Fraser Nelson has held positions of leadership in the public sector for 25 years. She has founded and led small grassroots organizations, large nonprofits and state agencies and has a deep understanding of the role these different elements of the public sector play in improving civic welfare.
Politics
Fraser began her work with nonprofits and government as an intern with Congress and the National Women’s Political Caucus while at Duke University. After graduating, she served on the campaign staffs of Mario Cuomo in his successful run for Governor and Governor Jim Hunt in his unsuccessful bid to unseat Jesse Helms in the infamous North Carolina Senate race in 1984. She then lobbied for reproductive rights in the North Carolina General Assembly for Planned Parenthood and the North Carolina Coalition for Choice.
AIDS
In the very early days of the AIDS epidemic, Fraser established a coalition of six volunteer-based AIDS service organizations to care for those with AIDS in rural Appalachia. These ‘buddy programs’ provided education, outreach and in-home hospice care at a time when few health care providers would treat those infected. She later established Minnesota’s AIDS service delivery system, and drafted strategic plans for AIDS housing for municipalities across the United States.
The Disability Law Center and “and Justice for all”
Fraser is best known in Utah for her work with the Disability Law Center, where she served as Executive Director for ten years. Under her leadership the DLC was recognized nationally as a highly effective and strategic organization and developed a strong presence in the Utah State Legislature. Her development experience includes helping create the “and Justice for all” campaign, which raises $500,000 annually to support the state’s civil legal organizations and a $3.5 million dollar capital campaign to create the Community Legal Center. This building houses Utah’s free civil legal service providers and is the only project of its kind in the nation.
Consulting and teaching
Fraser has a long history of working with boards and executives to improve their organizational performance. Her consulting activities in Utah and across the nation includes organizational development, multi-year strategic plans, needs assessments, restructuring operations and programs, creating achievable fundraising plans and coaching executives.
Fraser also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Utah in the David Eccles School of Business and the Department of Continuing Education. She is a published author and presents frequently at state and national conferences on leadership, strategic planning and development.
Venture capital and philanthropy
Together with Greg Warnock, a leading Utah venture capitalist, Fraser is the founding Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Utah (www.utahcf.org). She is also helping to establish a private equity fund focused on women-centered commerce.
Education and recognition
In recognition of her role in the advancement of civil rights in Utah, Fraser has been honored with the Pete Suazo Social Justice Individual Advocacy and the Chelsea Hale Innovative Community Leadership awards, and as the Utah State Bar Citizen of the Year.
Fraser holds degrees in History and Political Science from Duke University; a Master’s in Human Development from St. Mary’s University and was a Social Innovation Fellow at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Center for Social Innovation.
Fraser serves as the Chair of the Utah Nonprofits Association and the Vice Chair of the Utah Health Policy Project, and is a member of the Community Advisory Board o fthe Sharing Place.