Scott Nielsen, Ph.D., Board Chair

Scott Nielsen, Ph.D., is a Managing Director at Arabella Advisors, an international donor services firm.  He leads Arabella’s advocacy team in helping foundation, family and individual clients use their resources to effectively pursue social and political goals.  Prior to joining Arabella, Scott co-founded Alexander Nielsen Consulting, a philanthropic strategy firm, and for 13 years was a program officer at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.  Scott has written widely on philanthropy and the independent sector and has served as a board member to several national nonprofits, including State Voices, Funders Committee for Civic Participation, Boston Review and the Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Scott holds an MA and a PhD from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and a BA from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.