Her Story
About Isabella
Isabella (Bella) Frueh, MA (she/her) is a proud, native Cincinnatian, with 18 years of professional history in education, youth services, and nonprofit service, including close to a decade serving on various Governing Boards and Advisory bodies. Bella advocates for re-balancing systems through power-sharing, which is especially important for causes that impact young people in our community. Bella is a Manager of Nonprofit Services for Ignite Philanthropy, supporting nonprofit clients with strategic large-scale fundraising and data-forward capacity-building efforts. Previously, Bella was the Founder/Owner of "Think - IF" Consulting Services, providing nonprofits with strategy build-out and mission alignment; program design and impact evaluation; and grantwriting.
Bella is a current member of NAEYC's National Affiliate Advisory Council; current founding member of the Public Allies Cincinnati Advisory Board; an American Heart Association 2024 Leader of Impact; and a proud graduate of Leadership Council for NonProfits' BOLD cohort (2019), Groundwork Ohio's Leadership & Advocacy Fellowship (2022), and YWCA of Greater Cincinnati's Rising Stars Equity Leadership program (2024).
Most importantly, Bella serves the community coming from a place of humility and learning. She will never shy away from holding herself (and others with particular levels of privilege and power) accountable, and firmly believes we all have different roles to play in dismantling oppressive systems.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Isabella
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a sustained drive to learn, a deep commitment to my local community, and connecting with other women who want to grow together. With broad roots here in Cincinnati, I have developed extensive relationships and a strong understanding of community needs across the region. My current role allows me to strategically connect the dots between philanthropy and nonprofits, ensuring resources reach those who need them most; my volunteer leadership roles allow me to advocate for and elevate the voices of marginalized groups such as early childhood educators.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Lift as you climb! In other words, we have significant power as women to not just show up as leaders ourselves, but bring others along - make introductions, extend event invites, recommend peers for awards and opportunities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage women to see themselves in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. Use your lived experience, emotional intelligence, and expertise navigating complex situations, to build better organizations and strengthen the nonprofit community. Philanthropy is still largely dominated by men, but there is enormous power in driving change and directing resources to underinvested communities. Now is a critical moment for women to step into decision-making roles and shape the future of philanthropic giving.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is navigating broken systems that require careful resource direction and take very real, economic and emotional tolls on our neighbors. However... the greatest opportunity lies in the nationally unprecedented transfer of wealth from older generations, which can open doors for new leaders—particularly women—to influence philanthropic priorities and direct resources to historically underfunded communities.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Continual learning, community-centered equity and justice, elevating marginalized voices, and practicing dialectical thinking—holding multiple truths simultaneously—are the values I prioritize both professionally and personally.
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