With more than four decades of experience, Ellen Bristol has established herself as a distinguished leader in the nonprofit sector, specializing in fundraising and organizational development. Since founding Bristol Strategy Group Inc. in 1995, she has been dedicated to empowering nonprofits to enhance their fundraising efforts. The Bristol Strategy Group helps nonprofit organizations enhance fundraising performance through data-driven strategies, consulting and training. Her organization is renowned for developing The Leaky Bucket Fundraising Management Assessment and the SMART methodology, which provide evidence-based frameworks for managing income generation through continuous improvement.
Before founding the Bristol Strategy Group, Ms. Bristol honed her skills in corporate America. From 1986 to 1994, she served as a sales executive at the Digital Equipment Corporation, where she developed an interest in emerging office information systems technology. Prior to this role, she was a product marketing manager for integrated office systems with Sperry UNIVAC from 1981 to 1985. As a hard worker, Ms. Bristol began her professional journal with multiple temporary and secretarial roles, which laid a strong foundation for her future success.
Ms. Bristol has made significant contributions to the field through her publications. She authored “Fundraising Down the Drain: The Leaky Bucket Benchmarking Study of Effective Fundraising 2014” and “Fundraising the SMART Way: Predictable, Consistent Income Growth for Your Charity” in 2014. She co-authored “The Leaky Bucket: What’s Wrong with Your Fundraising and How You Can Fix It!” in 2013 and authored “The Nonprofit Consulting Playbook: Winning Strategies from 25 Leaders in the Field” that same year. Ms. Bristol’s earlier work includes “De-Mystifying Fundraising,” published in 2010.
Dedicating her spare time to her professional and local communities, Ms. Bristol has served on the boards of the Broward Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, and the Society for Nonprofits. She has also been a member of the board of advisers for SimplyFundraisingCRM since 2021 and serves on the advisory boards of the Kenya Education Fund and Space Pride. In preparation for her career success, Ms. Bristol earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Columbia University in 1967.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Bristol transitioned from a successful corporate career in fundraising and sales to the nonprofit sector, recognizing opportunities to strengthen philanthropic strategies. Her journey began in secretarial roles before advancing into technology sales, where she worked for leading mainframe computer manufacturers. After relocating to Florida, she continued her career in corporate sales, where she met her future husband. When her company faced industry challenges, Ms. Bristol embraced entrepreneurship, leveraging her corporate expertise to make a lasting impact in nonprofit fundraising.
Ms. Bristol believes what sets her apart in the field is her ability to apply high-level sales training and experience from Fortune 50 and Fortune 30 companies to fundraising. She approaches organizational challenges from a fresh perspective, analyzing obstacles from the inside out. Having firsthand experience with the pressure of meeting financial targets, she prioritizes removing barriers to success, offering support, and simplifying performance analysis to identify and implement effective solutions. Ms. Bristol’s key differentiator lies in managing the performance of fundraising teams, not just in refining donor engagement tactics but also in ensuring senior leadership provides clear guidelines and structural support.
Looking ahead, Ms. Bristol aims to secure the sustainability of her achievements by supporting Dr. Laddusaw as her successor at the Bristol Strategy Group Inc., while also pursuing executive coaching and writing a memoir that blends her experiences and insights from the field. She is committed to equipping her successor with the tools needed for success and envisions Bristol Strategy Group thriving beyond her direct involvement. Ms. Bristol also hopes to publish a new edition of her book with Wiley and remains open to serving on boards and committees as part of her ongoing contribution to the sector.