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Success Stories

Impact that Speaks for Itself

Ethos in Action's expertise in fundraising and development was instrumental in strengthening YWCA GLA's philanthropic efforts....

Lori Carmona

CEO, YWCA Greater Los Angeles

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YWCA Greater Los Angeles

Challenge:

Re-engage past donors and strengthen major giving

Approach:

Created "Justice for Her," a Major Giving Circle

Impact:

Raised over $100,000 in individual contributions within six months

"Ethos in Action's expertise in fundraising and development was instrumental in strengthening YWCA GLA's philanthropic efforts. Their strategic guidance helped us refine our fundraising approach, amplify board engagement, and reconnect with past donors in meaningful ways. One of Julia's most impactful contributions was the creation of Justice for Her, a Major Giving Circle that not only deepened donor engagement but also successfully raised over $100,000 in individual contributions in less than 6 months."

Lori Carmona
CEO, YWCA Greater Los Angeles
Julia has been a guiding light to the Western Justice Center (WJC) in its fundraising and donor relations since she joined....

Michael Wallace

Former Board President, Western Justice Center

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Western Justice Center

Challenge:

Strengthen donor relationships and board engagement

Approach:

Strategic fundraising leadership and board strategy

Impact:

Diversified revenue streams and maximized board fundraising capacity

"Julia has been a guiding light to the Western Justice Center (WJC) in its fundraising and donor relations since she joined our team a few years ago. Julia delivered focus and strategy to create maximum impact with WJC's limited resources and small team. In the past two years while I served as Board President, Julia's work improved our fundraising results by more than 20% each year. Julia's insightful and impactful work has been a true blessing to WJC!"

Michael Wallace
Former Board President, Western Justice Center

"Julia has been more than a fundraising consultant—she's been a thought partner in the truest sense. Over the past three years, she has transformed how our organization thinks about philanthropy, helping us grow our annual fundraiser into a $900,000 flagship event, launch our first major giving circle, and build a culture of fundraising that permeates our board and leadership team. Her strategic acumen, empathy, and courage to challenge the status quo have elevated not just our results but the way we think as a team."

Elissa Barrett
Executive Director, Western Justice Center
Julia's 1:1 coaching has been a game-changer for me as a leader. Her strategic guidance and practical insights ....

Ted Handel

CEO, DECRO Corporation

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DECRO Corporation

Challenge:

Build philanthropic capacity from scratch

Approach:

Landscape analysis, strategy development, and leadership coaching

Impact:

Created comprehensive fundraising roadmap and secured initial funding

"Julia's 1:1 coaching has been a game-changer for me as a leader. Her strategic guidance and practical insights have helped me navigate complex challenges and lead with greater clarity and confidence. From creating our fundraising approach to enhancing board engagement, her support is going to make a lasting impact. Julia is more than a consultant—she's a trusted thought partner who brings deep expertise and genuine care to her work."

Ted Handel
CEO, DECRO Corporation
As a former board member and supporter of City Year Los Angeles, I had the chance to work closely with Ariel and see her in action....

Former Board Member

City Year Los Angeles

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City Year Los Angeles

Challenge:

Deepen major donor engagement and improve donor retention

Approach:

Personalized donor engagement and stewardship

Impact:

Strengthened major donor commitment and long-term giving

"As a former board member and supporter of City Year Los Angeles, I had the chance to work closely with Ariel and see her in action. She brings a rare mix of professionalism, warmth, and follow-through. Ariel made my experience as a donor deeply meaningful—from visiting the school I supported to hosting the AmeriCorps members at my office and hearing about their impact firsthand. As chair of the major giving society, I saw how her leadership inspired greater donor engagement and growth, with over 85% of major donors renewing or increasing their giving. Ariel builds trust, inspires generosity, and makes giving both personal and impactful."

Former Board Member
City Year Los Angeles
Chelsea is a strategic thought leader with a sharp eye for detail, blending long-term funding strategy with compelling....

