About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, all in service of empowering each generation to build a better world. Our beloved characters, iconic shows, outreach in communities, and more bring playful early learning to families in more than 190 countries and advance our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Learn more at www.sesame.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.
Job Summary
The children’s media landscape has changed profoundly since Sesame Street’s premiere in 1969—and that change is accelerating. As Sesame evolves to expand their reach and deepen their impact amid a changing media environment, philanthropic support is more critical than ever before. Philanthropy allows Sesame to remain independent, researchdriven, and responsive to children’s emergent needs. To that end, Sesame seeks a revenue and enterprise transformation leader, strategic builder, and relationship-driven Chief Development Officer (CDO) to spearhead the next era of philanthropic growth for one of the world’s most trusted mission-driven brands. This is a pivotal enterprise leadership opportunity for a CDO who can build a modern philanthropic engine that fuels long-term growth, architect a scaled major gifts effort, deepen donor and board engagement, develop strategic partnerships, strengthen the case for unrestricted support, and unlock new sources of funding aligned to Sesame’s mission. The Chief Development Officer will provide internal leadership across a matrixed environment, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Trustees, and the Finance, Strategy, Marketing & Communications, Corporate Partnerships, and Impact Program teams. Reporting to the CEO, the CDO will also serve as lead strategist in growing sustainable revenue streams for integrated fundraising. More than a fundraising executive, this leader will help shape the narrative of why Sesame matters now: why an iconic brand with broad public visibility still requires philanthropy to fund high-quality, research-based content and programs that meet children’s most pressing needs. The most compelling candidates will see this as an opportunity for tremendous growth. This is not a traditional fundraising role. It is a builder, architect, and integrator role. It is a role that requires both strategic vision and the ability to translate Sesame’s mixed revenue model and mission impact into a clear, compelling case for support.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as the senior architect of Sesame Workshop’s forward-looking philanthropic strategy aligned to the organization’s multi-platform global ambitions, with particular emphasis on building and scaling a best-in-class major gifts program and increasing unrestricted support in an environment where some infrastructure is still developing.
Work cross-functionally across a matrixed environment, including philanthropy, corporate partnerships, strategy, finance and operations, communications, marketing, research, education, and production to align philanthropic messaging, donor engagement, and institutional priorities.
- Partner closely with the Board of Trustees, CEO, and executive colleagues to refine and articulate a compelling, simple, and repeatable case for support that explains why philanthropy is essential to Sesame’s mission and future.
- Lead donor strategy across identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, while personally managing and advancing a select portfolio of high-capacity relationships.
- Equip trustees and senior leaders with the tools, language, and confidence to act as ambassadors, relationship-builders, and effective partners in major gifts work.
- Build trusted, direct relationships with trustees to unlock networks and opportunities, and serve as a key partner to the CEO in activating and engaging the Board in fundraising.
- Recruit, lead, and develop a VP/SVP of Major Gifts and supporting team.
- Assess, refine, and strengthen the organization’s development arm structure, talent, and operating rhythms, creating clarity, accountability, and a culture of trust, collaboration, and high performance.
- Implement the infrastructure required for scale, including portfolio management discipline, Salesforce (or equivalent) integration across revenue streams, and clear processes for pipeline tracking, forecasting, and reporting.
Indicative Measures of Success
In the first 12-18 months, the CDO will:
- Stand up a fully operational major gifts function with clear ownership, pipeline, and early wins.
- Refine and employ a sharper and more widely shared narrative that helps trustees, donors, and senior leaders explain with confidence and consistency why Sesame needs philanthropy for mission delivery.
- Increase board engagement and effectiveness in fundraising.
- Establish a cohesive philanthropy strategy tied to enterprise priorities with clear leadership and improved cross-functional alignment.
- Build trust and credibility across the organization as a thought partner and leader.
- Lay the foundation for a scalable, sustainable development engine.
Candidate Profile
The strongest candidate will bring the substance of a seasoned development leader, and the style of a trusted enterprise partner. In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:
. Growth and Entrepreneurial Mindset
- A track record of building a successful major gifts function, with demonstrated experience building or materially scaling programs (versus improving mature platforms).
- Has the flexibility to create nuanced plans and objectives that adapt to the situation and/or partners at hand, while bringing to life an inspirational future for the overall fundraising operation.
. Strategic Fundraising Leadership
. Significant experience leading a broad philanthropic strategy in complex and evolving mission-driven organizations where some infrastructure is still developing.
- Comfort working inside a matrixed environment where commercial visibility, mission discipline, and philanthropic strategy intersect.
- Exceptional communication ability, especially the capacity to translate a complicated organizational model into a simple and persuasive narrative.
Delivering Results
- A track record of securing seven- and eight-figure gifts and managing complex donor relationships.
- Has the ability to work thoughtfully and decisively in a complex, international system with multiple donors and partners as well as operational and programmatic possibilities.
- Has a track record of balancing financial wisdom and prudence with innovation and calculated risk-taking.
- Has experience working closely with a CEO and Board on cultivating a culture of philanthropy.
Leading and Empowering Teams
- High emotional intelligence, humility, and exceptional listening skills; a leadership style that is highly collaborative and self-aware.
- Values learning, curiosity, and continuous learning; inspires others to do their best.
- Balances urgency with thoughtfulness; calm and methodical under changing circumstances.
. Relationships and Influence
- Credibility with sophisticated donors, families, trustees, and senior executives, coupled with the judgment and warmth to represent an iconic institution with nuance and authenticity.
- Willingness to maintain a strong presence in New York and to engage nationally and internationally with donors, trustees, and partners.
Personal Competencies
- Deep resonance with Sesame Workshop’s mission and a genuine belief in the transformative power of educational media.
- Has personal drive and integrity; exemplary levels of professionalism, probity, and resilience.
- A natural ability to persuade, build and preserve trust, confidence, and respect among various constituencies.
Additional Delivery:
This role may perform other related duties as needed to support the team and organizational priorities.
While Russell Reynolds Associates has been exclusively retained for this search, all candidates should officially submit their resume and application on the Sesame Workshop Career site. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Sesame Workshop Hybrid Work Policy
This position is based at our headquarters office in New York (Manhattan) at 1900 Broadway, New York, NY, and follows a hybrid work model. In-office requirements vary by role and employee group, and currently range from two to five designated in-office days per week.
Pay Transparency Policy Statement
As a federal contractor, Sesame Workshop follows Pay Transparency and non-discrimination provisions as guided by the U.S. Department of Lab
Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) Statement
Sesame Workshop is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy-related condition, familial status, domestic violence victim status, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
PSEA Statement
Sesame Workshop is an equal-opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on the business needs, job requirements & suitability of the candidate. Sesame Workshop strictly follows the Child Safeguarding Policy, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of program participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Sesame Workshop staff, consultants, visitors to the program and partner organization, and the standards of behavior expected from them.
