Sara Jones

Sara joined Social Finance in 2018, bringing over 15 years of experience in systems change, strategic commissioning and partnership development across public, philanthropic and third sectors. She has consistently catalysed significant investments into sustainable funding models, transforming initial investments into multi-million pound programmes across social change initiatives spanning domestic abuse, refugees, digital harms, school exclusions and young carers. 

In 2024, Sara founded the Early inclusion Collective – a groundbreaking partnership that spans organisations across philanthropy, VCSE, academic and statutory sectors, demonstrating her expertise in building complex coalitions for systems change. 

Her work exposing gender bias in school exclusions achieved national coverage – including in The Guardian newspaper and on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour – demonstrating her ability to translate complex evidence into compelling public narratives that drive policy change. 

Her research ​“A Time to ACT” into Covid-19’s impact in secondary schools was cited in the House of Commons and covered by Sky News.

Sara holds organisational accountability for Social Finance’s approach to people strategy with a specific focus on equality, diversity and inclusion agenda. 

Beyond Social Finance, Sara serves as Co-Chair of Survivors Network, where she has pioneered governance approaches that centre survivor voices in decision-making. She was Guardian Public Servant of the Year finalist (2017) and Acumen Fellow (2022).