Hilary Mandel

Director of Strategic Initiatives, LA Family Housing

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LA Family Housing

Challenge:

Translate complex organizational priorities into fundable narratives

Approach:

Cross-departmental collaboration and strategic storytelling

Impact:

Advanced mission-critical funding through clearer, more compelling narratives

"Chelsea is a strategic thought leader with a sharp eye for detail, blending long-term funding strategy with compelling, high-impact storytelling. As a grant writer and fundraiser, she excels at working cross-departmentally with leadership to surface organizational needs and translate complex work into compelling narratives that move missions forward. Her ability to align mission, strategy, and resources makes her an invaluable partner to any organization."

Hilary Mandel
Director of Strategic Initiatives, LA Family Housing
Luz Maria Castellanos has been an absolutely invaluable public information and communications consultant....

Bruce Bivins

Superintendent, Perris Elementary School District

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Perris Elementary School District

Challenge:

Improve clarity and consistency of district-wide communications

Approach:

Strategic communications planning and message alignment

Impact:

Increased clarity, consistency, and community connection across the district

"Luz Maria Castellanos has been an absolutely invaluable public information and communications consultant for Perris Elementary School District. She has done an incredible job helping us effectively highlight our strengths and ensure timely, clear communication with our entire community. Luz's expertise has provided us with a strategic roadmap for celebrating our students, schools, and staff while aligning our monthly newsletters to our key district priorities. We are deeply grateful for her professional guidance and the positive impact she's had on our internal and external messaging."

Bruce Bivins
Superintendent, Perris Elementary School District
Luz Maria provided sharp strategic insights to our clients at the Riverside County Office of Education.....

Patrick Sinclair

President, Sinclair Public Relations

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Riverside County Office of Education

Challenge:

Strengthen communications across multiple school districts

Approach:

Systems-informed communications strategy and stakeholder messaging

Impact:

Amplified visibility and understanding of district impact across audiences

"Luz Maria provided sharp strategic insights to our clients at the Riverside County Office of Education, helping to shape and elevate the positive work being done across several districts. She brings a deep understanding of how school systems operate and how to communicate effectively with staff, parents, and community stakeholders. Luz Maria is a top-notch communicator, and we're fortunate to benefit from her expertise, experience, and thoughtful collaboration."

Patrick Sinclair
President, Sinclair Public Relations

Impact in Action

Guiding a Nonprofit Through Strategic Transformation

Ethos in Action began by conducting a deep assessment of the organization's existing donor engagement, funding history, and brand identity.
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Building Philanthropic Capacity from the Ground Up

Ethos in Action began by conducting a comprehensive landscape analysis—researching peer organizations, identifying successful growth models
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© 2025 Ethos in Action
Success Stories

Impact in Action

Challenge:

Re-engage past donors and strengthen major giving.

Approach:

Created “Justice for Her,” a Major Giving Circle.

Impact:

Raised over $100,000 in individual contributions within six months.

“Ethos in Action’s expertise in fundraising and development was instrumental in strengthening YWCA GLA’s philanthropic efforts…”

Lori Carmona, CEO
YWCA Greater Los Angeles

Challenge:

Strengthen donor relationships and board engagement.

Approach:

Strategic fundraising leadership and board strategy.

Impact:

Improved fundraising results by 20% annually.

“Julia has delivered focus and strategy to create maximum impact with WJC’s limited resources.”

Michael Wallace
Former Board President, Western Justice Center

Major Giving Circle

Challenge:

Re-engage past donors and strengthen major giving.

Approach:

Created “Justice for Her,” a Major Giving Circle.

Impact:

Raised over $100,000 in individual contributions within six months.

"Ethos in Action's expertise in fundraising and development was instrumental in strengthening YWCA GLA's philanthropic efforts. Their strategic guidance helped us refine our fundraising approach, amplify board engagement, and reconnect with past donors in meaningful ways. One of Julia's most impactful contributions was the creation of Justice for Her, a Major Giving Circle that not only deepened donor engagement but also successfully raised over $100,000 in individual contributions in less than 6 months."

