Experience & Credentials
I’m Ellie Willmann — a philanthropy strategist, leadership coach, and trusted partner to nonprofits working for the public good. I have more than 30 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, including over two decades in healthcare and higher education advancement.
Most recently, I led regional philanthropic strategy for a multi-hospital healthcare system in Maine, overseeing four hospitals and managing fundraising programs for two hospitals and a home health and hospice organization. During my tenure, I led a successful capital campaign that funded a new health center and expanded emergency services — improving access to care across a rural region.
I also care deeply about the healing power of art in healthcare settings and have helped hospitals design and implement art programs that are both meaningful and manageable.
In addition to consulting, I serve as Treasurer of the New England Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (NEAHP), Co-Chair of the 2026 NEAHP Annual Conference, a CFRE Ambassador, and an active mentor through AFP-NNE.
When I’m not working, I love to cook, garden, and spend time with friends and family. My husband and I live in beautiful Blue Hill, Maine, a place that inspires me every day.
The Heart Behind the Work
I believe in the power of people to grow, to give, and to come together to create something greater than themselves.
My path to this work started with music. From an early age, I sang in a community choir, a constant in my life through high school and a formative space for growth. Each spring, we performed a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, and as I grew older, I progressed from singing in the chorus to taking on leading roles. I remember looking up to the older performers, the way they carried themselves, the kindness they showed, how much it meant when they noticed me. When I became one of them, I understood the impact we have on those coming up behind us. That experience shaped my commitment to mentorship, kindness, and leading with intention.
Later, I sang in a madrigal group, where I learned to blend my voice with others to create something beautiful and joyful. Every part mattered. Every voice had its place. That harmony, of individuality within collaboration, continues to guide how I build teams and support organizations.
I spent my summers at camp on the shores of Sebago Lake in Maine, learning to paddle a canoe, start a fire, and build lasting friendships. The camp’s guiding values, work, health, and love, became the compass I still use today.
Early in my career, I helped launch the American University in Bulgaria in the wake of the Cold War, an experience that taught me what a small group of people can do with vision, grit, and heart.
I’m especially drawn to opportunities where strategy and heart meet: where mission-driven people want to do big things and want to do them well.
I also believe emerging tools like generative AI can offer nonprofits extraordinary new capacity. When used thoughtfully, they can help us focus more on what matters most: creativity, relationships, and mission impact.
This is what grounds my work today: leading with heart, staying clear on purpose, and helping others thrive.
“Ellie’s commitment extends beyond her professional responsibilities; she has shown a genuine dedication to the betterment of our communities in Maine. Her belief in the power of collaboration and her understanding of our collective work exemplify her as a true community advocate.” - Caroline Morong, Camden Maine