Shelley Whelpton

Shelley Whelpton is a key member of the executive leadership team at Arabella, the premier philanthropy services firm globally, where she works with new philanthropists and institutional donors to develop innovative strategies addressing critical global challenges like mental health and climate change.

Shelley excels in providing tailored advice and leveraging her extensive partnership-building experience to help donors significantly increase their impact. Her areas of expertise include strategy development and implementation, networking with leaders in diverse fields, and establishing effective funding structures that drive tangible progress.

Prior to her tenure at Arabella, Shelley held the role of vice president of business development and strategy at The Sheridan Group, a Washington, DC-based policy firm focused on public interest causes. She is a seasoned nonprofit executive with a strong track record in international youth exchange, having successfully led AYUSA International through a phase of substantial growth and program expansion.

Shelley is a graduate with honors from Williams College, holding a BA in political science, where she was recognized with the Richard Krouse Political Science Award. She furthered her education by completing a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology at Boston University. Shelley currently resides in Washington, DC.