Ruth Modlin Ellett, CFRE

Modlin Ellett Associates

Ruth Modlin Ellett, CFRE is the founder and principal of Modlin Ellett Associates, a regional consulting firm which specializes in planning and implementing capital campaigns, major gifts programs, annual fund programs and board development programs.  As a fund and board development professional for over 35 years, Ruth has had sole or team responsibility for raising more than $200 million.

Since 2001, Ruth has made a significant difference as a consultant to a wide variety of nonprofit, educational, and faith-based organizations.  Prior to starting her consulting practice, Ruth worked for twenty years as a development staff leader at the University of Richmond, James Madison University, the Valentine Museum, the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Arts Council of Richmond (now known as CultureWorks).  Ruth also speaks and conducts workshops and board retreats in her area of expertise.

Ruth is a past president of Virginia Association of Fundraising Professionals (VAFRE) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central Virginia. She is a member of the Virginia Gift Planning Council.  She is a past Senior Warden of the vestry of St. James’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA, where she served on the Steering Committee for both the church’s $8 million capital and $1 million endowment campaigns.  She serves on the Board of Directors of the St. James’s Children’s Center.  She also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Richmond’s Institute of Philanthropy and is an instructor at the Fund Development Institute.

In 2015, she received VAFRE’s highest honor, the Nina Abady Award.