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CEO, Johnson Grossnickle and Associates
Age: 44
Hometown: Franklin
Family: husband, Ben; daughter, Helen; son, Will
Achievements: Lee Ernst became CEO of Johnson Grossnickle and Associates in July 2024, transitioning from the role of chief operating officer. Under her leadership, the philanthropic-consulting firm set a record in annual revenue and profitability growth. Over the last year, JGA also created a predictive analytic product that integrates the use of AI in an ethical and responsible way to help nonprofits better understand who their best donors are. “I love building and creating new solutions in partnership with other leaders in the field,” she said.
Career track: Ernst began her career in fundraising in Chicago. While in graduate school in the early 2000s, she began working for the divisional headquarters of the Salvation Army. At the time, it was reimagining philanthropy after receiving a $1 billion-plus gift from Ray and Joan Kroc. Then the University of Chicago recruited her to help work on its largest campaign at the time, a $2 billion initiative. With a growing family underway, she and her husband wanted their children close to family, so they moved to Indianapolis. She worked as a development consultant for the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Women’s Philanthropy Institute, building a plan to expand philanthropy to support research on women’s giving in America. She joined JGA 12-1/2 years ago.
Influential moment: Being asked to co-chair the Giving Institute’s 2022 Summer Symposium, a gathering of 150-plus CEOs and advancement professionals from across the nation that was hosted in Indianapolis. “We were able to showcase our great city with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Newfields, and leaders of foundations and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.”
Giving back: member, communications task force, The Generosity Commission, which is dedicated to increasing giving and volunteerism across America; executive committee member, the Giving Institute, an association that consists of organizations that have embraced and embodied the core values of ethics, excellence and leadership in advancing philanthropy.
Advice for young women: “Do the hard work. It makes you stronger.”•
Check out more Women of Influence honorees.
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