Deborah Ellwood is president and CEO of CFLeads, a national network of community foundations committed to community leadership. CFLeads supports hundreds of community foundations leading change by advocating for a community leadership approach to improve community outcomes, offering robust peer learning opportunities for community foundations, tackling community issues through unique programming, and producing thought leadership and field research.

Deborah has a broad background as an advocate, policy analyst, grantmaker, fundraiser and community builder. She served as both a board and staff leader during 10 years with Rochester Area Community Foundation (Rochester, NY), setting strategies that led to greater partnerships, more focused grantmaking, and deeper community impact.

An award-winning graduate of Bowdoin College and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Deborah has been an advocate for low-income children and families during her time at the Rochester Area Community Foundation, as well as at Children Now in California, the Fiscal Policy Institute in New York and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.