Sami Grisafe is Head of Relationships at Instil, a relationship intelligence platform serving nonprofit organizations, and a three-time USA Women’s Tackle Football World Champion. A recording artist, actor, and nationally recognized speaker, Sami brings an unusual interdisciplinary lens to fundraising, combining elite performance psychology, storytelling, and relational strategy. Her work explores how trust is built, signals are missed, and authentic human connection drives transformational giving in an increasingly automated world. Sami has spent her career performing under pressure, from championship athletics to live theatre to donor-facing relationship work, translating those lessons into practical frameworks for modern fundraisers.
