Sara Garofalo Linder | People

Sara Linder works with clients to develop and implement their governmental relations strategies. She has experience representing public, non-profit, and private organizations, trade associations, and foreign sovereigns. Sara assists clients in raising their profile on Capitol Hill and advising on federal legislative and regulatory policy matters. Sara also helps clients navigate the appropriations processes, by identifying funding or policy opportunities, and developing strategies to support her clients' priorities.

Prior to joining the firm, Sara was an associate at a boutique lobbying firm, where she represented clients in the energy, telecommunications, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. She also brings campaign experience having worked as a fundraiser and field operative on various senatorial and congressional campaigns. Additionally, she previously served as the Director of Federal Relations for Miami University of Ohio, where she led the university’s federal advocacy efforts on higher education policy issues, federal funding, research, and regulatory matters before Congress and federal agencies.

Sara received her B.A. from Miami University of Ohio and a M.P.P. from the George Washington University.

Focus Areas

Legislative & Public Policy

Experience

Aided multiple clients to secure policy priorities and billions in new funding in the COVID-19 response bills.
Research institute in successfully securing a US$21 million increase in appropriations to support post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research, which had been proposed for a multi-million funding cut in the president's budget.
Trade association in authoring and securing the inclusion of appropriations report language on federal research funding and aging veterans.
Worked with a foreign sovereign in securing the passage of legislation to continue and restore eligibility for certain educational benefits, including Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, and Head Start.
Worked with a foreign sovereign in securing the passage of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) Amendments Act of 2024, which provides economic assistance of $3.3 billion in mandatory appropriations over a 20-year period.

Top research university in securing provisions in the Farm Bill, authorizing a new public-private partnership pilot program to address food insecurity.
One of the nation's largest community colleges in providing strategic counsel and advising on legislation incorporated into Labor-HHS appropriations bill as an open textbook pilot.
Prepared multiple clients to testify before congressional committees.
Research institute in securing language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to expand the DOD's traumatic brain injury research portfolio.