Dr. Sara Straubel, DPPD, Ed.M.

Dr. Sara Straubel, DPPD, Ed.M., is a Program Officer at The Ahmanson Foundation, where she manages a portfolio of grant requests in the areas of arts and culture, education, healthcare, and human services. She serves as a Managing Funder for the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative, a fund that invests in nonprofit organizations during moments of transformation. She also represents the Foundation on the Review Process Committee and Capacity Building and Learnings Committee for the LA Arts Recovery Fund, a fund for post-pandemic rebuilding in the arts. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Committee of EPIP LA, a network of early- to mid-career professionals committed to a more equitable and inclusive philanthropic sector. Prior to The Ahmanson Foundation, Sara served as a Research Assistant at Project Zero, an education research center at Harvard University.  Sara’s professional experience also includes several years in fundraising and strategic development for the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization P.S. ARTS. Sara holds a B.A. from Ithaca College and an Ed.M. from Harvard University.  She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Policy, Planning, and Development at the University of Southern California.