(BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ) -- Wharton Arts, New Jersey’s largest non-profit community performing arts education center, has announced the appointment of Nicole Oehler as its new Director of Development, effective April 10, 2024.
Said Executive Director Gina Caruso, “I’m delighted to announce that Nicole Oehler will be joining us as our new Director of Development. With her experience, integrity, and positive energy, Nicole is poised to make a significant impact on our organization. Her commitment to non-profit initiatives benefiting children, families, and individuals of all ages, and her strong ties to the New Providence community, make her an invaluable addition to our team. We eagerly anticipate the contributions she’ll make as we continue our mission to foster an inclusive, supportive community, where every member of Wharton Arts embraces and celebrates the unique learning styles and gifts of each individual.”
Oehler, a lifelong resident of New Jersey, grew up in New Providence, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Drew University. After a career in pharmaceutical advertising, she pivoted to the non-profit sector seeking connection with beneficiaries and donors. She has worked for America’s Grow-a-Row in programming and development and more recently for Self Help Africa, where she focused on fundraising, events management, and business development. In her spare time, she loves to hike, spend time with her family, and spoil her dog.
Oehler will assume a pivotal role in executing the organization’s long term strategic plan in the realm of Development, collaborating closely with the Board of Trustees and the Executive Director to identify and engage new major donors crucial to the organization’s growth. Working alongside the Executive Director, the Development Committee, and as lead of the Development team, she will spearhead a targeted individual giving campaign encompassing major gifts, prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. In pursuit of these objectives, Oehler will establish and uphold an extensive 12-month events calendar, overseeing key fundraisers, such as the annual Gala and other special events.
Wharton Arts’ mission is to offer accessible, high quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities.
Wharton Arts’ vision is for a transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community to be accessible for everyone.
Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center serving nearly 2,000 students through a range of classes and ensembles. The 5 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, encourage a love and appreciation of choral music while nurturing personal growth and creative development. The 15 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, which serve nearly 600 students in grades 3–12 by audition, inspire young people to achieve musical excellence through high-level ensemble training and performance opportunities. Based in Paterson, the Paterson Music Project is an El Sistema-inspired program of Wharton Arts that uses music education as a vehicle for social action by empowering and inspiring young people to achieve their full potential through the community experience of ensemble learning and playing. From Pathways classes for young children to Lifelong Learning programs for adults, the Wharton Performing Arts School has a robust musical theater and drama program and offers both private and group classes for instruments and voice for all ages and all abilities. With the belief in the positive and unifying influence of music and that performing arts education should be accessible to all people regardless of their ability to pay, Wharton Arts offers need-based scholarships.
Wharton Arts is located in Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Paterson, NJ and reaches students from 12 counties. All of Wharton Arts’ extraordinary teaching artists, faculty members, and conductors hold degrees in their teaching specialty and have been vetted and trained to enable our students to achieve their personal best.
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