Susan J. Ellis founded Energize, Inc., a training, consulting, and publishing firm that specializes in volunteerism and assisted clients throughout the world (23 countries) to create or strengthen their volunteer corps. She has an international reputation as a passionate advocate for the power of volunteers and those who lead them.
Ellis authored or co-authored fourteen books, including From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Involvement, By the People: A History of Americans as Volunteers and The Volunteer Recruitment (and Membership Development) Book. All her books can be found in the Energize Online Bookstore. From 1981 to 1987 she was editor in chief of The Journal of Volunteer Administration. She wrote more than 90 articles on volunteer management for dozens of publications including the national bi-monthly column, "On Volunteers," for The NonProfit Times. [Complete bibliography of Susan's books and articles.]
Ellis' interest in new technology took Energize into cyberspace, where its innovative website won international recognition as a premier resource for leaders of volunteers and volunteer involvement: www.energizeinc.com. She co-authored The Virtual Volunteering Guidebook, which is available in electronic form on the Energize Web site. In 2000, she and Steve McCurley launched the field's first online journal, e-Volunteerism: The Electronic Journal of the Volunteer Community.
She was the recipient of the Association for Volunteer Administration's 1989 Harriet Naylor Distinguished Member Service Award. Ellis was an active volunteer in a variety of volunteerism associations and served as treasurer of the board of the New Society Educational Foundation.
Susan died in February 2019, at which time the Susan J. Ellis Foundation was established.
