Nicole Rodriguez Leach

Nicole serves as Grantmakers for Education’s executive director. In this role, she leads the organization’s strategy and operations to advance the organization’s vision, mission and guiding principles. She partners closely with the board of directors, funders, and partners across the education and philanthropy ecosystems to address foundational inequities in education, inspire creative thinking in education philanthropy, support collective action and advance positive change to better meet learners’ needs.

Over Nicole’s career, she has seeded and strengthened education sites and systems to foster thriving communities with and for children, youth and families. She has held positions in K-12 and postsecondary classrooms, in community-based and other nonprofit organizations and in the private sector. Her research focuses on education policy, restorative philanthropy, civic engagement and justice in public administration.

In philanthropy, Nicole served as vice president and head of education with Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and as a program officer with the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation. Her leadership in the sector extended to chairing donor collaboratives, advising giving organizations and curating learning programs through partnerships with local funding networks. Her grantmaking intricately and purposefully supported programs, policies and partnerships that promote the public promise of education in a multiracial democracy.

Nicole earned a bachelor’s degree in socio-cultural anthropology from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in urban policy analysis and management from The New School. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at The Ohio State University.