As the president and CEO, Tom Nelson oversees both the long-term strategy and the day-to-day management of the organization, including working with the executive and senior teams to develop and implement our plan for strategic growth, particularly for the No Kid Hungry campaign.
Prior to joining Share Our Strength in 2011, Tom was chief operating officer for AARP, where he led the build-out of its state strategy in all 53 states and territories. He also led the reinvention of the AARP Foundation, which today serves those at risk of falling through our nation’s safety net as they struggle to meet their most basic needs.
Tom has a long history of service to civic organizations, including currently serving as chair of the board of directors of ProInspire, an organization working to build the next generation of nonprofit leaders. He also serves as a board member of Community Wealth Partners, a Share Our Strength organization that helps change agents solve social problems at the magnitude they exist. Tom is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, teaching in the MBA program about nonprofit leadership and management.
Tom earned a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California and holds a Master of Arts from Columbia University.