Sara Wajda, MPA

Sara Wajda joined the Gillings School advancement team in July 2019. In her role, Sara develops relationships with alumni and friends to build the pipeline for future supporters of the School. She is responsible for cultivating and soliciting gifts from alumni, friends, faculty, staff and other sources for the School’s top priorities. She strategically manages a robust portfolio and proactively build relationships with new potential donors through organizing cultivation and stewardship events for donors and prospects and working with department chairs and School leadership to formulate fundraising priorities, strategies and opportunities for donor engagement.

A proven advancement professional, Sara has a history of working in higher education, hospital and healthcare industry fundraising. Prior to joining the Gillings School, she was director of annual giving for Duke Cancer Institute and previously assistant director of grateful patient engagement for Duke Health. It was for her contributions at Duke Cancer Institute that led her to be nominated and receive a 40 Under 40 Award from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) in 2019, as well as a 2018 Innovation Award from Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs. With Boundless Impact, she supported cross-boundary initiatives in education, economic development, and international relations. While at VIF International Education she recruited k-12 teachers from around the world for NC, VA and GA schools and dual immersion programs  She supported the advancement teams at the National Endowment for the Arts and The Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Committed to service, Sara was co-chair of the Annual Giving Committee under the board of NACCDO (National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers), was an Executive Board Member of Boys and Girls Club of Durham and Orange County, was Provisional Chair for the Junior League of Durham and Orange County, and served her community as part of the Junior League of Raleigh.