The Guardian has announced the appointment of Nicole Kotzen as senior vice president for development and executive director of theguardian.org. She joins the Guardian from Friends of the High Line, where she served as the senior director of individual giving and board relations. Kotzen comes to the Guardian with over a dozen years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, with a track record of building impactful partnerships that advance key institutional priorities and growth opportunities. Her background includes work for StoryCorps and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Kotzen starts today.
In her SVP role, the Guardian says Kotzen will lead a New York and London-based team that grows foundation and philanthropic support for independent Guardian journalism and global editorial projects. These include projects such as the Guardian's dedicated and long-running coverage of global development focused on poverty, global health, gender equality, the future of global aid, democracy, human rights, environment, climate change and biodiversity, among other pressing issues. A full list of the Guardian’s philanthropically supported projects is here.
Additionally, the Guardian says Kotzen will lead the work of theguardian.org as executive director, and develop and maintain the board of directors. Theguardian.org is a nonprofit organization with the mission to advance public discourse and citizen participation around the most pressing issues of our time through the support of journalistic projects at the Guardian and independent journalism.
Kotzen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College and is a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Fellow.
Nicole Kotzen, senior vice president for development and executive director of theguardian.org said: “What we need right now is the truth – told with courage and empathy – that knits together a global perspective on the most pressing issues of our time. As a longtime reader of the Guardian, their fearless, independent journalism has helped me make sense of the world in these complicated times. I look forward to working with the talented team at the Guardian, and the philanthropic community, to ensure that anyone, anywhere in the world can benefit from the Guardian's award-winning reporting, all free of charge.”
Asha Curran, chair, theguardian.org said: “In a time of rising polarization and declining trust, independent media like the Guardian play a vital role in providing space for truth, nuance, and investigation. Innovation in how we support that role isn’t optional—it’s essential. I’m so looking forward to working with Nicole as she helps shape what that future can look like.”
Steve Sachs, managing director, US, the Guardian said: “The global editorial projects funded by the Guardian’s philanthropy - touching on poverty, the future of democracy in America, the climate crisis, the safety of drinking water, and more - have never felt more important. And with increasing threats to the news industry, philanthropic funding is an even more critical resource for us and our peers. Nicole has the experience and vision to sustain our existing relationships and find new partners that align with our values and mission: providing world-class journalism without a paywall, free from corporate or political influence. I look forward to working with her.”
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