Nichol McKenzie-Whiteman

With a relentless dedication to improving communities in neighborhoods that need help the most, Nichol McKenzie-Whiteman serves as Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF). An equity-focused leader, Nichol guides LADF in tackling the most pressing problems facing Los Angeles with a mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos. Since relaunching the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation in 2013 with a $600,000 budget, she has increased the budget by 2900%, raised over $200 million, invested $76 million in community initiatives, impacted 11 million youth, and achieved 35 billion media impressions. She expanded the foundation from one employee to over 19 full-time staff and 70 part-time staff, driving improvements in education, healthcare, homelessness, and social justice in Los Angeles. Whiteman’s strategic collaborations have established a global benchmark for using professional sports to create measurable community change.

Nichol is dedicated to addressing the city's complex challenges so that ZIP codes do not determine people's opportunities. As the child of Jamaican immigrants who came to the U.S. "in search of a dream" and as a first-generation college graduate, Nichol identifies with the community she serves. She works hard to close gaps in access while highlighting LADF’s appreciation for Los Angeles and its commitment to supporting young people and their families with resources and opportunities.

Nichol utilizes the Dodger brand to support and elevate the voices of marginalized groups. By focusing on community infrastructure, sports-based youth development, leadership and capacity building, equity-driven grantmaking, strategic community engagement, and knowledge sharing, Nichol has established a network of community partners dedicated to advocating for equitable resources for all youth.  

Under Nichol’s leadership, LADF has introduced its flagship program, Dodgers Dreamteam, which serves more than 17,000 youth annually. Additional initiatives include the inaugural LADF Scholarship, College & Career Accelerator, Science of Baseball Initiative, LA Reads program, among others. The foundation has completed its 68th Dodgers Dreamfield, established a multi-million-dollar benefit gala, and distributed over 11.4 million meals. These comprehensive efforts continue to positively impact the Los Angeles community through strategic partnerships with public and private entities, including governmental bodies, globally recognized corporate brands, and private donors.  

Nichol earned an Economics degree from Spelman College and worked in investment management and publishing before joining the Jackie Robinson Foundation as VP, Western Region. As a Black woman in Major League Baseball, she promotes access and creates opportunities for youth of diverse backgrounds. She also mentors professionals throughout their careers. In 2021, she became a Fellow at USC’s Center for the Political Future, where she taught civil dialogue and addressed important global issues. 

The New York native has garnered widespread recognition in the industry for her remarkable achievements. She has been honored as a 2026 Black Woman in Entertainment Honoree, a 2026 PlayMakeHer honoree, and was named a 2025 Nonprofit Executive of the Year Finalist by the Los Angeles Business Journal, as well as receiving the California Women’s Law Center Pursuit of Justice Award. Her accolades include the California Black Women's Trailblazer Hall of Fame Legacy Award, the 2024 National Foster Youth Institute’s Champion of Children and Youth Award, and the Woman of Excellence Award from the LadyLike Foundation. In 2023, Nichol was awarded the Woman of Inspiration Award by Women In Sports Entertainment (WISE), the Community Impact Award from the Langston Bar Association, the YMCA Brotherhood Award, the Benjamin E. Mays Award from A Better Chance, the Up2Us Sports Legacy Award, and was recognized as a finalist for CEO of the Year by the Los Angeles Times. In 2020, she received the National Medical Fellowship Leadership in Philanthropy Award, the Visionary Award from Southern California Leadership Network, and the MOSTe Motivating Our Students Through Leadership Experience Lantern Award, among numerous others. Her earlier honors include the Sports Business Journal Game Changers Award and the Anti-Defamation League's Deborah Award in 2018, Ebony Magazine's Woman Up Award, and The Pink Tea Rose Foundation's Progressive Leadership Award in 2017. Her work and impact have been highlighted by notable media outlets such as the New York Times, Forbes Magazine, and the LA Times.

Thanks to Nichol’s steadfast commitment, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has earned an ESPY award. In 2020, it was honored as ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for its outstanding charitable work as the team's official foundation. Under Nichol's leadership, LADF has also been recognized with several other awards, including the Aspen Institute 2020 Project Play Champion, the 2020 Beyond Sport Award for Reducing Racial Inequalities, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2021 Sports Award, and the 2022 Liberty Hill Visionary Award. 

With a firm belief that each person has the power to positively impact a life, Nichol's journey continues to be full of inspiration and hope as she fights for young people to realize their dreams. She resides in Los Angeles with her two sons, Timothy Jr. and Nicholas.