Staff Spotlight: Bethany Botchway

What is your role with Ellipsis? What does a typical day look like for you?

I'm the new engagement director for Ellipsis. Since I’ve only been in the role for a few weeks, there isn’t a “typical” day yet, but what excites me most is the opportunity to support engagement both internally and externally. A big part of my work will be finding ways to celebrate our staff for all the incredible work they do every day. They are the ones on the front lines, in the thick of everything we do, and I’m eager to help highlight their contributions.

I’ll also be working closely with Ellipsis leadership and our donors, supporting events, presenting to community groups that want to learn about Ellipsis, and staying connected to our volunteers. Ellipsis relies heavily on volunteers to help carry out the mission, so making sure we're staying in contact with those groups and understanding their interests ensures we are connecting them with projects that “fill their buckets.”

A new, exciting part of my role will include legislative advocacy. With the amount of change around how care is provided and how the state and federal government shape that work, it’s important for Ellipsis to stay visible and available to leaders and legislators. We want to make sure they understand the impact of our programs and the real people in our state who are affected by policies and decisions.

What drew you to Ellipsis? What was inspiring about this job?

I’ve always been drawn to mission-focused work, so Ellipsis felt like a natural fit. Early in my career, I tried working in insurance and quickly realized the corporate environment wasn’t where I felt most fulfilled. I’ve consistently found the most meaning in nonprofit work and higher education settings that center people and community. At my core, I’m someone who feels called to be in service to others — both personally and professionally.

Tell us a little bit about the experiences you’ve had that lead you here.

In the past, I’ve worked with nonprofits focusing on providing social services to the community and in higher education, where I supported programs designed to help individuals reach their educational and career goals. We focused on life skills, social skills, career explorations and vocational readiness — all the things that help individuals gain confidence to create their path forward.

In my most recent position at the University of Northern Iowa, I served as the assistant director for the UNI Center for Urban Education. We worked with individuals of all ages, truly from kindergarten through adult learners. It was work that allowed people to receive the help they needed to figure out goals and dreams and how to achieve them. I find a lot of joy in that type of impact. I love supporting people when they’re at a fork in the road and watching how their choices shape the direction of their lives. I’m a big believer that small decisions can create meaningful, lasting impact.

This seems like a great fit for you. Is that what you’re most looking forward to at Ellipsis?

I wanted to be in a role where I could help people find joy as they take steps toward who they want to become, whatever that looks like for them. That might mean helping someone find their first apartment, supporting a student who never thought college was a possibility or celebrating something incredible a staff member has accomplished. I’m excited to highlight the people behind our mission and bring more awareness to the work being done here. Celebrating people is essential; it’s what keeps this work moving forward. We’re in challenging times where resources are limited and organizations are competing for every dollar, but I believe it’s the people, their stories, their passion and their impact that ultimately help draw support. I want to make sure those stories are seen and heard.

In my short time here, I’ve already noticed how unique Ellipsis is. In many of my past roles, there were several nonprofits in a single community providing a similar service. That’s not the case with Ellipsis. There aren’t many agencies offering youth shelter and care at this scale, not just in the Des Moines metro but across Iowa and even nationally. Ellipsis is doing far more than I realized when I applied for this role; it is ahead of the curve in many ways. I’m excited to share the great work happening here and help shine a light on the impact this organization is making, not just by providing these services but by delivering them at such a high level.

What are the things that have made you excited about working with the leadership at Ellipsis?

One of the things that excites me is how our leadership has positioned Ellipsis for success by building strong buy-in from the community. There’s already a solid network of support, including community and corporate partners who believe in what we do.

I also appreciate that Ellipsis consistently goes above and beyond. The team doesn’t just meet the minimum requirement; they truly elevate the level of care that’s being provided. I had the chance to see how the holidays were handled, and the amount of thought and effort put into making it a positive day for everyone was remarkable, especially when the holidays can be a difficult time for many. That kind of intentionality is something worth celebrating. I also see our leadership as very forward thinking. For example, they added legislative advocacy to this role. Like many nonprofits, we have to be nimble and wear more than one hat, but this addition positions us to be proactive rather than reactive. It allows us to help lead in the field instead of simply responding to changes. It’s exciting to work with leadership that has that mindset.

What do you want companies and individuals to know about how to get involved?

I'll admit with being new to this role, this is something I'm still learning, but volunteers are incredibly important to us. My goal is to get to know the individuals and groups wanting to volunteer for Ellipsis and make sure that I’m matching people with opportunities that interest them. We want volunteers to feel connected to the mission in a way that supports the organization and feels meaningful to them. Indoor projects might include organizing donations, cleaning or painting; outdoor projects could look like landscaping and helping reset our spaces for the spring and summer.

We rely heavily on volunteer support during the holiday season to help fulfill wish lists for the youth we serve. There is a significant amount of need here, and with that comes many opportunities for people to make an impact and give back in a meaningful way.

What does life look like outside of work for you? What's something you enjoy doing?

I really enjoy spending time with my family. I have a wonderful husband and three amazing kids — 12, 6 and 3 — all in completely different stages of life, and they keep our life fun. We recently moved to the Des Moines metro for my husband's job, and we are settling in well. We are big foodies, so exploring the food scene here has been a top priority! We also love to travel whenever we can, especially to places warmer than Iowa!

My husband and I’s current hobby is running our kiddos around to all of their activities, although I also enjoy reading, cooking, crafting and baking. I’m definitely one of those people who decides, “I want to learn how to crochet,” learns it, makes a few things and then moves on to the next hobby. Right now, that hobby is plants. I’m slowly seeing how many I can bring into our new house without my husband noticing.

What is one thing I haven’t asked you about that you want to share?

I’m new to the area, so I’m really looking forward to getting involved and meeting people, not just within Ellipsis but throughout the Des Moines community. I’d love to connect with anyone you think I should know. I’m a big coffee person, so I’m always up for trying a new coffee spot with a new connection!