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**Title:** Chief Advancement Officer
**Department:** SEO Executive Office
**Reporting to:** William Goodloe, President & Chief Executive Officer
**Location:** Hybrid – 2 days/week in office; some nights, weekends, and
travel required.
**All candidates must be within commutable distance of SEO’s offices at 55
Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005, upon hire.**
### **This search is managed by Stanton Chase. Please see the details below.**
**_ABOUT SEO_**
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) is a non-profit organization with a
rich history of supporting underserved students. Founded in 1963 by Michael
Osheowitz as a mentoring program, SEO has evolved significantly over the
decades. It expanded its reach in 1980 with the launch of SEO Career, a summer
internship program for college students, and later established international
presence in London, China, Vietnam, and Ghana. SEO currently boasts a network
of 25,000+ alumni, including $12,000+ in the U.S.
SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that transforms public
high school students into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully
educates and mentors underserved, low-income public high school students to
and through college.
Over the past 10 years, under the leadership of Board Chair Henry Kravis and
CEO William Goodloe, the organization has roughly quadrupled in size while
expanding the Scholars Program nationally to San Francisco in 2011, North
Carolina in 2022, and Miami in 2024. SEO also prepares young professionals for
entry into coveted careers through programs that include SEO Alternative
Investments, Tech Developer, and the Leadership Institute. Throughout its
journey, SEO has garnered numerous accolades, including 11 consecutive 4-star
ratings from Charity Navigator, and has successfully raised $8 million
annually through its award dinners. Despite challenges like the COVID-19
pandemic, which necessitated the addition of virtual programming in 2020, SEO
has maintained a commitment to providing educational and career opportunities
to underserved students while adapting and expanding its impact.
**_POSITION OVERVIEW_**
SEO saw rapid and unprecedented expansion during the pandemic, prompting the
need to grow and redesign our C-suite. Over the last three years, we have
welcomed three new Executive Committee members to oversee critical functions
within the organization— SEO Professional Programs, SEO Scholars Program, and
national operations. In the same period, we have also doubled the
organization's workforce and budget, expanded SEO's regional footprints in
North Carolina and Miami, and opened a second site in Oakland, CA, to
accommodate our growing Scholars program in San Francisco.
The SEO Chief Advancement Officer is responsible for strategic development
planning and activities supporting the NYC SEO Scholars program and SEO
general program/operating support, representing 40% of organization's $51M
budget with the goal to grow support by 50% over next 3 years. A particular
focus will be on national foundations, corporate donors, and major individual
donors. The CAO is expected to be a front-line national relationship builder
and major donor solicitor, managing a portfolio of prospects, and supervising
an approximately nine-member development team.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) William Goodloe, the CAO will
be a leader in lifting the current org-wide development efforts to new levels
of success by broadening ways to attract and more deeply engage with national
foundations, corporations, and individual philanthropists over time – to
become strategic sources of revenue. The CAO will also work closely with SEO’s
professional programs and its Marketing & Communications team to utilize SEO’s
legacy of impact closing opportunity gaps to increase national brand
recognition as a whole. The CAO will serve on the Executive Committee of SEO’s
Executive Leadership Team.
**_RESPONSIBILITIES_**
**Fundraising:**
* Drive a strategy to raise roughly an additional $10 - 15m+ in annual revenue for SEO general program support and Scholars program support from a variety of philanthropic sources (annual giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, alumni) and special events (an annual gala that consistently generates $8m+ in unrestricted funds and several smaller events focused on the Scholars program and general SEO support).
* Leverage SEO’s existing ecosystem and activate SEO’s untapped networks within the spaces where the organization currently operates, including private equity and corporate partner organizations.
* In collaboration with the CEO, senior staff and Board of Directors, develop long-range strategies to significantly increase philanthropic giving and serve as the key strategist for specific “asks.”
* Build and streamline a development model that accounts for major donor funding from various avenues, including those of partner and expansion offices, to ensure coordination and maximize donor engagement.