Lori Carmona, CEO
YWCA Greater Los Angeles

Strategic Board Engagement

Challenge:

Strengthen donor relationships and board engagement.

Approach:

Strategic fundraising leadership and board strategy.

Impact:

Improved fundraising results by 20% annually.

"Julia has been a guiding light to the Western Justice Center (WJC) in its fundraising and donor relations since she joined our team a few years ago. Julia delivered focus and strategy to create maximum impact with WJC's limited resources and small team. In the past two years while I served as Board President, Julia's work improved our fundraising results by more than 20% each year. Julia's insightful and impactful work has been a true blessing to WJC!"

Michael Wallace
Former Board President, Western Justice Center

"Julia has been more than a fundraising consultant—she's been a thought partner in the truest sense. Over the past three years, she has transformed how our organization thinks about philanthropy, helping us grow our annual fundraiser into a $900,000 flagship event, launch our first major giving circle, and build a culture of fundraising that permeates our board and leadership team. Her strategic acumen, empathy, and courage to challenge the status quo have elevated not just our results but the way we think as a team."

Elissa Barrett
Executive Director, Western Justice Center

DECRO Corporation

Challenge:

Build philanthropic capacity from scratch

Approach:

Landscape analysis, strategy development, and leadership coaching

Impact:

Created comprehensive fundraising roadmap and secured initial funding

"Julia's 1:1 coaching has been a game-changer for me as a leader. Her strategic guidance and practical insights have helped me navigate complex challenges and lead with greater clarity and confidence. From creating our fundraising approach to enhancing board engagement, her support is going to make a lasting impact. Julia is more than a consultant—she's a trusted thought partner who brings deep expertise and genuine care to her work."

Ted Handel
CEO, DECRO Corporation

City Year Los Angeles

"As a former board member and supporter of City Year Los Angeles, I had the chance to work closely with Ariel and see her in action. She brings a rare mix of professionalism, warmth, and follow-through. Ariel made my experience as a donor deeply meaningful—from visiting the school I supported to hosting the AmeriCorps members at my office and hearing about their impact firsthand. As chair of the major giving society, I saw how her leadership inspired greater donor engagement and growth, with over 85% of major donors renewing or increasing their giving. Ariel builds trust, inspires generosity, and makes giving both personal and impactful."

Former Board Member
City Year Los Angeles

LA Family Housing & A Place Called Home

"Chelsea is a strategic thought leader with a sharp eye for detail, blending long-term funding strategy with compelling, high-impact storytelling. As a grant writer and fundraiser, she excels at working cross-departmentally with leadership to surface organizational needs and translate complex work into compelling narratives that move missions forward. Her ability to align mission, strategy, and resources makes her an invaluable partner to any organization."

Hilary Mandel
Director of Strategic Initiatives, LA Family Housing

Perris Elementary School District

"Luz Maria Castellanos has been an absolutely invaluable public information and communications consultant for Perris Elementary School District. She has done an incredible job helping us effectively highlight our strengths and ensure timely, clear communication with our entire community. Luz's expertise has provided us with a strategic roadmap for celebrating our students, schools, and staff while aligning our monthly newsletters to our key district priorities. We are deeply grateful for her professional guidance and the positive impact she's had on our internal and external messaging."

Bruce Bivins
Superintendent, Perris Elementary School District

Riverside County Office of Education

"Luz Maria provided sharp strategic insights to our clients at the Riverside County Office of Education, helping to shape and elevate the positive work being done across several districts. She brings a deep understanding of how school systems operate and how to communicate effectively with staff, parents, and community stakeholders. Luz Maria is a top-notch communicator, and we're fortunate to benefit from her expertise, experience, and thoughtful collaboration."

Patrick Sinclair
President, Sinclair Public Relations