Sara Watson

Dr. Sara Watson is the founder of Watson Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in designing effective advocacy campaigns, with a special focus on the role of philanthropy and public-private partnerships. Most recently she was the Senior Director, Policy at the Bainum Family Foundation where she led a portfolio of grants to reduce racial and economic inequity through advocacy for early childhood programs in Washington, D.C.

Previously she was the founder and Global Director of ReadyNation/ReadyNation International, a unique business membership organization supporting executives to be champions for children from prenatal to young adulthood. She was a Senior Officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts, where she led a ground-breaking national advocacy campaign for prekindergarten, contributing to doubling state and federal spending. She has also been a Senior Vice President at America’s Promise and a Policy Analyst for the Washington State Family Policy Council. Her educational background includes M.P.P. and Ph.D. degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. from Carleton College. In her volunteer life she is a Master Emergency Medical Technician for the local fire department and a board member of Voices for Children Montgomery.