Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer
Sally Gambrell Bridgford
Sally Gambrell Bridgford is Chief Executive Officer of The Gambrell Foundation, where she leads its strategic direction and advances its mission to create the conditions for people and communities to thrive.
A trained social worker, entrepreneur, and business leader, Sally brings a global, systems-focused approach to philanthropy, looking beyond immediate challenges to understand the broader conditions that shape individual and community well-being. Under her leadership, the Foundation has become a convener and thought partner, supporting innovative approaches to education, opportunity, and community life through work with initiatives including the Embassy of the Free Mind, Cities of Awe Lab, Communities In Schools, and The School for Moral Ambition.
Before leading the Foundation, Sally founded Yoga One and led her family’s investment and real estate businesses. Growing up in a family of business leaders, she learned early, especially from her mother, the importance of business, leadership, and investing in people and communities. A Charlotte native who grew up in New York City, she studied at Duke University and the University of Minnesota and earned her Master of Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a lifelong learner and passionate advocate for equity, opportunity, and helping others realize their potential.
On Sally’s Desk 5
Book
Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman (opens in a new tab)
A month of short, daily reflections on letting go of the pressure to do everything perfectly. It’s an easy, low-lift read that’s good for a busy stretch on the calendar, and a nice nudge toward doing fewer things well instead of everything at once.
Book
Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman (opens in a new tab)
Bregman challenges talented people to stop chasing status and start solving real problems with their careers. It’s part inspiration, part practical guide for turning good intentions into real impact. A must read.
Book
Ours Was the Shining Future, David Leonhardt (opens in a new tab)
A journalist traces how the American Dream rose, then slowly broke down over the last century. It’s a clear look at how inequality took hold, and useful context for anyone thinking about how to help restore real opportunity for people.
Book
You’re Invited, Jon Levy (opens in a new tab)
Regardless of what we want to accomplish, from growing your business, creating a great company culture, championing a social cause, or affecting your habits, we can’t do it alone. The people around you define your success (whatever that means for you) and they have the potential to change the course of your life.
Book
How to Fall in Love with Questions, Elizabeth Weingarten (opens in a new tab)
This book teaches how to sit with uncertainty instead of rushing to find quick answers. A genuinely useful skill for anyone making big, long-term decisions.