Sara Boyd, founder and Chief Impact Partner of Ascend Advisory, brings more than 25 years of experience in the social impact sector, blending visionary leadership with a genuine, humble approach. Her career has been dedicated to creating positive change, navigating complex challenges with grace, and fostering inclusive environments where teams can thrive. Sara is known for her ability to unite people around a common purpose, making her a respected leader in the social impact field.

Rooted in Omaha, Nebraska, Sara’s transformative leadership journey has been enriched by her work with esteemed leaders across the nation. Her expertise is grounded in real-world experience, continuous growth, and a commitment to scaling impact locally and nationally. As President and CEO of the Omaha Community Foundation, she helped the organization grow to $1.2 billion in assets and facilitated hundreds of millions in philanthropic investments across thousands of nonprofit organizations annually.

Sara’s innovative spirit was pivotal in launching OMAHA GIVES!, a $50 million initiative that engaged tens of thousands of donors. She also created The Landscape Omaha, a data-driven project with 38 community impact indicators led the creation of local impact investing program and helped build the nation’s leading Chartered Advisors in Philanthropy program, now boasting more than 200 graduates.

As CEO of VidaNyx (now Guardify), Sara was instrumental in growing a startup dedicated to ensuring safety and expedited support for survivors of child abuse into a leader in social impact technology. Under her leadership, the team expanded the product’s capabilities, revolutionizing video collaboration for health and legal records. Supporting hundreds of thousands of individuals across all 50 states and Puerto Rico under Sara’s leadership, the company continues scaling its purpose-driven efforts today.

Sara’s work has earned her numerous honors, including Habitat for Humanity Power Woman of the Year, Women’s Center for Advancement Woman of Distinction, University of Nebraska Outstanding Alumni, and recognition in Midlands Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. She has served on over 15 boards and is actively involved with four organizations today.

A lifelong learner, Sara holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, a BS in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation. She has also completed advanced programs at Harvard University and Stanford University.

Outside of her professional achievements, Sara values her family—her three children and supportive husband—and finds inspiration in nature, often retreating to the Colorado mountains.

Sara Boyd’s leadership journey is a testament to her dedication, balanced approach, and the lasting impact she continues to create in the world of social impact.