Sally schaeffer

Senior Legislative Advocate

Bringing over 25 years of experience, Sally Schaeffer is founder and owner of Uncorked Advocates (UA), a federal government relations firm started in 2017. In addition to working with The Assist since 2022, among her current clients are some of the largest nonprofits and philanthropic associations in the country, including Covenant House International, American Heart Association, United Philanthropy Forum, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Grant Professionals Association, and Futures Without Violence.

She specializes in charitable tax, pension, appropriations (both programmatic and earmarks), and children and women’s issues, particularly gender-based violence and trauma. Previous to starting UA, Sally represented more than 500 nonprofits and foundations as the Government Relations Director at Independent Sector. She also served as the Washington advocate for Girls Scouts of the USA after successfully working on the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2013.

Sally started her career on Capitol Hill working for former Rep. Louise Slaughter as her Legislative Director and then Chief of Staff. Ms. Schaeffer holds a B.A. in Political Science from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Fels School of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. Sally is the past President of the nonpartisan Women’s Congressional Golf Association. Since 2021, she has been named by The Hill newspaper each year as a Top Lobbyist and named Top 100 Lobbyist by The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics.