Ellen C. O’Connell
Nonprofit CEO | Transformative Leader in Fundraising, Governance & Impact
Contact: Sankharallc@gmail.com
About Ellen
As a mission-driven executive, I specialize in driving financial sustainability, scaling organizations, and building strategic frameworks that fuel long-term impact. With deep expertise in revenue generation, I have successfully secured multimillion-dollar grants, expanded donor bases, and developed innovative fundraising strategies that align with an organization’s mission and goals.
I bring a business-minded approach to nonprofit leadership, combining financial acumen, governance expertise, and operational excellence to position organizations for sustained growth. Whether leading complex turnarounds, structuring major gifts programs, or forging high-value partnerships, I am adept at unlocking new revenue streams and increasing financial resilience.
My leadership style is collaborative and transparent, fostering alignment, visibility, and engagement across teams, boards, and stakeholders. Having worked in 90 countries, I offer a global perspective on business strategy, crisis management, and cross-cultural collaboration, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency in diverse markets.
Key Achievements:
✔ Revenue & Fundraising Growth: During my tenure, Farm Sanctuary received two of the largest unrestricted grants in Farm Sanctuary’s history, aligning mission and messaging to attract high-impact funders.
✔ Major Donor & Audience Expansion: Scaled Tusk USA’s budget from $650K to $6.2M in three years, growing the donor base from 1,000 to 24,000 through strategic partnerships, data-driven outreach, and high-profile events. Helped scale IRC's budget from $100M to $650M including co-leading $150M endowment campaign.
✔ Consulting Success: Guided major clients in fundraising, governance, and strategic planning, including securing over $30M in funding for clients and developing a master plan for Ngaren: The Musuem of Humankind in Kenya.
✔ Corporate & Philanthropic Partnerships: Built high-value alliances that increased visibility, strengthened fundraising pipelines, and positioned organizations for sustainable impact.
I thrive at the intersection of purpose and strategy, ensuring organizations—whether nonprofit or for-profit—maximize their influence, financial health, and long-term success.
I am passionate about driving systemic change at the intersection of social justice, human rights, and sustainability. Moving forward, I am focused on advancing bold, strategic interventions that address environmental sustainability, democracy, and social justice on a global scale.
Let’s connect: Sankharallc@gmail.com
Global Impact in Conservation and Sustainability
Areas of Expertise
Wildlife Conservation
Ellen’s passion for wildlife protection is reflected in her work with organizations like Tusk USA, where she led initiatives to address poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and biodiversity loss. As chair of the Wildlife Justice Commission Investigations, Ellen continues to work to fight illegal wildlife crime at a global level. She was instrumental in founding the One Mara Partnership, a collaborative conservation effort in Kenya’s Maasai Mara that unites conservationists, local communities, and international stakeholders. Ellen’s contributions to Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind further showcase her dedication to educating and inspiring future generations to protect our planet's natural heritage.
Environmental Sustainability
As a leader in the environmental space, Ellen has consistently advocated for solutions that tackle climate change and promote sustainability. Her work with Little Sun, Tusk USA, Ngaren: The Museum of Human Kind, Mara Elephant Project, the One Mara Partnership, Farm Sanctuary and other NGO's is all connected by the theme of hope for a future world with more sustainable, ethical and just systems. Ellen is a sought-after thought leader, frequently speaking on the critical need for intersectional approaches to environmental sustainability.
Humanitarian Aid
With 16 years at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Ellen played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s operations during its rapid growth. Her work included overseeing the supply chain, board relations, and all business functions, which were vital to supporting humanitarian efforts worldwide. Ellen's ongoing involvement with the Good Shepherd International Foundation (GSIF) continues her commitment to aiding marginalized communities, focusing on providing education, healthcare, and sustainable development opportunities to women and children in vulnerable regions.
Fundraising and Strategy
Ellen’s leadership extends beyond her roles in individual organizations. As the founder and president of Sankhara Inc., Ellen advises international non-profits on strategic development, partnerships, and fundraising. Her leadership style, rooted in fostering collaboration and long-term impact, has been essential in driving sustainable growth and achieving organizational goals. She is known for her expertise in guiding non-profits through periods of transformation, ensuring both financial health and cultural inclusivity.
Notable Projects
Ellen C. O'Connell has been at the helm of several transformative initiatives that have had lasting impacts on conservation, environmental sustainability, and humanitarian aid. Her leadership and vision have brought groundbreaking projects to life across the globe.
Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind, Kenya
Ellen played a key role in the development of the Masterplan for Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind, a visionary project spearheaded by renowned paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey. Located in Kenya, this museum was designed to educate visitors on the history of humankind, our evolution, and our shared responsibility to protect the planet. As the founding CEO, Ellen shaped the concept for the museum, working with world class partners, Weta, Ralph Applebaum Associates, and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
One Mara Partnership, Maasai Mara
Ellen helped developed the concept for the creation of the One Mara Partnership, an innovative collaboration that unites local communities, conservationists, and international stakeholders to protect the unique ecosystems of Kenya’s Maasai Mara. By bringing together key players, Ellen has helped facilitate conservation efforts that prioritize sustainability and community involvement, ensuring that both wildlife and local livelihoods are supported. The partnership is a model for how conservation can be achieved through cooperation and mutual benefit.
Strategic Transformation at Farm Sanctuary
As CEO of Farm Sanctuary, Ellen oversaw the strategic transformation of one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Under her leadership, Farm Sanctuary achieved significant financial stabilization, including a $2 million annual revenue increase and a 12% reduction in expenses. Ellen introduced a strategic shift in how the organization addresses the links between animal agriculture, climate change, and social justice, positioning Farm Sanctuary as a leader in the fight for a sustainable, ethical, just and healthy future food system.
Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) Investigations Board
Ellen chairs the Wildlife Justice Commission's Investigations Board, which is dedicated to combatting transnational wildlife crime. In this role, she oversees high-level investigations that aim to disrupt illegal wildlife trade and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. Her work with the WJC has been crucial in protecting endangered species and bringing attention to the global issue of wildlife trafficking.
Personal Life
Beyond her career in conservation, humanitarian aid, and leadership, Ellen frequently presents at conferences and on panels, sharing her expertise and insights on these critical issues. Ellen has also contributed to academic communities as a visiting lecturer and adjunct professor at esteemed institutions, including New York Medical College, Cornell University, Harvard School of Nonprofit Management, and Brown University. Her academic qualifications include doctoral coursework in Cultural Anthropology from the CUNY Graduate Center, an Executive Management Program for Non-Profit Executives from Columbia University, an MA in Cultural Anthropology from the New School for Social Research, an MPA in International Development from NYU Wagner, and a BA in English from Georgetown University. Ellen’s commitment to education and advocacy extends to her active participation on the boards of various organizations focused on conservation and social justice. She splits her time between the fast-paced environment of New York City and the tranquil landscapes of Utah.