Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has appointed Chakshu S. Patel as Chief Development Officer. Patel will lead the organization’s global philanthropic strategy and fundraising operations, focusing on revenue growth and expanding philanthropic development in support of its mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. She will report to President and CEO Sherrie Westin.
“Chakshu combines strategic acumen with a genuine talent for bringing people together around a shared purpose,” says Westin. “Her passion for Sesame Workshop’s mission is matched by her commitment to building the relationships that make our work possible. As we look to the future, Chakshu’s leadership will strengthen the support needed to sustain our work, at a time when the need for Sesame is greater than ever.”
Patel brings more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, institutional advancement, and law. She joins Sesame Workshop from the Studio Museum in Harlem, where she served as Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer. In that role, she led a $300 million capital campaign supporting the museum’s first permanent home designed specifically for its collection, while also advancing its exhibitions and public programming.
Previously, Patel spent more than a decade at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she grew institutional giving from $11.8 million to more than $85 million. She began her 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.
“I’m honored to join Sesame Workshop at such a pivotal moment in its history,” says Patel. “For decades, this organization has demonstrated what’s possible when creativity, rigor, and heart come together in service of children and families. I look forward to building a philanthropic strategy that matches the scale of its ambition and impact.”
Her appointment reflects Sesame Workshop’s continued investment in the philanthropic infrastructure supporting its work with children and families around the world. The organization reaches families in more than 190 countries through educational media and its beloved characters.
Learn more at sesameworkshop.org.
