Ellen Mansfield, the newly appointed director of philanthropy for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, has dedicated much of her life to the service of others.
A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Mansfield grew up in St. David Parish in Willow Grove, where she joined the Legion of Mary as a teenager. That early involvement, she says, first introduced her to “works of mercy and service,” inspiring her to serve both youth and older adults.
Now, as Catholic Charities’ first director of philanthropy, Mansfield will lead efforts to secure the long-term growth of the organization’s mission of providing compassionate care and essential services throughout the region. Her responsibilities include overseeing major gifts, annual and planned giving, corporate sponsorships, and grants. Just as important, she will build and nurture donor relationships while fostering a culture of philanthropy across the Archdiocese.
Mansfield’s call to service was modeled early in life by her parents, both deeply active in parish and community work. Her father, an Army Corps of Engineers employee, became an expert in flood relief, helping families rebuild after devastating storms. Her mother, a nurse, devoted herself to cancer patients, and Mansfield still recalls accompanying her mother on a visit to one of her patients – a Sister of Saint Joseph.
“They really led by example,” Mansfield reflects. “They encouraged me to serve in whatever ways I could.”
Mansfield was also shaped by the influence of Monsignor Richard Bolger, pastor of St. David Parish during her youth, who often spoke of the dignity and gifts of people with disabilities through the example of his sister Marion, a resident of Divine Providence Village in Delaware County.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Ursinus College and a Master of Business Administration from La Salle University, Mansfield began her career at the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission. But she soon felt called to fundraising, a field she has worked in since 1999.
She first spent nearly a decade raising support for educational institutions including Ursinus College, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (now Salus University), and Cardinal Dougherty High School. Her career then shifted toward human services when, as she puts it, “God led me” to the Center for Autism, where she became the organization’s first grant writer. There, she also introduced a new program evaluation method that allowed staff to measure the progress and achievements of the children and youth.
That experience deepened her commitment to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She later spent nine years at Melmark in grants and advancement before joining KenCrest in 2022 as Chief Development Officer. Along the way, she earned accreditation as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
Today, Mansfield and her family are members of Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in Plymouth Meeting, where she serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and has been active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
“I feel called to this next chapter of service,” she says of her new role. She’s particularly inspired by Archbishop Nelson Pérez’s “missionary hub model” for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, announced earlier this year. “I definitely want to be part of that growth for the Church.”
Mansfield says she often reminds her three boys – ages 15, 13, and 10 – that “the reason God has provided us with more than we need is so we can share it with others. That’s our mission as a family.”
Since beginning her position in August, Mansfield has been visiting Catholic Charities’ many program sites, including Martha’s Choice Marketplace in Norristown, St. Edmond’s Home for Children in Bryn Mawr, the Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence in Norwood, Saint John’s Hospice in Philadelphia, and the Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) in Northeast Philadelphia. Seeing the scope of these ministries firsthand, she says, has only deepened her commitment.
One of her priorities in her new role will be strengthening collaboration among fundraising professionals across the Archdiocese.
“Fundraising is a team sport,” she says. “I like to think of philanthropy as mission-based friendship – you’re finding people whose love language is giving and then connecting them through inspiring stories of hope and service.”
Looking ahead, Mansfield is eager to continue advancing Catholic Charities’ mission.
“We serve more than 300,000 people each year and impact families in countless ways,” she says. “We want to walk hand-in-hand with our neighbors, no matter what challenges they face.”
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