ATLANTA, Ga. (July 20, 2025) The board of directors of Heating Energy Assistance Team, Inc. (HEAT) is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Nichelle Mitchem as executive director. As Georgia’s oldest statewide fuel fund, HEAT has ensured low-income Georgia families and individuals maintain access to essential energy services by providing financial aid to fully cover these much-needed utilities for more than 40 years.
Mitchem is an accomplished nonprofit executive with more than two decades of experience and comes to HEAT from Rebuilding Together Atlanta, Inc. (RTA), a nonprofit that provides home repairs for low-income senior and veteran homeowners to help them safely age in place. Under her leadership, RTA was awarded Great Nonprofits’ Top Rating, GuideStar’s 2023 and 2024 Platinum Seals of Transparency, and Charity Navigator’s 4-Star Rating – the highest ratings possible – among other accolades. Mitchem also served as executive director at Lutheran Towers in Atlanta, an independent living community for low-income older adults where she consistently maintained an occupancy rate between 98% and 100% while founding the first of its kind free onsite grocery store for residents and disseminating more than 97,000 pounds of food in 2022 alone. She also increased the budget with year-end surpluses ranging from $150,000 to $500,000, resulting in common space renovations for all 15 floors and other building and program improvements, including onsite physical and mental health services.
“Nichelle’s background as a seasoned executive director, combined with her deep passion for working with lower-income families and individuals, makes her an ideal fit for HEAT,” said Don Brazil, chairman of HEAT’s board of directors. “This is an exciting time for HEAT and Nichelle’s leadership and experience will play a key role in continuing to grow our programs and provide critical funding for Georgians who need help paying their energy bills.”
Those who receive assistance typically are experiencing a financial crisis due to job loss or unexpected medical bills. Recipients must meet certain income guidelines to qualify for assistance. In addition to donations from individuals, HEAT receives funding from energy companies, the Georgia Public Service Commission, corporations and numerous municipalities throughout the state that provide natural gas to their communities. “I am honored to serve as the new HEAT executive director,” said Mitchem. “Every day, I am inspired to realize our shared vision of all Georgians having a warm and safe place to call home. With the unwavering support of our dedicated partners, board and staff members, we are poised to make an even greater difference – and I am grateful for the opportunity to guide us toward that bright future together, said Mitchem.”
Mitchem is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Law and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University.
About Heating Assistance Team, Inc.
Heating Assistance Team, Inc. (HEAT) was founded in 1983 by Atlanta Gas Light as an internal program to provide energy assistance for low-income Georgians. Following the deregulation of the natural gas industry in the state in 1998, HEAT became a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit. HEAT receives funding from energy companies, individuals, municipalities and corporate donors. Since its founding, HEAT has distributed more than $27 million to more than 100,000 families in the state of Georgia. To qualify, a household must meet certain guidelines for income eligibility. For more information about HEAT, visit www.heatga.org.