Title: President and Founder
Company: Bristol Strategy Group Inc.
Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States
Ellen Bristol, President and Founder at Bristol Strategy Group Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements and leadership in the Consulting Industry.
Ms. Bristol has established a distinguished career defined by innovation, leadership and a commitment to advancing the nonprofit sector. As the president and founder of Bristol Strategy Group Inc. since 1995, she has dedicated three decades to empowering nonprofit organizations in their fundraising efforts. Under her guidance, the firm has become renowned for developing The Leaky Bucket Fundraising Management Assessment and the SMART methodology, both of which provide evidence-based frameworks for managing income generation through continuous improvement. Ms. Bristol’s expertise in creating rapport, logical analysis and understanding organizational dynamics has positioned her as a thought leader in her field.
A journey into entrepreneurship shaped by more than 20 years in the corporate sector, Ms. Bristol specialized in information technology sales. From 1986 to 1994, she served as a sales executive at Digital Equipment Corporation, focusing on mainframe computer systems during a period of significant industry transformation. Between 1981 and 1985, Ms. Bristol excelled as a product marketing manager at Integrated Office Systems, a division of Sperry Corporation, now known as Sperry Univac.
Ms. Bristol’s early professional experiences included temporary and secretarial positions following her graduation from Columbia University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. These foundational roles provided her with valuable insights into business operations and communication, which later informed her approach to sales and management.
Throughout her career, Ms. Bristol has been actively involved in professional and civic organizations that reflect her dedication to philanthropy and excellence in the nonprofit sector. Since 2010, she has served as a board member for the Broward chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Alliance for Nonprofit Management and the Society for Nonprofits. Ms. Bristol’s influence extends beyond these roles through ongoing service on the advisory boards of the Kenya Education Fund and Space Pride.
A prolific author and respected voice in nonprofit management, Ms. Bristol has published several influential works. Her publications include “De-Mystifying Fundraising” in 2010, “The Nonprofit Consulting Playbook: Winning Strategies from 25 Leaders in the Field” in 2013, “The Leaky Bucket: What’s Wrong with Your Fundraising and How You Can Fix It!” in 2013, “Fundraising the SMART Way: Predictable, Consistent Income Growth for Your Charity” in 2014, and “Fundraising Down the Drain: The Leaky Bucket Benchmarking Study of Effective Fundraising” in 2014, as well as books published by Charity General Press and Wiley. These contributions have helped shape best practices within the sector and have been widely recognized by both peers and clients.
Ms. Bristol’s impact is further evidenced by her mentorship of emerging leaders in the nonprofit consulting sector. She regards as one of her proudest achievements the opportunity to mentor a young woman who reached out seeking guidance. This individual is now poised to succeed Ms. Bristol at Bristol Strategy Group Inc., ensuring continuity and growth for the organization.
Influenced by a family legacy of entrepreneurship, including her father’s postwar business ventures and her mother’s resilience during challenging times, Ms. Bristol developed an unwavering confidence in pursuing independent paths. Her brother’s scholarly achievements also inspired her pursuit of excellence, while encouragement from her husband motivated her transition into entrepreneurship.Looking ahead, Ms. Bristol is focused on ensuring the sustainability of Bristol Strategy Group Inc. She also plans to author additional works, including a memoir and an updated edition of her book published by Wiley, drawing on decades of experience in organizational development and nonprofit leadership.
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