Ellena Fortner Newsom, Nonprofit Bestie
Ellena Fortner Newsom is the founder of Nonprofit Bestie and describes herself as a relationship-led, retention-first fundraising consultant. She works with small and mid-sized nonprofits, installing retention systems that guide donors from first gift to repeat, monthly, and deeper partnership.
Who are you, who do you serve, and what are you focused on right now?
I'm the founder of Nonprofit Bestie, and my mission is simple: help nonprofit women leaders embrace a retention-first framework that increases revenue and decreases burnout.
My focus is on donor retention strategy, campaign planning, and making fundraising feel like something you can actually win at. Whether through audits, coaching, or strategy sprints, I help organizations build fundraising systems that are sustainable, scalable, and human-centered.
What led you into this work?
After 15 years in the sector, mostly spent in the weeds, I saw how often women-led teams were stuck doing everything, with little support, outdated systems, and no clear path forward. I created Nonprofit Bestie to change that.
What's a project you're proud of?
I partnered with Care for Life, a nonprofit working in Mozambique to end the cycle of poverty through family-based development. When I stepped in, they had a big vision but no real fundraising infrastructure.
I started with a comprehensive audit: CRM systems, donor communications, segmentation, you name it. I uncovered overlapping tech, limited outreach, and a donor base that hadn't heard from them in far too long. After interviewing board members and analyzing their data, I delivered a full fundraising strategy that included individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and content leadership.
We launched a test campaign to re-engage lapsed donors, and it worked.
What advice would you give someone earlier in their journey?
Solve a specific problem. "Helping nonprofits" is too broad. What do you fix? When you get clear on that, marketing becomes easier and referrals flow faster.
And remember, your clients don't care how smart you are. They care if you can make their life easier and their fundraising more effective. Lead with that.
How has Relatable Nonprofit helped your business?
Relatable Nonprofit helped me stop second-guessing myself. Seeing other consultants grow in their own niches gave me permission to double down on mine. The advice is generous, the community is authentic, and the accountability has helped me stay focused on what matters: delivering real value to my clients while growing a business I actually enjoy running.