About Ellen Christine

Founder & Principal, The Thriving Nonprofit Leader

Thanks for stopping by. I hope to learn more about your story soon.

You're probably here because you believe nonprofits should be thriving, not just surviving. I do too.

But I didn't get here by reading a book or taking a course. I got here by living it.

Breaking Limits. Building Leaders. Transforming Impact.

From South Africa to $1 Billion Campaign

When I lived in South Africa, I earned the title "Sledgehammer to a Glass Ceiling" for breaking through perceived limits in community building within a deeply divided, post-apartheid society.

By partnering with passionate local leaders, I founded a grassroots nonprofit that served 15,000 students and mobilized hundreds of global volunteers.

It was the kind of work that demanded everything. And it gave me everything in return: grit, clarity, and the unshakable belief that thriving organizations require thriving leaders.

That experience shaped my understanding of the joys and challenges of nonprofit leadership—fundraising from scratch, staff development, navigating crises, and the critical need to prevent burnout.

Wellness. Leadership. Impact. It All Starts Here.

Two Decades of Impact

Over the past two decades, I've partnered with organizations and their leaders globally, helping raise over $1 billion to expand nonprofit impact. I've led fundraising initiatives from the ground up, rebuilt broken systems, launched bold visions, re-energized boards, and made high-impact giving feel human again.

None of it started with theory. It started in the trenches.

Here's what I know for certain: For nonprofits to truly thrive, their leaders must thrive, too. When organizations create the conditions for leadership wellness, they raise more funds, build resilient and engaged cultures, and reignite the passion that drives their work.

Because Impact Grows When Leaders Thrive.

Sustainable, Joy-Filled Leadership

Fundraising doesn't have to feel heavy. And success should never come at the expense of your well-being.

That's why I created The Thriving Nonprofit Leader—a program for mission-driven leaders who are done spinning and ready to lead with clarity, purpose, and energy again. I help clients increase their impact and foster sustainable, joy-filled leadership through Leadership Development and Nonprofit Consulting. Whether you're navigating burnout, cultivating major donors, or rebuilding your strategy from the ground up, I've been there. I bring the strategy and the soul.