Foundation and Principal of Wright Consulting Corporation, Ellen Wright brings years of experience and a proven track record as a successful fundraiser. Success in development is matched years of experience in education administration, all aspects of fundraising, and giving a unique understanding and expertise to help you develop the financial and human resources necessary to successfully fund your programs.
A committed leader and speaker on expanding outreach and access to higher education, Ellen has served as Chair of the California Commission for the Establishment of Academic Standards, Vice Chair of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a Member of the California Education Round Table on Expanding Information Dissemination and Outreach, Member of the Teacher Credentialing Commission, a judge for the first teams selected for the XQ Initiative, serve on the Board of the Olympic Club Foundation, and an acting member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Education Committee.
With a BA with Honors from the University of California, Los Angeles, an MA in Education from Stanford University, and a PhD program completed in Education with a minor in Law also from Stanford, Ellen brings the knowledge, education, and experience to help your organization successfully receive the grants you are striving to receive.
Becoming a professional grant writer and fundraiser was not the first profession in Ellen’s career. She served as Principal of Piedmont High School and then Director of Development of Packard Children’s Hospital before becoming a professional grant writer. She was introduced to grant writing at Packard and found it to be the most fascinating part of the development spectrum for her. Seeing the help grant funding brings to communities convinced her this is what she wanted to do and keep providing for non-profit organizations.
Ellen cares about each client’s success and she will meet with you to make sure she completely understands you goals and needs. Ellen will explain each step of the process toward successful grant achievement, and once the grant is received guide you in the follow up process (writing timely reports and information to provide to the Grantor).
A sampling of successful grant awards includes completing a successful Capital Campaign raising over $9,000,000 for a Multipurpose/Indoor Gymnasium Facility for middle and high school Bay Area youth and winning the only United States Award from the VA Office of Public Intergovernmental Affairs for Veterans in Northern California.
Ellen is passionate about education and its value and need for youth of all ages, and in her spare time she serves on Boards and Committees that promote justice and opportunity for them. She also loves the outdoors, and in her youth sailed in the Honolulu Trans Pac race from Los Angeles to Hawaii, in recent years she has completed five marathons, and hikes most days.