Elizabeth Sullivan is a nonprofit management professional with progressive accomplishments and leadership in organizations committed to systemic social change. Through her 18-year career working alongside leading U.S. nonprofits, foundations and companies, Liz brings deep knowledge on nonprofit effectiveness, philanthropy, and corporate giving. Her current work as an independent consultant to a diverse array of nonprofit clients focuses on building capacity to align strategy, leadership development, and talent in service of mission. She is a Gallup-trained StrengthsFinder© coach and integrates this asset-based approach in her work with individuals and teams.
In 2015, Liz consulted with the National Center for Family Philanthropy to launch the Community Foundations Family Philanthropy Network, designed to enhance the effectiveness of families working with community foundations as their giving partners.
In 2006, Liz joined the Council on Foundations, a membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. As Managing Director of Corporate, Independent, and Family Philanthropy, Liz stewarded a portfolio of ~850 members and led a change management process to integrate and unify member products and programs aimed to strengthen organizations and leaders in philanthropy. During her tenure at the Council, Liz led signature projects including the Disaster Philanthropy Network; a Corporate Philanthropy Initiative that resulted in the seminal guide, Increasing Impact, Enhancing Value: A Practitioner’s Guide to Leading Corporate Philanthropy; and “Philanthropy Solutions: Promising Practice in Corporate Giving,” a set of peer-learning activities that facilitates knowledge sharing among corporate philanthropy leaders. Liz also developed collaborative relationships with external colleague groups and designed professional education programs for national conferences, workshops, webinars, and peer-learning.
Liz began her nonprofit career as a fundraiser and board liaison at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (now Power to Decide) where she devised and implemented a revenue diversification plan to increase giving among high net-worth individuals, Fortune 500 companies, and private foundations.
Adopted from the Philippines, Liz spent her childhood in Tokyo, Japan and in Hong Kong. A graduate of Georgetown University, Liz lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband and two daughters. She is a singer in Cantate Chambers Singers and an avid foodie.
