About Ellen Christine
“I’ve been in the trenches—leading capital campaigns, navigating crisis, and building from scratch across two continents. That lived, global experience shapes every solution I deliver.”
Ellen Christine Ruiters is a nonprofit strategist, speaker, and founder of Ellen Christine Consulting. Over the past two decades, she has helped raise over $1 billion in major donor giving for mission-driven organizations.
Her journey began in post-apartheid South Africa, where she co-founded a grassroots nonprofit now serving over 10,000 children. There, she earned the nickname “Sledgehammer to a Glass Ceiling” for breaking through barriers others thought impossible. That experience cemented her belief: thriving organizations require thriving leaders—and alignment isn’t optional; it’s everything.
Since then, Ellen has partnered with executive teams across the U.S., Europe, and Africa to drive major donor growth, launch capital and capacity-building campaigns, clarify board roles, and reignite leadership energy. She has led teams through crisis, rebuilt broken fundraising systems, and unlocked high-impact giving—all while making the process feel empowering, not overwhelming.
She’s the creator of the Growth Sprint, a 90-day strategic engagement that transforms organizational confusion into focused, fundable action—and the founder of The Thriving Nonprofit Leader Program, built to equip executives with bold vision and practical tools.
As a certified wellness coach, Ellen ensures success never comes at the expense of well-being. She brings equal parts strategic depth and human-centered care to every engagement.
If you’re ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and joy—you’re in the right place.
