At East Bay Community Foundation, we often say that our people are our power. That’s why we’re excited to profile the talented and dedicated staff who make up our incredible team.
Sabrina Wu is a senior program officer at EBCF and leads our inclusive economy work. As a pivotal leader in the East Bay’s dynamic economic ecosystem, she fosters a regenerative space, led by BIPOC communities, including BIPOC-owned businesses, so all residents can see themselves represented in our local economy.
Early Life and Influences
Sabrina was born in Flushing, Queens, one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the country. Her Chinese immigrant parents informed her attitudes about finances – and later her career in philanthropy.
“The way my family approached money was classically immigrant. There was a real distrust of financial institutions stemming from their experiences abroad, which reinforced their beliefs that these systems were not designed for them,” Sabrina recalls. “They kept everything in cash, and I remember finding envelopes of money under mattresses, in pots and pans, and even in the drapes after family members passed away. I couldn’t call 1-800-JUNK to clear things out because there were thousands of dollars hidden away.”
This early experience shaped Sabrina’s understanding of financial systems and the barriers that immigrant communities face, a theme that would later inform her career.
Career Beginnings: Public Health to Food Justice
Sabrina’s professional journey began in public health and youth development, where she noticed a significant gap in young people’s ability to manage daily nutrition. This observation led her to pivot towards food justice. “Part of that was bringing healthy food retail to neighborhoods that lacked access to healthy food because of economic racism and historic disinvestment,” she explains.
Communities were not satisfied with just any grocery store coming to their neighborhoods but also wanted to own the means of their economic well-being. “I found that people were less interested in bringing in multi-national chains but wanted community-owned markets, so there could be economic justice in addition to food justice. This is something I continue to hear today.”
Addressing Financial Barriers for Small Businesses
Through her work in food justice, Sabrina became acutely aware of the financial hurdles small business owners faced, especially those from BIPOC communities. “Their costs were high, they couldn’t access capital, and there were huge barriers to financing.”
This realization brought her to EBCF seven years ago, where she now leads the foundation’s inclusive economy work. Her role involves resourcing organizations that are building a new economy that supports low-income and BIPOC communities, including entrepreneurs of color.
“BIPOC entrepreneurs often have hesitancy around taking on loan debt, and their books might not look the way banks want,” Sabrina explains. “There’s a distrust of those institutions which have historically been racist and part of a financial system which shut them out. Part of my work is creating new pathways for BIPOC entrepreneurs and sources of capital that are supportive and meet them where they’re at.”
Inspiring Cultural Expression Through Business
One of the most joyful aspects of Sabrina’s work is witnessing how entrepreneurs integrate their cultural heritage into their businesses. “Something that is inspiring to me about immigrants and people of color who start businesses is the ways they bring different parts of themselves and their cultures into their work,” she says. This includes developing products specifically for people of color or offering services rooted in cultural traditions.
Cultural integration not only enriches the local economy but also preserves and celebrates the diverse heritage of the East Bay. “Seeing our cultures expressed through creative businesses is a way we preserve what is here and fight against displacement, gentrification, and erasure of cultural identity.”
The REAL People’s Fund and New Initiatives
At EBCF, Sabrina has been a key figure in REAL People’s Fund, a community-governed fund that invests in local businesses. She organizes funders and investors to pool resources; leads the grantmaking; and oversees the learning and evaluation components to assess the impacts of investments and economic power-building.
Her work with REAL People’s Fund has focused on supporting small businesses in marginalized communities and ensuring those investments create tangible benefits. “For the last few years, REAL People’s Fund has been a big focus of my work. Now I am exploring new directions to build upon lessons learned to expand or create new ways of democratizing how money moves.”
One of the newest initiatives Sabrina has led is the creation of the Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund, which provided $2.2 million dollars to 170 businesses during the first round of grantmaking in 2025.
A Vision for the Future
Sabrina envisions a future where BIPOC-owned businesses thrive, and residents feel a sense of belonging in our local economy. “There’s a real nostalgia around mom-and-pop shops where residents know the store owners and you feel like you are a part of the local economy.” This vision, rooted in community, culture, and economic justice, is central to Sabrina’s work. “It’s a vision that contributes to the safety of our community, one that is an expression of a thriving neighborhood, and one that ultimately is authentic and true to the diverse culture of the East Bay.”
Sabrina’s commitment to advancing economic opportunity for BIPOC entrepreneurs continues to shape the East Bay, ensuring that its economic future is inclusive, diverse, and deeply rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of our people.