Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) - SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity)

Title: Chief Advancement Officer

Department: SEO Executive Office

Reporting to: William Goodloe, President & Chief Executive Officer 

Location: Hybrid – 2-3 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 Law, 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 at least $10 million next 3-4 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 the strategy to increase SEO's annual revenue by $10 million or more over the next 3-4 years through a variety of philanthropic sources (e.g., institutional giving, major gifts, alumni programming), SEO's annual gala, and a comprehensive special events calendar to generate unrestricted funds. 
• 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 as senior leader of a national fundraising program/campaign that has generated at least $20-25 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. This executive position also qualifies for SEO's annual Management Incentive Plan (MIP) bonus based on individual and organizational performance. 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 403(b) retirement accounts. In addition, this executive position also qualifies for employer contributions towards 457(b) retirement plan.

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.

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

Interest & Referrals

Jeff Perkins
Managing Director
Global Practice Leader, Social Impact
(202) 248-5088
j.perkins@stantonchase.com

Charles Nailen
Managing Director
(202) 248-5088
c.nailen@stantonchase.com 

Abbey Corona
Senior Associate
(202) 248-5088
a.corona@stantonchase.com