Chakshu S. Patel
Chief Development Officer
Chakshu Patel is the Chief Development Officer at Sesame Workshop, leading the organization’s global philanthropic strategy and fundraising operations.
She is responsible for driving revenue growth and expanding philanthropic development in support of Sesame Workshop’s mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
With over 25 years of leadership experience, Patel brings a broad perspective and a diverse skill set, including extensive experience in institutional advancement, nonprofit management, program design, strategy, and law. Her career has been defined by a commitment to social justice and to increasing access and opportunity.
Most recently, she served as Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the preeminent contemporary Black art museum in the U.S. There, she oversaw the development, marketing and communications, and product development teams, helping to strengthen the institution’s fundraising capabilities, amplify the Museum’s brand, and advance its vision for the future. She also led the $300 million capital campaign supporting the Museum’s first permanent home designed specifically for its collection, while expanding its exhibitions and public programming. Prior to the Studio Museum, Patel spent more than a decade at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she held a number of different roles, including in development and strategy. She began her professional career as an attorney, working at the ACLU and in private practice.
Patel holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and was elected to the Order of the Coif, and a B.A. in women’s studies from Drew University.
Contact for Speaking Engagements
Sesame Workshop Speakers Bureau
SpeakersBureau@sesame.org
