Denise Nelson

Denise, a seasoned fundraising expert, is a longtime advocate in the nonprofit sector with a career spanning 25 years. She is currently the vice president of development at Jumpstart, a national early education organization working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Prior to that, Denise worked at Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), a nonprofit and microlender working to create an inclusive, healthy financial system that supports the nation’s small business owners—especially entrepreneurs of color and women. She also worked at a leading NYC-based advocacy and social service agency FPWA (formerly Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies). Denise led the development efforts for two leading educational organizations, Eagle Academy Foundation and PENCIL, and served as associate vice president of major gifts at United Way of New York City.  

Denise is an alumna of Rutgers University, where she earned her bachelor’s in political science, and has participated in the Harvard University Business School Social Enterprise Program. She currently serves on Facing History’s Los Angeles Advisory Board and was a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals NYC board until 2020. Denise resides in California and aims to stay close to the beach.