ABOUT
Uncorked Advocates (UA) is a bipartisan federal government relations firm that focuses on nonprofits in the areas of Charitable tax and charitable giving incentives & Nonprofit infrastructure issues, Federal funding through the appropriations process, including programmatic funding and community projects, Women and children's issues, particularly gender-based violence and vulnerable populations.
Among current clients are some of the largest nonprofits and philanthropic associations in the country, including American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Association, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Covenant House International, The Nonprofit Alliance, Grant Professionals Association, and United Philanthropy Forum. UA's other clients are nonprofits focused on preventing and addressing gender-based violence such as The Army of Survivors, and Futures Without Violence.
Past clients include Prevent Child Abuse America, March of Dimes, YWCA USA, and American Retirement Association.
UA's owner, Sally Schaeffer, has over 25 years of experience as a bipartisan federal government relations representative, with a specialization in appropriations, nonprofit tax, and women’s issues, particularly gender-based violence. She was named by The Hill newspaper as a Top Lobbyist every year since 2021 and named Top 100 Lobbyist by The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics. This is a peer-reviewed distinction awarded to just 100 professionals out of nearly 50,000 registered lobbyists nationwide for excellence, impact, and integrity in advocacy.
Prior to starting Uncorked Advocates in early 2017, Sally represented more than 500 nonprofits, foundations, and charitable giving programs as the Government Relations Director at Independent Sector. She has served as the Washington advocate for Girl Scouts of the USA and Futures Without Violence. Sally started her career on Capitol Hill working for the late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), then Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, as her Legislative Director and Chief of Staff.
She serves on the steering committee of the Charitable Giving Coalition, the only coalition focused on preserving the charitable deduction that was successful in restoring and expanding above-the-line charitable deduction for non-itemizers as part of H.R. 1, OBBBA.
On behalf of American Heart Association, she helped to coordinate a national coalition of 60 nonprofits in support of the Legacy IRA Act, which passed into law in December 2022. This provision has led to tens of millions of dollars being donated by seniors from IRA accounts to the charitable sector.
Sally began her career on Capitol Hill working for Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, as her Legislative Director and Chief of Staff. She holds a B.A. from Hood College and an M.P.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.
She is the past President of the Women’s Congressional Golf Association, current Board member of the Pennsylvania State Society of Washington D.C., and prior member of the professional societies: Women in Government Relations and the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics.
