Photography by Amani Sodiq
Cameron Hernholm was on the debate team in high school. She studied political science. She was even preparing for law school.
Her future was set, and her resume reflected it.
She always knew she would pursue a career in politics or law. That was always the plan, and when her mind is set on something, there’s no changing it.
It wasn’t until the senior year of her undergrad in ‘98 that the Lakewood resident would embark on a new journey of nonprofit work. After 21 years filled with professional experience in fundraising and development, the ambitious East Texan from Longview doesn’t regret her path one bit.
“It’s the only profession I’ve had,” she says.” I always tell people I would be really out of luck if I didn’t love what I did or if I had to do something else.”
For two summers as an undergrad at the University of North Texas, Hernholm interned for state treasurer Martha Whitehead in Austin, and in her junior year, she interned for Congresswoman Kay Granger. Working alongside these women played a pivotal role in her life, but it wasn’t until she began working at Interfaith Denton that she caught a glimpse of a promising future.
At the time of her starting at Interfaith Denton in 1998 — a nonprofit which provides basic need assistance — the organization didn’t have a fundraising person, not until Hernholm walked in at least. So she began doing small things like working on grants, annual appeal letters and donor records.
“It was literally there. I was like, ‘Wait, this is the part of public service I want to do, (philanthropy and fundraising work)’ and working at the fundraising firm just solidified that for me,” she says.
Hernholm attended graduate school at Georgia State University for a master’s degree in public administration/nonprofit administration, where she did a practicum internship with a large fundraising firm in Atlanta reporting to Del Martin, former chairman and founding partner of the Alexander Haas Martin & Partners.
Now that she had found her passion, she says it was time to return to Texas. Hernholm took a job as director of development and public relations at CC Young, and in 2009 she moved to the Junius Heights neighborhood.
In 2017, Hernholm became licensed as a single foster mom in Texas, working with the foster care system. It was during this period that she collaborated with a former consultant from Nexus who asked her to discuss the organization’s philanthropic strategy in light of its new 2020 strategic plan. She came on board as a consultant, and soon they offered her a job.
Joining Nexus, a 53-year-old nonprofit organization specializing in recovery treatment for women facing substance abuse and addiction, was a dream come true, she says. Although she had imagined herself in the courtroom arguing a case, her role at Nexus involves fundraising, development, marketing and public relations. Hernholm and her team of five raise annual operating funds and are leading an $86 million capital campaign aimed at transforming the Nexus campus by 2031.
From an early age, she has been a go-getter, and much of her motivation comes from a desire to help others by leveraging the blessings and opportunities she’s received.
“If you are given gifts, you absolutely owe it to other people to use your gifts, whatever they may be, and to help others,” she says.
In 2019, Hernholm adopted her daughter and closed her foster license, starting a new chapter of life. Many of the things she has experienced in foster care and as a mother have prepared her to translate such skills and empathy when working with families who come into Nexus.
She will still participate in the Lakewood Service League and the Lakewood Women in Business organization and work towards her goal of raising $86 million for Nexus Center.
“I’ve always wanted to do what I do and I don’t see myself doing anything different,” she says. “I truly love what I do for a living, I’ve never wanted to do anything else.”
