Sarah Mowery

Director of development, ChildServe

Age: 31

Spouse: Paul Mowery

Children: Leo

Mentor: Erica Axiotis, vice president of development at ChildServe

Reasons she is a Forty: Sarah oversaw planning for the most successful Bubble Ball and Golf Fore! the Kids events at ChildServe in 2021, raising over $600,000 cumulatively. She has served on a number of nonprofit and chamber-affiliated boards with a focus on connecting the young professional community with one another and causes that make a difference. She completed her 200-hour yoga certification and enjoys teaching occasional community and donation-based yoga classes. 

What are your goals in your role at your company? My biggest goal at ChildServe is to increase our impact through successful fundraising events and meaningful relationships with private and organizational supporters.

What are your goals for your community involvement? My goals for the community are similar to my goals in my role at ChildServe – help children and families. As a Young Variety board member for Variety – the Children’s Charity, I get the opportunity to learn about so many organizations doing great things for kids in our community. I’m excited about the role I can play in supporting their impact.

What’s your biggest passion, and why? I am passionate about fundraising, and I am passionate about helping kids. I love the opportunity to connect people with opportunities to invest in something that is meaningful to them, and I have a heart for children who are sick, at risk or living with special health care needs.

What is it that drives you? I am motivated to be successful in my job by the families I see at ChildServe every day. Without fail if I am having a bad day or feeling stressed as I walk into work, I see a family arriving to receive care at ChildServe and it turns my day around. I am inspired by their commitment to provide a great life for their child, and I work to do what I can to support them every day. 

What are your aspirations for the future? I aspire to be a good mom, wife, friend and co-worker. I also aspire to be a leader that is authentic and supportive of those around me. At ChildServe, I hope to play an active role in raising private support as we look to grow our impact throughout the state of Iowa.   

Three hobbies: Yoga, cheering on the Hawkeyes (we are season ticket holders) and spending time at the lake, water skiing and boating.

Fun fact: Sarah has been a lifelong Iowa resident, and proud of it. But she also loves to travel, especially to Colorado for some snow skiing, northern Minnesota for some time at the lake or anywhere warm with a beach. 

One word to describe you: Authentic. 

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? My hope for Central Iowa businesses is that we continue to offer opportunities and incentives for employees to volunteer and get involved in their community. Many businesses have started offering volunteer time off, and I think it’s a great way for people to give back to causes they love without taking time away from their family.  

Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you? I am one of few in my profession who went to school for fundraising. I was part of one of the first classes in the University of Iowa’s Fundraising and Philanthropic Communications certificate. I joke with my family that I was destined for this career since I was the “top seller” in my school's magazine sales fundraiser in fifth grade.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? Spend time with people who are smarter and more successful than you. Be willing to be vulnerable and admit that you don’t have all the answers. Make mistakes and learn from them.

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address, and why? Work-life balance. The pandemic has shown us how people can work remotely and be successful. I love working in the office and collaborating in person with my colleagues. It’s where I am most of the time, but the flexibility to work from home occasionally allows me to be more present at work and at home.