Sara Garske is the Principal and founder of Elwood Advisors, where she works with nonprofits, foundations, and individual philanthropists to create sustainable and impactful giving and fundraising strategies. With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Sara is dedicated to helping her clients results through strategic planning, effective grantmaking, and comprehensive impact reporting. During her 16 1/2 years with First Foundation’s Philanthropic Services team, she managed operations for family foundations, collaborated with trusted advisors, and guided multi-generational families in their philanthropic efforts.

A passionate advocate for equitable education and expanding opportunities for underserved students, Sara spent over a decade raising funds for higher education. She held advancement roles at Claremont McKenna College, The University of San Diego, and Chapman University, where she secured support for strategic initiatives, scholarships, and institutional priorities. Her extensive experience includes board management, private giving, program development, fundraising evaluation, and event planning.

An active member of the Orange County community, Sara is deeply committed to volunteerism and nonprofit advisory work. Sara serves as a Board Director for Pathways of Hope and has also served on the Board of Orange County Advisors in Philanthropy for 14 years, including a term as Board President from 2017 to 2019. She also supports numerous local organizations through involvement in gala committees, including Bracken’s Kitchen, The Priority Center, and The Autism Community in Action (TACA).

Sara is currently involved with Discovery Cube’s Innovators Advisory Board, the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute Women’s Well-Being Circle, an active member of Chapman Endowment Council and Orange County Grantmakers. Her passion for nonprofit strategy has also led her to participate in panels such as Octane’s nonprofit accelerator, where she shares her expertise with emerging leaders in the sector.

Sara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and Government, with a minor in Business Administration, from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.