As the chief administrative officer (CAO) and corporate secretary, Nicole Howe Buggs serves as the liaison to the board of trustees and helps ensure the effective governance of the foundation. She oversees grantmaking operations and compliance for an annual portfolio of approximately 300 domestic and international grants, consisting of more than $150 million in philanthropic funding. Buggs also supports the mission, objectives, and priorities of the Corporation by leading and managing information technology and office services.
Buggs joined the Corporation in 2011 to oversee grants management. In that role, she devised multiyear strategic plans and drove the implementation of digital platforms for online access to records and other resources. She also overhauled the Corporation’s grantmaking processes by introducing a searchable, cloud-based grants management system that facilitated communication with grantees and streamlined processes for applications and record keeping.
Prior to joining the Corporation, Buggs served as director of grants management at the Public Welfare Foundation, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, and the Healthcare Georgia Foundation. During her career, Buggs has presented grantmaking sessions at national and regional conferences and meetings, managed an employee-directed giving program, and served on grant review and employee volunteer committees.
Buggs serves on the board of trustees for the Tenement Museum, and Philanthropy New York. She received her BA and MA from George Washington University.
