WHOI Selects New Chief Development Officer
March 12, 2019
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has selected Court Clayton, an expert in fundraising and philanthropic giving, as the Institution’s new Chief Development Officer (CDO). Clayton brings two decades of frontline fundraising and management experience to WHOI within higher education and global non-governmental organizations.
“This is an exciting time at Woods Hole Oceanographic,” said Samuel Harp, Vice President of Advancement and Chief Marketing Officer. “We are dramatically stepping up our efforts to expand the impact of Woods Hole Oceanographic’s groundbreaking science and technology on the world’s oceans. As both a proven leader and a talented fundraiser, Court brings exactly the right mix of skills and experience we need to propel this effort.”
Most recently, Clayton served as a principal of Groundswell Philanthropy, a boutique philanthropic and fundraising consulting firm he launched to work with both philanthropists and charities to maximize their programmatic impact. Before working at Groundswell, Clayton was Director of Development & Alumni Relations at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where he expanded school philanthropic revenue by more than 400 percent. He has also worked in various fundraising roles at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Habitat for Humanity International, and Boston College.
In his new role at WHOI, Clayton will be responsible for leading the development team and expanding philanthropic revenue from individuals, corporations and foundations. The team will focus on establishing new ‘Accelerator Funds’ which will increase funding for innovative research, education and advancement.
“As someone fortunate enough to spend many summers on the water, I’m thrilled to be joining WHOI’s scientists and engineers who are exploring our planet’s last frontier,” said Clayton. “I truly believe our oceans hold important insights into planetary health and scientific discovery.”