Ellen Matlock fulfills her commitment to fostering positive social change in her daily work as Senior Development Officer for Western Reserve Land Conservancy. In her role, Ellen is responsible for managing grant applications and reporting, as well as seeking and stewarding philanthropic funds from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Her work includes collaborating with program staff to craft compelling narratives, understand donor priorities, create partnerships, and communicate impact.
Professionally, Ellen’s education and early experiences laid the ground work for a career that strives to improve the well-being of the most vulnerable. The Land Conservancy’s diverse initiatives in urban and rural communities fulfill her aspiration to work holistically on a wide variety of social needs, including safe housing, air and water quality, access to nutritious foods and green space, climate resiliency, and economic opportunity. Raised in rural Ashtabula County, Ellen’s interest in conservation was instilled through daily experiences with nature: searching for crayfish in Mill Creek, climbing trees in the woods, swimming in Lake Erie, growing and preserving seasonal produce, and working on a local farm.
Prior to joining Western Reserve Land Conservancy in 2019, Ellen served as a gift officer and grants coordinator for Akron Children’s Hospital, which honed her skills and helped her find a driving purpose in working to improve social determinants of health. She also worked in fundraising for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and completed graduate research with the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
Ellen earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a minor in Business from John Carroll University and a Master of Public Administration degree from The Ohio State University. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Haymaker Farmers’ Market and Girls on the Run of Northeast Ohio. Her passion for justice and advocacy is evidenced through a broad range of volunteer roles with Project Learn of Summit County, Portage Park District, the League of Women Voters, and her local church. She is a member of the Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2025.
Ellen lives in Kent with her husband, Andy, and their pets. Outside of work, she keeps busy restoring their century home, gardening, exploring new hiking trails, practicing yoga, and treasuring time with family and friends.