About
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services exclusively to people recently released from incarceration. Headquartered in New York City and operating in 30 cities across twelve states, CEO is the largest reentry employment provider in the country. Its vision is that anyone with a recent criminal history who wants to work has the preparation and support needed to find a job and stay connected to the labor force.
Mission
CEO is dedicated to ensuring that justice-impacted job seekers have opportunities to achieve social and economic mobility. Its Theory of Change holds that if the employment needs of people with criminal convictions are addressed at their most vulnerable point — when they are first released from incarceration or soon after conviction — through life skills education, short-term paid transitional employment, full-time job placement, and post-placement services, they will be less likely to be reincarcerated and more likely to build a stable, productive life.
What they do
CEO's program moves participants through five steps:
- Job-readiness training: a paid orientation covering employment documents, benefits eligibility such as SNAP, digital skills, financial literacy, and workplace best practices.
- Transitional employment: guaranteed paid work up to four days a week on CEO's transitional work crews, which provide maintenance and neighborhood beautification services, with pay at the end of every shift.
- Job coaching and placement: each participant is matched with a job coach for resumes, mock interviews, and referrals to employers.
- Advanced training: pathways such as commercial driver's license (CDL) training to increase earning potential.
- Retention services: a year of personalized support after placement, including workplace counseling, career planning, and Rapid Rewards retention bonuses.
History
CEO began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970s to address employment barriers facing people after release from incarceration. In 1996 it became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving people newly released from New York State prisons and detention facilities, and has since expanded to 30 cities across twelve states.
Scale and impact
Per CEO's website: more than 34,000 placements into full-time employment to date, 8,000+ enrollments each year, 450+ participants working daily, and 107+ transitional work crews operating across the country. Among participants, 60% have no education beyond high school or its equivalency, 56% have no prior work experience, and 81% are people of color.
Financials
Per ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (fiscal year ending June 2025), CEO reported total revenue of $116.3 million (99.8% from contributions and grants), total expenses of $124.4 million, and net assets of $47.5 million. CEO publishes its audited financial statements and Form 990s on its website.
Governance
CEO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 13-3843322). Samuel Schaeffer serves as CEO and Executive Director, with Samra Haider as President, per its most recent ProPublica filing data.