Stephanie Ellis-Smith is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) and has nearly 30 years experience in advising high-impact individuals and companies. She works with ultra-high net wealth and high-profile individuals, families, foundations, and corporations to make catalytic investments in people and organizations.
She believes strongly in being a compassionate and generous member of society and has dedicated over 20 years of her professional and personal life to the social sector. In 2020, she co-founded Giving Gap (formerly “Give Blck”), an online database of Black-founded and led organizations. Having served in a variety of capacities in the social sector–non-profit CEO, social enterprise COO, foundation and non-profit trustee, and even a corporate board member—her diverse experience and deep knowledge makes her unique among her peers and singularly capable of being a trusted advisor to the world’s most generous families and institutions.
Stephanie has a BA from UCLA and has served on numerous boards and commissions including the Washington State Arts Commission, appointed by Governor Gary Locke; the Seattle Arts Commission, appointed by Mayor Greg Nickels; and the Central Waterfront Committee, appointed by Mayor Ed Murray. She currently serves on the Seattle Art Museum’s Museum Development Authority Board (appointed by Mayor Jenny Durkan) and is on the board of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. She was appointed a Dean of Philanthropy in 2022 by The Purposeful Planning Institute. She has two young-adult children and lives in Seattle with her husband and a silly Doberman named Heidi.
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Sandi is the Chief Client Officer at Aspiriant and leads our Planning, Strategy & Research team. The group is responsible for our state-of-the-art wealth planning platform that fosters intimate client relationships and helps families navigate the complex facets of their financial lives. Sandi also co-hosts our Money Tales podcast. Sandi joined Aspiriant in 1999 and became a partner of the firm in 2002.
Sandi began her professional career in 1993 at Ernst & Young, where she spent two and a half years as a senior tax consultant in the firm’s Personal Financial Counseling practice.
Sandi is a member of the Financial Planning Association and serves as a mentor in the Financial Planning Association’s Residency Program. She is also an active member of the Purposeful Planning Institute and chairs the Vision Expedition that is planning the organization’s annual Rendezvous conference. Sandi has been frequently quoted in the media, including CNBC, Bloomberg TV and Radio, Fox Business News, Yahoo! Finance, The Wall Street Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Among other accolades, Sandi has been named one of Forbes America’s Top Women Advisors and Best-In-State Wealth Advisors in 2021.
Sandi holds a B.A. degree in Business Economics from the University of California-Santa Barbara. She earned her Certified Public Accountant credential in 1996 and her Certified Financial Planner™ credential in 1999. Sandi is Treasurer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco. She also serves on the Investment Committee of Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation.
