Sean E. McCarthy is the associate director of institutional giving at American Progress. McCarthy is an accomplished fundraising professional dedicated to connecting donors with programs and initiatives that inspire. McCarthy is returning to American Progress after serving as the organization’s foundation relations coordinator from 2018 to 2020. Most recently, McCarthy served as the donor relations manager with the National Housing Trust (NHT), where he helped sustain the NHT’s mission-critical efforts to preserve and modernize affordable housing stock across the country. Previously, McCarthy served as the development manager with the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and NCTE Action Fund, where they stewarded a portfolio of current and prospective corporate supporters and major donors. McCarthy is credited with rapidly increasing the NCTE’s corporate revenue from $500,000 to $1.5 million within two years—investments that have supported some of the NCTE’s most important programs, including the organization’s advocacy on behalf of transgender youth and its groundbreaking 2022 U.S. Trans Survey. Prior to joining the NCTE, McCarthy served as the corporate relations manager with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he managed a portfolio of domestic and international businesses leveraging CSIS’ reputation for data-driven, objective, and respected policy research. In addition to his primary positions as a front-line fundraiser, McCarthy is an independent consultant and the principal fundraiser for several regional and national nonprofits in the Washington, D.C., region, providing clients with expert guidance on responsible and strategic capacity building and revenue generation. Current and past clients include local arts organizations, professional theaters, and national and regional LGBTQ+ advocacy and direct-service organizations.
McCarthy received dual bachelor’s degrees in political science and communication (journalism) from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in political communication from American University. In 2023, he was recognized as an Outstanding Young Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, an award bestowed to young professionals under the age of 31 who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to the philanthropic industry and to their craft.