Ellen Sinis Badger joins Lenfest Institute Board of Managers

June 28, 2022

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism’s Board of Managers has voted unanimously to elect Ellen Sinis Badger to the Board.

Badger is a consultant at Bell Creek Consulting, a management consulting firm that advises nonprofits, foundations, and other mission-driven organizations on strategy and implementation. Badger was previously a senior consultant at McKinsey & Company. She has expertise in managing complex, multi-year change programs and in developing the strategy, talent, skills, and culture to deliver on ambitious goals. She has been deeply committed to work in improving education, racial equity, and economic mobility in both the public and private sectors.

She also has a keen interest and involvement in local news and serves currently as Board Chair of the Chestnut Hill Local, a weekly newspaper serving the communities of Northwest Philadelphia and Eastern Montgomery County.

“I know first-hand both how important local news is for our communities and the challenges of building sustainable business models to support that journalism,” Badger said. “I’m thrilled to join The Lenfest Institute Board to help support solutions for local journalism, here in Philadelphia and beyond, at a time when our democracy needs it most.”  

Prior to Bell Creek Consulting, Badger worked for 13 years at McKinsey & Company in Philadelphia as an associate partner and later as learning and leadership development director for the firm’s global partnership.

She also worked as grants program manager at Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger and poverty in the United States, where she oversaw a $4 million grant distribution portfolio, which included more than 200 nonprofit organizations. Badger received her MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

The Lenfest Institute supports local journalism through its focus on diversified revenue models, digital product development, and equity and representation. In addition to acting as the nonprofit, non-controlling, steward of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA, the Institute provides grant funding, runs training programs, and synthesizes best practices to develop and disseminate sustainable solutions to the business challenges facing local news providers. 

“Ellen embodies the values of The Lenfest Institute, and she is a wonderful addition to the Board,” said Lenfest Institute Board Chair Rosalind Remer, senior vice provost and executive director, Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships at Drexel University. “Her philanthropic expertise and deep passion for local journalism will be invaluable to the Board as we continue to work with The Inquirer, Spotlight PA, and all our partners to support sustainable local news.” 

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