Nancy L. Sasaki

NONPROFITS: Successful Programs Range From Literacy to Tax Refunds

Nancy L. Sasaki has more than 35 years of business and leadership experience under her belt. As President and CEO of United Way of San Diego County for the past four years, Sasaki has provided unparalleled leadership to more than 40 staff members of the United Way San Diego team.

Understanding the nuances of a business and highly focused on team building, Sasaki is not the business leader to give orders behind a desk − she takes action and is engaged alongside her team.

Sasaki is commonly seen at local events, proudly distributing school supplies to elementary school students, lifting boxes and packaging food at the local food bank, at a community garden clean up or walking for a cause -- among a litany of other altruistic events she involves herself in throughout the county.

Additionally, Sasaki ensures UWSD continues to be a reputable name in the community by maintaining successful partnerships with corporate partners and local organizations that support and uplift in-need communities and create a beacon of optimism in their lives.

Sasaki was named by the San Diego Business Journal as 2022 Business Woman of the Year for nonprofits.

Leading Successful Programs

Sasaki's eagle vision for success has resulted in the group's programs that benefit low-income communities in invaluable ways -- whether by finding ways to provide free tax preparation services for them or leading initiatives to create awareness of the importance of literacy among young schoolchildren.

Sasaki's leadership propelled the United Way of San Diego County, 211 San Diego, and the San Diego County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition to provide free tax preparation services to the community, resulting in more than $38 million of federal and state tax refunds returned back to San Diego County individuals and families.

She led UWSD's annual Read Across America initiative, resulting in the donation of more than 2,000 books to local students.

Sasaki also launched “The Gap Minders” podcast in partnership with the San Diego Council on Literacy. The community-driven platform features weekly episodes of insightful conversations with a range of notable and engaging guests to discuss ways to illuminate and improve the gaps in the region to create equity for all children and families.

Guests to date have included Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Cindy Marten, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and author and “A Way with Words” former co-host Richard Lederer.

A Community Partner

Under her leadership, UWSD aligns with cross-sector community partners and leverages investments from individuals and corporate partners to transform the lives of children, young adults and families in San Diego County.

She helps lead several UWSD programs and initiatives, including the Nonprofit Board Certification and Matching Program and Women United, along with annual events like Read Across America and June Day of Action.

Sasaki is a board member of 211 San Diego and San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, and serves on the National Advisory Council for United Way Worldwide, the Policy Board for San Diego Workforce Partnership, and the Impact Investment Committee for Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

In these positions, she provides a perspective to enhance collaboration between groups dedicated to helping the diverse populations in our region.

Her precise business strategies in leading UWSD align with cross-sector community partners and leverage investments from individuals and corporate partners to transform the lives of children, young adults and families in the county.