* Lead the positioning of SEO for further national expansion by establishing and deepening relationships with all relevant internal and external partners/ constituents.
* Monitor prospect portfolios for the CEO, staff, board, and expansion offices. Serve as an advisor and collaborator to the expansion offices.
* Craft compelling cases for support of unrestricted funds that maximize relationships with current donors and cultivate and convert new donors.
* Serve as a front-line cultivator and solicitor. Cultivate and steward donors; make significant requests for support from major donors, board members, foundations, and corporations.
* Ensure comprehensive, timely, and innovative stewardship of all gifts.
* In collaboration with Development Team, ensure the continued success of the annual SEO awards dinner, securing sponsors and honorees for the organization’s biggest fundraising night of the year.
**Strategic Leadership:**
* Effectively lead and organize the development team’s day-to-day operations and budgets; streamline processes and procedures.
* Serve as subject matter expert and partner to CEO in developing long term strategy.
* Serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the organization, collaborating with other members and leading a workplace characterized by mutual respect and open discussion in which all strive for excellence and innovation.
* Develop and maintain a strong partnership with Board members and leverage the Board to advance SEO’s fundraising activities. As appropriate, cultivate and maintain relationships with Expansion Offices’ advisory boards.
* Provide support to Board members in the identification, cultivation and solicitation of their portfolios of prospective major donors.
* Develop a diverse and highly skilled staff that is well-prepared to meet the ongoing challenges of a first-rate mission-driven organization.
* Nurture and mentor team members and provide opportunities for meaningful work, enhance their skills and develop their careers.
* Create and foster an inclusive, DEIB focused environment among staff.
**_QUALIFICATIONS_**
* 15+ years of experience in a development or advancement role for a mission driven organization. 10+ years in a leadership position preferred.
* Experience leading a **national** program/campaign that has generated at least $45 - 50 million in annual contributions. Experience working with Salesforce is a plus.
* Experience as an organization-wide executive leader who has worked collaboratively with peers and led staff.
* A definitive passion for SEO's mission and a reputation for ethical stewardship and effective fundraising governance.
* The vision to lead the overall strategic direction of national fundraising operation, diversify SEO's revenue streams to outpace our expansion, and identify and secure corporate and foundation partnerships.
* The emotional intelligence to inclusively lead across difference, manage change, and thoughtfully advise and collaborate with leadership in Expansion sites on local fundraising initiatives in North Carolina, San Francisco, and Miami.
* The cultural competency to navigate evolving narratives in the DEIB space, center SEO's history of impact and excellence, and position the organization as a respected innovator in social equity.
* The humility to receive feedback and guidance from SEO's CEO, boards, peers, staff, community members, and participants. The successful candidate must model the integrity and values of the organization as a trusted and visible representative of our community.
**_COMPENSATION & BENEFITS _**
**_The benchmarked compensation range for this position is $250,000 -
$300,000._**
SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan,
including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday
schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new
parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement
accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on
the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to consistently use a
DEIB lens to put people first and foremost.
_The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will
pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable
law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and
experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and
SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time._
**EEOC Policy**
At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds
and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in,
and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from
all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+
Community, veterans, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to
apply.
**Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.**
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for
employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender
identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age,
marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic
information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status.
If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a
disability, please email [SEO Talent](mailto:[email protected]).
### ABOUT STANTON CHASE
Stanton Chase is a top global retained executive search firm and leadership
consultancy where global expertise meets local insight with personalized
service. The Stanton Chase D.C. office specializes in C-Suite placements at
mission driven organizations. For more information, please visit us at:
[www.stantonchase.com](http://www.stantonchase.com)
### **Interest & Referrals**
**Jeff Perkins**
Managing Director
Global Practice Leader, Social Impact
(202) 248-5088
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
**Charles Nailen**
Managing Director
(202) 248-5088
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
**Abbey Corona**
Senior Associate
(202) 248-5088
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
**_ _**