Sandra Freyer, MBA, CNP is a nonprofit professional with more than three decades of experience advancing initiatives that reduce barriers created by poverty and strengthen pathways to economic independence. She currently serves as Program Manager at the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, where she supports capacity-building efforts that help nonprofits increase their effectiveness, sustainability, and community impact.
In her role at the Lodestar Center, Sandra assists the Executive Director and Director of Capacity Building Initiatives with the transition and management of community service programs, the preparation of AmeriCorps grant submissions, and the facilitation of the Service Enterprise Initiative. Her work focuses on strengthening volunteer engagement systems, translating research into practice, and supporting nonprofits across Arizona in building the infrastructure needed to achieve measurable impact.
Sandra’s career spans leadership roles in program management, strategic partnerships, and operations at a range of nonprofit organizations. She previously served for nearly a decade with Experience Matters Arizona, where she managed national service programs, ensured compliance with federal grant requirements, oversaw recruitment and training, managed budgets, and led reporting and evaluation efforts. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions at St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, including Director of Programs, Manager of Strategic Partnerships, and Logistics Manager.
Her professional expertise includes strategic planning, program design and evaluation, financial planning and budgeting, process improvement, change management, grant writing and reporting, compliance, database system implementation, workforce development, and volunteer engagement. Sandra is known for her values-driven, mission-focused approach and her ability to pair data-informed decision-making with holistic, people-centered practice.
Sandra holds a Master of Business Administration from North Park University and a Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She earned the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and is the recipient of the George F. Miller Award and the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Next Generation Leadership Award, recognizing exemplary leadership and commitment to the nonprofit sector.