Ellen BrownellDirector of Strategy & Donor Impact

Ellen Brownell builds relationships to raise the profile of The Land Trust and ensure its longevity. As Director of Strategy & Donor Impact, she articulates the need for land conservation and the impact that The Land Trust’s partners continue to make. She develops strategies to secure resources for the conservation opportunity regions identified by The Land Trust and for the long-term financial sustainability necessary to continue its mission.

Having visited every state in the lower 48 and lived in several of them, Ellen appreciates the unique natural beauty and diverse landscapes of Tennessee. Prior to joining The Land Trust, Ellen worked with nonprofits for over 20 years to manage their assets in perpetuity. She has held senior roles on the investment teams at Dartmouth College, the University of Delaware, and most recently, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. She has additional experience in environmental law and fundraising consulting. Ellen has served on advisory committees for multiple nonprofits, including the Peninsula Open Space Trust in Palo Alto, CA. She graduated from Yale University with a BA in English.

Ellen loves spending her free time outdoors: with her family on their farm outside of Chattanooga, hiking the nearby trails, or sitting in an Adirondack chair reading a book.

I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing than protecting Tennessee’s irreplaceable open spaces for generations to come.