June 9, 2026 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Sonya Passi founded the nonprofit FreeFrom to end gender-based violence and help survivors build financial security through efforts including advocacy, direct support, and social enterprise. She tells the Chronicle why celebrating wins, big and small, is one key to the group’s success and what movie she watches again and again.
What do you wish more people understood about philanthropy?
It’s not about first hoarding wealth, then giving it away at the end of your life.
How do you manage your time?
My working hours begin once I drop my 3-year-old off at preschool and end the minute she gets back. I try to put more hours into planning than doing and to say no to more things than I say yes to.
How does your organization celebrate its wins?
Whether it’s a team dinner or sending flowers, we celebrate small wins with as much gusto as big ones. We also follow big moments of output with rest so that we have time to integrate the win and come back ready to build upon it.
What individuals or pivotal decisions helped you get where you are today?
The day that I chose to live free from abuse changed my life and made the creation of FreeFrom possible. Every single person who has shown me care and grace has enabled me to live abundantly. My parents were committed to giving me a world-class education that they didn’t have and in doing so set me up to accomplish my dreams.
What keeps you up at night?
The fact that one in two women in the U.S. will experience gender-based violence — and I’m raising a daughter within that system.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I’ve seen Home Alone 2 probably 1,000 times.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity from written responses to questions.
—Edited by Emily Haynes
