FOUNDER
Ed Satell, Founder and Chair of the Satell Institute
A successful, innovative and respected business entrepreneur for more than 50 years, Ed Satell is founder and CEO of a multi-division media and ecommerce provider, headquartered in the Philadelphia region. His company is well-known for a strong, supportive culture of accountability and dedication to corporate social responsibility.
Ed believes, models and teaches “Think we, not just me.” He established two charitable foundations to support the belief that with success comes responsibility. The Satell Family Foundation and the Progressive Business Publications Charitable Trust are among of the quietest but most effective in the region, with more than 30 selected activities with 24 institutions.
His foundations turn his thoughts into action, focusing on five key areas: developing disadvantaged children and young people of promise, supporting higher education, medical and energy research to improve lives, community and civic initiatives, and supporting his heritage. This quiet but extensive philanthropy is uniquely hands-on, with Ed known in the nonprofit world as a “thinking partner.” He provides the business expertise and understanding of best practices greatly valued by the nonprofits supported.
Most recently, Ed founded and fully-endowed the groundbreaking Satell Institute, the leading CEO member organization for Corporate Social Responsibility. The Institute is focused on championing the interdependence of successful business organizations, the well-being of the communities they operate in, and the need they have for each other, recognizing an inescapable priority for business leaders — to make the communities they operate in better by partnering for-profits with quality nonprofits, for the greater good.
The Satell Institute Think Tank provides the research and educational resources that back this ideal. Its Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), created in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, is on the prestigious MIT-Harvard platform edX. Like Ed himself, the Institute is dedicated to CSR action, emerging as a “Collective Force” of many business and foundation leaders committed to community development to ensure communities’ long-term well-being—the greater good. Members support one or more community nonprofit partners via one or more four-year, $25,000 per year (or more) commitment(s) to a nonprofit.
In 2017, Ed also established the first Fellowship for CSR at the University of Connecticut School of Business through the Satell Family Foundation. In 2018, the beautiful Satell Center for Jewish Life on the Eastern Shore was dedicated. Although he prefers little publicity, many nonprofits chose to honor him as an inspiration and role model. These honors include:
2003 Greater Philadelphia Area Association of Fundraising Professionals “Philanthropist of the Year Award”
2005 World Affairs Council of Philadelphia Atlas “Man of the Year” Award
2006 Temple Sholom “Visionary of Sholom” Award
2007 Walnut Street Theatre “Man of the Year” Award
2008 Cradle of Liberty Council BSA Good Scout “Man of the Year” Award
2009 Caron Foundation “Humanitarian of the Year” Award
2011 Inducted by Junior Achievement as Inaugural Member into the Philadelphia Business Hall of Fame
2012 The Legacy of Leadership Award from The World Affairs Council, presented by Former Prime Minister Tony Blair
2012 Inducted into the University of Connecticut Business School Hall of Fame
2013 The International Vision Award from International House, Philadelphia
2014 The Judge Lois Forer Child Advocacy Award celebrating his contribution to supporting children around the world
2014 The Heroes of Liberty Award for his long-time commitment to Freedom and Values by the National Liberty Museum
2015 Leadership Award from the Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
2016 Richard J. Caron Medal from the Caron Foundation
2019 Junior Achievement Legacy Award
2020 Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement award
2020 Main Line Chamber of Commerce F. Karle Schauffele Award
2020 Global Philadelphia Lifetime Achievement Award
2021 Mann Center Crescendo Award for Philanthropy
His Honorary Degrees Include:
2007 Doctorate from Gratz College, where he was also the Commencement Speaker
2011 International Fellowship Degree from The Technion Institute, Israel
2016 Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Technion Institute, Israel
Ed has written a comprehensive and highly-regarded book on sales techniques, The Principles of Sales Excellence, and contributed the foreword to The American National Tree and the final chapter for Defining New Christian-Jewish Dialogue.
He is a proud graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business, where he was a member of the Phi Sigma Delta Fraternity, elected to student government and a leader in various campus-wide activities. Ed is a long-time member of the Young Presidents and World Presidents Organization. He founded the Nonprofit CEO Forum, which fosters executive development for top regional nonprofit CEOs. Ed also serves on numerous boards in the Philadelphia region, as well as a national board.