Ellen Gifford wants you to find your authentic voice by defining your purpose and understanding your non-negotiables. With these you can define the WHY that will guide your career. She drops fundraising truth bombs and tells us what to do to get out of the rut of being a subject matter expert.

Ellen reserves the right to get smarter and thinks you should too. Having a growth mindset and saying yes to the stuff that scares us makes a difference. She reminds listeners that while people do want to help others grow and develop, it may not be front of mind when they're caught in their own hamster wheel. In every organization, there should be people who are there to champion your professional growth and development - many are specially trained members of the human resources team. And what if your company doesn't have it? You get to be that leader yourself.

Are you thinking of starting your own not-for-profit? On the eve of the 5th anniversary of a nonprofit she founded, Ellen shares that resilience and belief in the mission are linchpins. Take notes from her lessons learned:

a. Know how you will make money; make a business plan

b. Get the IRS designation/legal status ASAP

c. Build relationships. Get to know the people in your community and nationwide.

And when it comes to fundraising-

-With funders, “No means. No, not right now.”

-The staff of funding organizations may not be the decision makers but they are your champions in the room and they want to see nonprofits succeed.

-Stay true to your organization, don’t create or bend programs to fit to a funding application

About the Guest:

Innovative Human Resources executive, coach, business consultant and nonprofit founder with nearly 30 years of leadership experience in the healthcare, insurance, entertainment and hospitality industries.

Ellen has successfully helped both small not-for-profit organizations and multi-billion dollar corporations grow their businesses by advising them on how to execute on business strategies that enable them to outpace their competitors even in times of complex talent landscapes.

Ellen is known for her ability to build highly productive human resources organizations and she does this by empowering others to use their gifts and talents to deliver on high priority business strategies.

When she is not working she loves to travel and discover new sites, eat new food and meet new people. When she visits new places she often goes to the locations that are less traveled so she can gain a more authentic perspective. As a passion project, she runs a professional theatre company that employs artists from all over the world. They perform live theatre in site-specific spaces with a mission to “reimagine live theatre with innovative experiences that bring our community together”.

Ellen earned her MBA degree from Oklahoma Christian University and is a certified Lean Leader, SHRM-certified HR professional, and a Results Based Leadership Institute graduate. Her leadership has earned her the Ultimate Software Innovation Award and recognition from publications such as Becker’s Hospital Review.