Valleywise Health Foundation names Nicole Rivet as its next CEO

AZ Business Leaders

After an extensive search process, Valleywise Health Foundation's Board of Directors announced the selection of Nicole Rivet, M.Ed., CFRE, as the organization's next CEO. With more than 20 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, Nicole most recently served as Chief Development Officer for Phoenix Art Museum.

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"As part of the Museum's senior leadership team during a period of tremendous change and uncertainty, I have witnessed firsthand the critical importance philanthropy plays in making our community stronger. I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to lead an organization dedicated to ensuring that all members of our community receive exceptional care, regardless of their personal circumstances. Raising funds to help train future healthcare professionals and to ensure access to outstanding care has an urgency that is unparalleled as we continue to navigate the longer-term impacts of a global pandemic," said Rivet. "I look forward to building on the Foundation's exponential growth in fundraising and community engagement and love knowing the work we do to support Valleywise Health will ultimately help people live better and longer lives."

A member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) for more than 20 years and a past member of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Rivet has maintained her professional designation as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2011.

She earned a bachelor's degree in art from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. and a master of education degree in English from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.

"We’re delighted to welcome Nicole to Valleywise Health Foundation during this milestone time in Valleywise Health's 145-year history," said Valleywise Health Foundation Board Chair Patti Gentry. "Her extensive experience and passion for advancing community health, advocating for the vulnerable and working with donors to invest in innovative care models, made her an outstanding choice to lead the Foundation's high-performing team."

Her prior experience includes philanthropic consulting in health and human services, public radio, national governing sports bodies, environmental conservation, animal welfare, the arts and international aid.

From 2012 through 2016, Rivet served as Vice President for National Development for Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) National Foundation headquartered in Englewood, Co. where she directed all national fundraising efforts that supported CHI's mission across its 19-state system and advanced its priority initiatives. In that role she collaborated with system-level senior leadership, hospital foundation chief philanthropy officers, service line directors and board members in pursuit of philanthropic investments. Milestones included establishing a named precision medicine endowment, creating an innovation fund, funding virtual ER equipment and telehealth technology, and building partnerships with leading national grantmaking organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Prior roles include serving as Director of Corporate, Foundation and Agency Relations for Colorado College in Colorado Springs, where she directed and managed all corporate, foundation and agency fundraising for more than nine years. Key accomplishments included contributions to the college's "Funding the Vision" campaign that raised $197 million, most notably two $10 million grants and a $3.7 million major gift.

Additional experience includes four years as Director of Foundation Gifts for Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C. where she directed and managed all corporate and foundation fundraising for national and international conservation work, nearly quadrupling annual grant funding during her tenure.

Rivet will assume the role of CEO effective June 26.