Sponsors for Educational Opportunity
SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing educational and career equity for talented young people from historically underserved communities. Through academic support, mentorship, and professional development, SEO helps students access transformative opportunities and long-term success. The organization partners with schools, universities, and employers to create pathways that empower participants to thrive and lead in their fields, strengthening communities and driving systemic change through education and opportunity.
Highlights
Institutional Giving Risk
SEO navigated a leadership transition during a critical period for foundation and corporate funding, creating potential vulnerability within its institutional giving program.
Sustained Funding Momentum
The organization was looking to maintain funding momentum and steward key funder relationships.
Seamless Interim Leadership
S&W worked closely with SEO’s team to provide interim institutional giving oversight, ensuring consistent execution and progress during the transition.
The Challenge
SEO entered a period of internal transition that created immediate pressure on its institutional giving program. With several high-value foundation and corporate grants approaching renewal deadlines, the organization needed to ensure continuity, accuracy, and strong funder stewardship without overburdening internal staff. At the same time, leadership sought to preserve long-term funding momentum and maintain confidence among institutional partners during a moment of change.
The challenge was not only tactical—managing renewals, reports, and timelines—but also strategic: sustaining trust, alignment, and forward progress within a complex fundraising portfolio. SEO required experienced interim support that could integrate quickly, collaborate cross-functionally, and deliver high-quality outcomes without disruption to mission-critical operations.
The Solution
Schultz & Williams provided targeted interim institutional giving support, embedding seamlessly with SEO’s advancement team to manage and advance priority fundraising work. The engagement focused on project-managing and drafting high-priority renewal proposals and reports, coordinating closely with program and finance teams to ensure accuracy, alignment, and timely submission.
Schultz & Williams partnered with SEO’s Chief Advancement Officer to steward existing funder relationships while supporting broader institutional giving priorities, including additional grant applications and development of year-end reporting content. Regular check-ins, clear tracking tools, and proactive communication ensured visibility and momentum throughout the engagement. As a result, SEO sustained continuity in its institutional fundraising efforts during a critical transition period, positioning the organization for continued stability and future growth.
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