Photo of woman (Sara) standing by desk and smiling.

Sara L. O’Neill

Sara’s journey in philanthropy began over 35 years ago with her own family’s foundation, collaborating with 3 generations of relatives as a Trustee, co-developing a youth engagement approach, and leading various grantmaking and strategic planning committees. Her lived experience was the catalyst for developing the unique approach to family engagement that she shares with other family foundations today. Sara brings a deep understanding of and appreciation for nonprofit organizations, as well. She co-founded Second Story Productions, a media company dedicated to sharing the stories of nonprofit organizations across the country, serving as its managing director for more than 15 years.

Sara is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University and holds a masters degree in clinical counseling from Cleveland State University. She resides in Northeast Ohio and is blessed with two wonderful daughters and a large extended family.

“Sara took a different approach and it feels like involvement has gone up by 150%. I was not very interested in our foundation before, but now I feel immensely connected to my family and my community. ”

-Gen3 Family Member