environmental Policy, Communication And Education

Activities and Societies: International Environmental Student Group (PEAG); Environmental Psychology Lab; Graduate Student Instructor.

Public Policy Fellow

Selected for mid career public policy and leadership development program which included direct engagement with local, state, and national.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Environmental Studies, Education

Activities and Societies: Bates Outing Club Officer (Secretary) and Member Co-Director Annual Entering Student Outdoor Program Coxswain.

Study Abroad, Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, And Swahili

Semester in Tanzania