Nina Graham, Philanthropic Advisor, is honored to work with incredibly generous people who want to make their community a better place for all. She has admired the Foundation’s work since she was a grantseeker earlier in her career. It’s important to her to work for an organization whose mission guides all facets of the job. In her short time at the Foundation, she has been impressed by the talent, dedication, and integrity of its staff.

Before joining the Foundation, Nina held fundraising positions at some of the Twin Cities’ leading cultural organizations. Those roles included Grants and Institutional Support Manager at The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Director of Institutional Giving at the Guthrie Theater, and Director of Development at The Great Northern Festival. She also spent two years managing a workplace giving program at the Regional Arts & Culture Council in Portland, OR. Her 15 years of experience gave her a deep knowledge of the state’s nonprofit ecosystem. Prior to her fundraising career, she was a newspaper reporter for outlets including the Voice of San Diego, Star Tribune (Washington, D.C. bureau), and the Duluth News Tribune. Nina’s experience as a reporter honed her curiosity and eye for detail.

Nina holds a dual degree in French and Print Journalism from the University of Minnesota. A few years after graduating, she spent a year teaching English at a high school in a very small town in Burgundy (best known for its annual snail festival) and received an extensive education in wine and cheese. Outside of work, Nina enjoys a variety of hobbies. She has been knitting for the last 20 years and sewing for the last 10. She likes to dabble in all manner of fiber arts, from felting to macrame to embroidery. She recently took up canning and preserving and has a goal of winning a ribbon at this year’s county fair for her delicious and unique jams. When Nina’s not indulging her creative whims, she plays mah jong weekly with a group of moms at her temple. Nina has three young kids (aged 3.5, 6, and 8) who keep her extremely busy. They love to cuddle, conduct science experiments, do art projects, and play board games.