Jocelyn Nickerson, MPA

Nebraska State Director, The Humane Society of the United States

Jocelyn Nickerson is a forward-focused nonprofit development professional with extensive experience in grant writing and donor advancement. An accomplished writer and graphic designer, she has raised over $775,000 in private grant funding, over $3M via direct mail and donor care programs, and over $4M in estate planning revenue. Her wide-ranging writing and design background includes drafting press releases, proposals, journal articles, brochures, presentations, comprehensive media plans, fact sheets, web materials, static displays and long-term, sustaining grants. Jocelyn graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) with a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation and Master’s in Public Administration. Her post-graduate work at UNO ensured that NASA-sponsored research teams maintained eligibility for national, multi-million-dollar funding. Since September 2010 she has served as the Nebraska State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, lobbying for animal protection policies at the state and federal level. The lodestar of Jocelyn’s career is her belief in the centrality of clear, impactful communication to the success of non-profit organizations, particularly in the development of donor-focused programs and grant funding opportunities. She has inspired countless nonprofit professionals to practice mindful resource stewardship and creative frugality.