A Multicultural Upbringing

Cynthia’s career has been formed by diversity, endless curiosity, and a drive for excellence.  As a Peruvian American who grew up in a bi-national family, her multicultural upbringing nurtured a profound understanding of the power of inclusivity.  Her mother emigrated to the U.S., becoming an American citizen when Cynthia was six. with her family eventually  sponsoring other relatives in their emigration journey.  She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Santa Clara University whose Jesuit emphasis on service fuelled her deep interest in governance as a mechanism for positive change. 

In the U.S. Senate, where Cynthia worked as a legislative aide, she honed her skills in policy, collaboration, and how to communicate change clearly.  She went on to hold pioneering roles within the New Media sector, including at the first-ever online network for women, showcasing her ability to harness the internet to connect millions. 

Guided by her passion for strengthening women's voice and representation, Cynthia shifted to the philanthropic sector, becoming an executive leader for a global network uniting over 100 organizations investing millions of dollars in systems change and advocacy for gender equality.

Left to Right: Cynthia Nimmo, Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland), and Aimee Allison (CEO, She the People)

Guiding Organizations Towards Lasting Impact

Steering the helm as President and CEO of the Women’s Funding Network (WFN) for an eventful six-year tenure, Cynthia Nimmo orchestrated immense strides. Her leadership propelled the expansion of WFN's membership to gender equity funders across sectors while igniting a dynamic surge in its social media following from 3,000 to 90,000. Pioneering a blueprint for cross-state collaborations, Cynthia's vision spawned a model replicated for transformation, birthing two innovative digital platforms for sharing data and narratives. These platforms elevated women-led solutions for social change, connecting community members to funders and policymakers.

Cynthia’s expertise spans strategy, external communications, board development, and national network leadership. Her role in developing a widely used social change measurement tool and leading workshops on it around the world underscores her commitment to driving impact. Serving on multiple Boards of Directors, she brings deep knowledge and thoughtfulness to her advisory role.

H E A R I T F R O M T H E P E O P L E W E W O R K E D W I T H

  • “We were growing quickly and experiencing the challenges that most organizations do when growth necessitates the institution of more disciplined management practices. Cynthia recognized this coming in the door and with her experience was able to prepare the organization to better manage the change it was experiencing.”

    Mark Gunther, Board Chair, Alliance for Girls

  • “If there is a distinctive style of female leadership, Cynthia epitomizes it. She is an empathetic, thoughtful and imaginative leader with decades of on the ground experience working in collaborative, multi-organizational settings”

    Board Chair