Richard D. Santoro named Executive Director of East Stroudsburg University Foundation

Posted by: admin on June 1, 2015, No Comments

Richard D. Santoro has been named Executive Director of the East Stroudsburg University (ESU) Foundation, effective June 1, 2015.  The appointment was announced by ESU Foundation Board Chair and Alumnus Robert Willever ’75.

As Executive Director, Mr. Santoro will report directly to the ESU Foundation Board of Directors and will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and management for the joint fundraising efforts of the ESU Foundation and the Office of University Advancement including board relations, financial operations, investment management and administrative direction.  Among other duties, he will lead the development and planning of capital and annual fundraising efforts and will oversee the administration of major and planned giving programs.

“The ESU Foundation marks Mr. Santoro’s arrival as a time for growth and change,” said Willever.  “I’m confident he is the ideal person to help the Foundation improve its brand to create a vibrant and dynamic philanthropic culture.  Beyond our initial need to expand student scholarship and support services, the ESU Foundation envisions new opportunities to improve the university’s infrastructure and build upon current financial support from alumni, friends and personnel with Mr. Santoro’s expertise to guide us.”

Mr. Santoro was most recently the interim chief advancement officer for Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Institutional Advancement Office, developing solicitation strategies with clinicians and scientists, supervision of development services and donor relations, and management and solicitation of the center’s greatest stakeholders including the Board of Directors. While at Fox Chase, Mr. Santoro was responsible for securing the largest planned gift in the center’s history, building a major gifts team, launching a planned giving recognition society and supervising the implementation of a “Grateful Patient Program” that resulted in gifts totaling more than $2 million to date, over and above established annual giving.

Prior to his seven years of employment at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Mr. Santoro held various positions within the advancement office at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., and achieved notable fundraising success with reunion campaign programs, athletic fundraising and annual giving development.  He was also responsible for elevating alumni support to seventh among national universities, adding new levels within leadership giving societies to recognize and promote increased major gifts and restructuring a volunteer leadership committee for improved strategic focus.

“It’s good to be back in higher education,” said Mr. Santoro.  “I am pleased to accept this position at the ESU Foundation and I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, ESU President Marcia G. Welsh and Vice President Mary Frances Postupack in building alumni and community support and to develop a sustainable, innovative learning environment that supports our students with increased opportunities for scholarship and professional development.”

Mr. Santoro earned his Bachelor of Science in marketing from Lehigh University. He is a professional member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Greater Philadelphia, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). For nearly 20 years, he has been a member of the executive board for the Lehigh University Wrestling Club and served many years as a volunteer coach in youth sports. He was previously a board member for the Senior Centers of Bethlehem, served as a loan executive for United Way and is a graduate of the Leadership Lehigh Valley program.

Mr. Santoro and his wife, Katee, have two sons. For more information about Mr. Santoro or the ESU Foundation, call 570-422-3333.