Niki Kinkade has nearly two decades of experience in leadership roles within nonprofit organizations, with a focus on securing resources to support innovative and transformative missions. She is deeply committed to the nonprofit sector’s ability to enrich individuals and communities and has a strong understanding of the importance of best practices and relationship-building in driving successful philanthropic initiatives. Niki’s expertise spans all areas of nonprofit management, with a particular emphasis on fundraising from individual donors (including high-net-worth individuals and major gifts ranging from four to seven figures), capital campaigns, federal and regional grants, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, fundraising events, and annual fund programs. Throughout her career, she has raised more than $15 million, driving organizational growth and long-term sustainability for the nonprofits she led.

Niki began her career as the executive director of the renowned Great American Brass Band Festival, where she developed a new strategy to expand the festival’s national reach and make it a major economic driver for the Bluegrass region. She introduced new programs and partnerships, including a visual arts festival, and successfully grew the festival to attract 30,000 attendees. Niki doubled the festival’s budget, implemented a robust fundraising plan, secured national corporate partners, and managed a team of 100 volunteers and contractors.

After her tenure at the Brass Band Festival, Niki became the executive director of the Art Center of the Bluegrass (formerly the Community Arts Center), where she led a transformative rebranding and restructuring initiative that brought the Art Center regional, state, and national recognition. Under her leadership, the organization tripled its budget and launched a successful $4 million capital campaign, and she crafted a comprehensive fundraising strategy that encompassed an annual fund, planned giving, the creation of an endowment, grants, and corporate sponsorships. Niki built strong partnerships with local and state governments, schools, and national and regional corporations. She also spearheaded the renovation and restoration of a second historic building and was instrumental in the creation of the Glass National Art Museum, transforming the organization from a community art center into a nationally recognized institution.

Niki also contributed to The Bascom, A Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands, North Carolina, where she prepared the organization for a multi-million dollar capital campaign. She collaborated with architects and contractors to develop expansion plans, professionalized internal systems and policies, and strategized development plans. She successfully grew the organization’s budget to more than $2 million while developing new, effective fundraising strategies.   

In addition to her work in nonprofit leadership, Niki serves on various boards and committees, including the Kentucky Nonprofit Network, Kentuckians for the Arts, and the Boyle Landmark Trust. Outside of her professional commitments, Niki enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, embracing their shared love of art, travel, food, nature, and music.