Sarah Morton leads Trails Utah’s development efforts with over 20 years of experience in fundraising. Her background spans grassroots organizations, public land nonprofits, and higher education—giving her a broad perspective on what it takes to grow funding and deepen community support.

Sarah earned degrees in sociology and mass communication from the University of Utah, followed by a master’s in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She began her career consulting for community-focused nonprofits in Chicago before joining the Trust for Public Land, where she supported national fundraising initiatives through prospect research and donor analysis. After returning to Salt Lake City in 2014, Sarah served as development officer at University Neighborhood Partners, raising money to support programs that bridged university and westside communities. She later stepped away from full-time development work to raise her two sons—while staying active through freelance writing and civic engagement. She has contributed her time to several community boards, including West View Media, Green Urban Lunch Box, and the Bennion Center. 

Now at Trails Utah, Sarah brings a strategic lens and deep commitment to public access and equity in the outdoors. When not working on finding the funding to take Trails Utah to the next level, Sarah can often be found exploring trails, reading up on local history, or enjoying a soccer game (be it coaching or on the field).