Sara Garske

Sara Garske: Building Bridges Through Philanthropy

My journey in philanthropy began in an unlikely place—The Phonathon at the University of Puget Sound where I worked as a student caller. What started as a part-time job quickly became a passion as I discovered my natural ability to connect with people. My colleagues and managers nicknamed me the “Rapport Queen” for my knack of building authentic relationships with alumni and parents, even through brief phone conversations.

Those early days taught me invaluable life lessons: how to establish genuine connections quickly, the delicate art of negotiation, gracefully accepting rejection, and the importance of resilience. Night after night, I’d pick up the phone again after hearing “no,” understanding that each conversation was an opportunity to make a meaningful connection.

As I rose to student manager of the phonathon and approached graduation with my degree in Politics and Government, I witnessed something transformative—I saw how philanthropy could act swiftly, move the needle on important issues, and create profound impact on individual lives. When alumni gave back to fund scholarships, I watched as those gifts opened doors for students who might otherwise never have had access to higher education.

This realization set the course for my 25-year career in the nonprofit sector. From advancement roles at prestigious institutions like Claremont McKenna College, The University of San Diego, and Chapman University to managing operations for family foundations with assets ranging from $2M to $110M, I’ve dedicated my professional life to helping others maximize their philanthropic impact.

Today, as Principal and Founder of Elwood Advisors, I work with nonprofits, foundations, and individual philanthropists to create sustainable and impactful giving and fundraising strategies. My passion remains unchanged from those early phonathon days—connecting people with causes that matter and helping them see how their contributions, whatever the size, can transform lives and communities.

My commitment to the Orange County community extends beyond my professional work through board service, committee involvement, and advisory roles with organizations like Pathways of Hope, Orange County Advisors in Philanthropy, Bracken’s Kitchen, The Priority Center, and many others.

The lessons I learned as that young phonathon caller continue to guide me: meaningful connections are at the heart of effective philanthropy, persistence in the face of challenges yields results, and even small actions can create ripples of positive change that extend far beyond what we might initially imagine.