SARA MORRIS

Sara Morris has dedicated her career to progressive social change.  As co-founder of Copper Strategic, she advises ambitious, mission-driven leaders in nonprofit and business on strategy, organizational design, and leadership.

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From 2016–2020, Sara was President of The Beecher’s Foundation.  She converted the foundation to a public charity, formed a governing board, raised outside funding, and tripled food and nutrition education programming for youth.  

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From 2010-2016, Sara served as President and CEO of the Alliance for Education, Seattle’s local education fund and one of the city’s most influential non-profits.  In this role, Sara reported to a 30-member Board of Directors, led a 15-member staff, and managed a $5 million annual budget.  Bringing together the charitable resources of Seattle’s business and philanthropic community to support 53,000 students in Seattle Public Schools, Sara stewarded the organization as an independent voice and external catalyst for change in urban public education.  Of note was Sara’s role co-founding the nationally recognized Seattle Teacher Residency, a unique partnership between labor, academia, schools, and community supporting the preparation of exceptional young teachers dedicated to serving Seattle’s highest poverty students.

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Sara began her career as a communications aide in the White House during the Clinton Administration.  After receiving her MBA from Kellogg in 1999, she joined Amazon.com as a marketing group leader.  In 2003, she was named one of Seattle’s "40 Under 40” by the Puget Sound Business Journal.

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Sara was a founding board member of Impact Public Schools, Washington State’s first homegrown public school charter school network, and served as board chair from 2017 to 2022.  She previously served on the board of the Technology Access Foundation. Sara also volunteers with 501 Commons’ Executive Service Corps which pairs experienced leaders with nonprofits needing professional services.

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In 2019, Sara competed in Plymouth Housing’s “Dancing with the Stars” auction and fundraiser, dancing the tango in pink sequins (YouTube proof of this exists!).

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Sara and her husband have three grown daughters and live in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.  Sara loves dogs, travel, photography, hiking, running, cross country skiing, dinner parties and the Methow Valley.