Sarah Tonucci is the Executive Director of the Rumsfeld Foundation, a non-profit established in 2007 by former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, and his wife, Joyce, to encourage leadership, public service, and free political and economic systems. In her capacity as Executive Director, Ms. Tonucci directs the Foundation’s two Fellowship Programs for rising leaders – the CAMCA Fellowship Program, a high-level exchange program in Washington, D.C. for exceptional professionals from the CAMCA (Central Asia-Mongolia-Caucasus-Afghanistan) region, and the Graduate Fellowship Program, a scholarship and network for talented American scholars pursuing public service careers. In addition, she oversees each program’s robust alumni network activities, initiatives and events, including leading the Foundation’s involvement as an organizing partner of the CAMCA Regional Forum, a premier international conference for stakeholders from all sectors interested in regional cooperation which convenes annually across the CAMCA region. (Learn more at www.camcaforum.org.)  She also serves as President of the Board of CAMCA Group, a new non-profit established to advance regional cooperation across the countries of CAMCA as well as to provide support for the annual CAMCA Regional Forum and other CAMCA initiatives.

While as of 2022 the Rumsfeld Foundation exclusively focuses on its Fellowship Programs and their related networks and initiatives, Ms. Tonucci previously oversaw the Foundation’s grant giving and partnerships in two additional spheres – military and veterans charities and global microfinance – with grants totaling more than $10 million over 15 years.

Prior to her work with the Rumsfeld Foundation, Ms. Tonucci held internship positions at various organizations including the Seeing Eye Foundation, McKinsey & Company, Feeding America, Coyne Public Relations and the Office of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Following her graduation from Northwestern University in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies, Ms. Tonucci returned to Rumsfeld’s staff full-time. After assisting with the Foundation’s various programs and grant giving, in March 2011 she was appointed as Executive Director to oversee all of the Rumsfeld Foundation’s activities, working closely with Secretary Rumsfeld to develop the Foundation’s programming and priorities. Ms. Tonucci lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, their two daughters and son.