Sara Martinez
Chief Advancement Officer @The Beacon Of Downtown Houston
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WORK HISTORY
Chief Advancement Officer @The Beacon Of Downtown Houston
Houston, TX, US
Chief Advancement Officer at The Beacon | Building integrated fundraising & communications strategies rooted in trust, equity, and impactAs Chief Advancement Officer at The Beacon, I lead the organization’s advancement strategy across fundraising, communications, and external engagement to advance our mission of supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability with dignity and care.I partner closely with the CEO, Board, and senior leadership team to drive results across individual and major giving, institutional philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and special events—while strengthening The Beacon’s brand, storytelling, and community presence. My focus is on building integrated, donor-centered systems that align values with impact and support sustainable growth.My leadership style is collaborative and trust-based. I believe strong outcomes come from clear goals, empowered teams, and authentic relationships—with donors, partners, volunteers, and the people we serve. I’m especially passionate about helping supporters see how their generosity translates into meaningful, measurable change.With nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, communications, and fundraising, I bring a strategic, systems-oriented approach grounded in equity, accountability, and long-term impact. At The Beacon, I’m proud to help advance work that meets immediate needs while supporting pathways to stability and belonging.
EDUCATION
Rice University
Certificate - Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, Leadership in Action
Wheeling University
B.A., History
ABOUT SARA MARTINEZ
I am a versatile nonprofit leader with a passion for making the world a better place and inspiring others to action. I have nearly two decades of nonprofit experience and enjoy building strong teams, collaborating across departments and organizations, ¬¬creating strategy, and crafting effective communication. My tenure as the lead communicator for the Coalition for the Homeless and Houston’s homeless response system has resulted in global recognition for our community’s progress on addressing homelessness. And since 2019 I have rebuilt the Coalition’s fundraising program, raising more than $19M in unrestricted funding and $12M in program funding since 2019, including $7M for homelessness COVID response programs. I have experience building organizational culture, creating engaged Boards, and facilitating change management both internally and externally.
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