I’m Michelle Ellison, CFRA, MPA, and I’m thrilled to share a bit about my journey in the world of financial development and nonprofit management with you. For over 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of being a front-line fundraiser, working with a diverse range of nonprofits—from the arts to disaster relief to healthcare. It’s been an incredible experience.

Throughout my career, I’ve written and secured government contracts and foundation grants, along with six-figure solicitations from both individuals and corporations. I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with brand-new nonprofit start-ups as well as long-established organizations. Each experience has taught me something unique, and I love the challenges that come with this work.

I hold a BA in Arts Management with a focus on Art History from Chatham College for Women (now Chatham University) in Pittsburgh, PA. I also earned a certificate in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in NYC, followed by an MA in Public Administration from Kutztown University. During my time at Sotheby’s, I held a fellowship at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, and at Kutztown, I served as a Graduate Assistant at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Since 2017, I’ve been actively involved with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter (AFP-GLV), where I currently serve as Chapter President and Co-Chair of the Lehigh Valley Philanthropy Institute (LVPI). I also represent AFP-GLV at the Lehigh Valley Consortium of Professional Organizations (LVCPO). Previously, I served on the board for Lehigh Valley Girls Rock (LVGR).

I am a proud collaborator at Stick Figure Fundraising, LLC, where we tackle capital campaigns, planning studies, fundraising audits, coaching, financial development training, fractional staffing, and more. We love what we do.