Miles to go

Miles To Go: The State of Education for Black Students in America

Our New ReportNews ReleaseExecutive Summary

Kathleen Rivera

Chief Development Officer

Kathleen Rivera (she/her) is the Chief Development Officer at SEF. A seasoned fund development expert with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has a proven track record in strategic planning, fundraising, business development, communications, and branding.

Kathleen specializes in major and principal gifts, direct response, community engagement, stewardship, and fundraising event planning. Her unwavering commitment to service and strategic leadership has earned her a reputation for increasing support bases for international, national, and local nonprofit organizations.

Most recently, Kathleen served as the Interim Chief Advancement Officer for the Lower Eastside Girls Club, where she launched a groundbreaking fundraising program aimed at next-gen philanthropists and donors of color, raising over $3 million in the program’s inaugural year.

Her career highlights include leadership roles at The Child Center of NY, CARE USA, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and Children’s Rights. At The Child Center of NY, Kathleen oversaw fundraising efforts that generated over $10 million annually, directly supporting programs for 59,000 children and families across New York City and Long Island. As Director of Philanthropy for the Northeast Region of CARE USA, she expanded a major gifts portfolio, spearheaded donor engagement initiatives with the CEO and Board, and drove investments in CARE’s mission. During her tenure at Children’s Rights, she developed advancement strategies, grew the major gifts program, and established a National Young Professional Leadership Council. Kathleen also secured key investments that supported the organization’s Southeast Regional efforts, leading to the creation of its Atlanta headquarters.

A Boston native, Kathleen began her career as a community organizer, program director, and grassroots initiative leader, focusing on education, financial literacy, technology, arts programming, and gender-based violence. She attended Brooklyn College, where she studied Comparative Literature and Business Law, and an alumna of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation AmeriCorps (LISC). She has received several accolades for her advocacy and community service, including the City Year Moccasin Award.

Kathleen currently resides with her two college-age children and her beloved dog, Lucy. She is excited to leverage her expertise to advance the Southern Education Foundation’s mission and vision for the future.