Nicholas is the Executive Director of the Better Way Foundation, bringing 20 years of experience in business, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. His career has focused on leading complex strategies and building relationships to advance organizational missions.

At Better Way, Nicholas leads an ambitious transformation of the foundation’s philanthropic and investment strategies. The foundation now directs 100% of its grantmaking to support Indigenous communities, and has shifted 40% of its assets to impact investments, with a goal of moving the entire portfolio into mission-aligned impact over time.

Before joining Better Way, Nicholas served as Chief of Staff for Great MN Schools, a venture philanthropy network dedicated to improving K–12 education. There, he played a key role in incubating the initiative at The Minneapolis Foundation, driving strategic priorities, financial and operational management, policy, and coalition development.

Previously, as Director of New Sites & Expansion for 50CAN, Nicholas worked at the intersection of philanthropy and community engagement to launch state organizations focused on advancing equity in PreK–12 education. He also served as Deputy Director for MinnCAN, where he was a founding Executive Committee member of MinneMinds, a statewide PreK scholarship campaign that expanded access to high-quality early education for thousands of low-income children. He began his career as a Senior Account Executive in Investor Relations at Padilla.

Nicholas serves on the boards of the Francesco Collaborative, the Friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network, and World Savvy Midwest. He holds a master’s degree in Public Communication and bachelor’s degrees in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University. He lives in Mendota Heights, Minn., with his wife and three children, and frequently visits the state’s Arrowhead region, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. An avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys races, century rides, and exploring the outdoors in his free time.