David Sasaki

David Sasaki is a Program Officer at The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, based in Berkeley, California.1 He has held this position since October 2015, working in Menlo Park.1 In his role, Sasaki manages a portfolio of grants that focus on using transparency, participation, and accountability interventions to improve governance.2

Education and Background

Sasaki graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a BS degree, studying there from 2000 to 2003.1 He has a diverse educational background, having also studied at institutions such as the SANN Research Institute in Nepal, Northern Arizona University, University of the West Indies in Barbados, and Mira Costa College in Cardiff by the Sea.2

Professional Experience

Before joining the Hewlett Foundation, Sasaki worked in similar positions at other prominent organizations:

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Omidyar Network
• Global Voices (for five years)
• Open Society Foundations (as a consultant for two years)2

Skills and Interests

Sasaki is bilingual, with native or bilingual proficiency in English and full professional proficiency in Spanish.1 He has a keen interest in the power of knowledge and narrative to shape behaviors of groups and individuals, often referring to this as communication in its broadest sense.2

Personal Philosophy

Sasaki believes in the importance of:

• Being constructive rather than merely critical
• Reducing egotism through asking questions and listening deeply
• Becoming more conscious of the roots of our behavior2

As a writer, he enjoys the craft and process of writing, viewing it as a means to clear thinking. He has aspirations to write both fiction and nonfiction books in the future.2

It's worth noting that Sasaki's term at the Hewlett Foundation was set to conclude in October 2023, as all program positions at the foundation have eight-year terms.2