Who We Help
-
Grant strategy, planning, board development, and program evaluation
-
Grant research, growth planning, and operations support
-
Public funding, workforce partnerships, and program evaluation
Messaging, fundraising, policy research, and candidate coaching
Over 15 years of experience
Nicole Hefty is a two-time alumna of Western Michigan University with a BA in Writing and a Master of Public Administration. She found her passion for public service while working with survivors of DV/SA, advocating for their housing and economic self-sufficiency. This led to her deep curiosity for policy, data analytics, and systems research—giving her the ability to craft a proposal for just about any department, project, or budget today.
Nicole believes in the power of “paying it forward,” teaching classes and mentoring nonprofit and municipal hopefuls at her alma mater since 2016. Nicole was named as a 2023 Crain’s Notable Leader in Fundraising for her PEACE (Park Equity and Access for Citizen Engagement) Project, a $30+ Million parks project for the City of Dearborn. By commingling data with the stories of those served by funding efforts, she has been able to successfully win grants on the county, state, and federal levels. A member of Harvard's selective Executives in State and Local Government (2024), her secret weapon is an avid curiosity and willingness to get her hands dirty.
PEACE Project
The PEACE Project (Parks Equity and Access for Citizen Engagement) was a $32 million public works and parks initiative created and led by Nicole Hefty. Designed to revitalize urban green spaces, the project prioritized equitable park access and infrastructure improvements across the city. More than a beautification effort, PEACE was a blueprint for civic renewal—melding community engagement, strategic budgeting, and placemaking to unite neighborhoods and drive long-term public value.