Nicole Bergeron

A native of the San Francisco Peninsula, Nicole has been engaged in social impact work for decades. Nicole is a respected leader in the political, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors with a focus on education reform.

Nicole was a co-founder of Lighthouse Philanthropy and the Founding President of Westly Foundation. She’s served as Executive Director of the Democratic Forum of Silicon Valley and Mid-Peninsula Citizens for Fair Housing. 
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She and her husband, Ted, have three daughters.

Leadership
​Positions
Nicole has served on multiple boards at the local, state and national level. She was recently elected President of the San Carlos School District. In addition, she advises early stage entrepreneurs on building philanthropy into the DNA of their start-up.

Education
BA, University of California at Davis
MPP, University of California at Berkeley
JD, University of California at Hastings
21/64 Certified Consultant
​First Cohort of Exponent Philanthropy’s Coaching for Effective Philanthropy

Awards
Nicole is the recipient of both the Jesse Marvin Unruh California State Assembly Fellowship and the Tony Patiño Fellowship—both of which recognize people of character and capability who are committed to public service.

Guiding Philosophy
God calls us to give to others because it will not just help others but it will help ourselves. God wants a cheerful giver who gives with humility - and not for recognition. The actual Greek word Paul used in 2 Corinthians for giving is hilarion or hilaros. That’s right! God wants us to give so joyfully that it's hilarious...imagine that!

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 –  "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."

Proverbs 21:26 – "The righteous gives and does not hold back."

James 2:15-16 – "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?"