In 1987, Dave Ellis founded The Brande Foundation and funded it with royalties from the sale of, “Becoming a Master Student.” This book is the best-selling college textbook in North America and is designed to assist students to be successful in school and beyond. Ellis formed the foundation to sponsor projects and contribute money to a wide variety of organizations on a local, state, national, and international basis. Ellis has since endowed the foundation with over $2.5 million.

The purpose of the foundation is to promote life on the planet in five basic areas including: 1) world sufficiency (adequate food, water, and shelter for all people); 2) environmental integrity (a healthy and sustainable ecosystem); 3) human rights; 4) world peace; and, 5) personal transformation (human effectiveness and education).

The projects of The Brande Foundation have included Native American education and leadership development, community health and education, bias awareness workshops, fundraising for microcredit lending, and eradicating poverty around the world.

Organizations that have been major recipients of funding have included CARE, OXFAM, United Way, Working Against Violence, Inc., Youth & Family Services, The Hunger Project, RESULTS Educational Fund, The Institute of Noetic Sciences, The Gorbachev Foundation, Pachamama Alliance, and Amnesty International.

Currently, the primary project of The Brande Foundation is to provide life coaching and workshops to leaders of large, national and international, non-profit, non-religious organizations.

The Brande Foundation does not accept proposals from other non-profit organizations or individuals since its long-term budget has already been set and is devoted to projects that it coordinates.

In addition to starting and being President of the Brande Foundation, Dave Ellis is a nationally recognized life coach, author, and workshop presenter. He trains life coaches in a particular methodology called "Life Coaching from Falling Awake." More about this style of life coaching can be found at http://www.FallingAwake.com and http://www.LifeCoachBook.com

	JoAnne Bangs JoAnne Bang is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) as certified by the International Coach Federation. She is also a Coach Mentor and Workshop Director for Falling Awake. She and her husband began a coaching practice 20 years ago while raising two young children, and JoAnne has since been coaching individuals, business owners, couples, and leaders of non-profit organizations. JoAnne started utilizing the principles of Falling Awake in 1993 and continues to infuse those principles in her coaching. After a major health challenge in 2000, she transformed all aspects of her life such that her life is now vibrant, ageless, accomplished, and joyful. Her goal is to assist her clients to achieve the same through coaching and our workshops.
	Peter Chandonnet In addition to being a coach, Peter teaches yoga at the Yoga Studio in San Francisco. Peter has a great love for coaching and yoga, because these two forms of transformation have brought great love, abundance, purpose, and passion to his life and to the lives of others. His purpose is to be an inspiration to himself and to others and inspire others to their greatness. It is Peter's dream that we live in a world that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling. He feels coaching and yoga have the potential to create such a world.
	Francine Campone Francine Campone, Ed.D., PCC coaches leaders in education and nonprofit organizations, organization teams, and mature professionals making significant transitions in life and work. Her coach training is complemented by experience in humanistic mediation, group dynamics and facilitation, Constructive Living Practice, and 30 years of experience in higher and adult education. A member of the founding faculty of University of Texas at Dallas' graduate coaching certification program, Francine developed and teaches an introduction to research practices for coaches. Dr. Campone is active in the International Coach Federation's research arena and the Foundation of Coaching in the development of a repository of coaching research.
	Dave Ellis Dave Ellis started training life coaches in 1983. He specializes in high net worth clients and donates all his coaching revenue to providing life coaching to leaders of national and international non-profit organizations. He is the founder and president of Breakthrough Enterprises, Inc. and The Brande Foundation. He facilitates workshops and has written seven books including Life Coaching: a manual for helping professionals. He operates a Life Coach Training School accredited by The International Coach Federation.
	Rick Ingrasci Rick Ingrasci, M.D., M.P.H. is an author and teacher in the fields of integrative medicine, community development, organizational learning, and holistic education. Rick has a rich background in psychiatry, holistic medicine, and personal and social transformation. He lives on Whidbey Island near Seattle with his wife and two dogs. He is a graduate of Cornell University Medical College and the Harvard School of Public Health. He is the co-author of the best-selling book Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life.
	Stan Lankowitz Stan Lankowitz, M.Ed., dedicates his career to helping individuals and leaders in non-profit organizations and businesses, resolve problems, explore new possibilities, design and implement strategic plans, and achieve success. The counseling and coaching he has provided for over 30 years help people improve the quality of their lives in both personal and professional domains. Stan writes a standing column entitled "Life Coach" for the in-flight magazine of Frontier Airlines.
	Rosemarie Perla Rosemarie Perla is a Licensed Psychologist, life coach, and entrepreneur who brings 30 years of experience to her clients. She has successfully coached business owners, non-profit leaders, executives, professionals, and major league athletes to achieve significant life and career transformations. She inspires her clients to believe in their capacity to change and grow in order to create the future they want.
	Bill Rentz Bill Rentz has worked with Dave Ellis for over 21 years. He is the Vice-President of both Breakthrough Enterprises, Inc., and The Brande Foundation. Bill is a Master Certified Coach through International Coach Federation. He is responsible for developing and operating our fully accredited Life Coach Training program. Bill is also responsible for much of the day-to-day operation of our organizations. He lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota and is a dedicated husband for over 21 years who loves the outdoors.