Wes Patterson

Wes Patterson serves as Chief Development Officer at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, where he leads fundraising strategy to advance President Reagan’s legacy and principles, and expand the Foundation’s impact through philanthropy.

With more than two decades of experience in higher education and nonprofit advancement, Wes has led fundraising efforts at some of California’s most respected institutions. He spent over 12 years at the University of Southern California (USC), where he held senior leadership roles, including Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Senior Associate Dean for Advancement at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. During his tenure, Wes contributed to USC’s historic “Campaign for USC”, then the largest campaign in higher education, and played a central role in the launch and the completion of the “Viterbi Initiative”- advancing priorities in engineering, technology, and innovation.

Before joining USC, Wes served as a Senior Development Officer at Pepperdine University, where he supported the university’s Campaign for Pepperdine. At this nationally recognized faith-based institution, he built strong relationships with donors committed to integrating academic excellence with Christian values, helping to secure major gifts that supported scholarships, academic programs, and student experiences.

Wes began his career with the Boy Scouts of America, one of the nation’s largest and most impactful youth leadership organizations. As District Director, he was responsible for fundraising, program development, membership growth, and volunteer training across a large region- leading a network of more than 1,000 volunteers. His experience at BSA deeply shaped his leadership philosophy and reinforced his belief in mentorship, service, and civic responsibility.

Wes approaches philanthropy as a partnership rooted in trust, shared purpose, and enduring relationships. He is passionate about helping individuals and families realize their philanthropic aspirations by connecting them to work that is aligned with their values and poised to make a difference for generations to come.

He is a CFRE-certified fundraising leader and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge.