Sean McManus joined Film Independent in 1998. As Senior Director, he oversees the development, membership, and diversity departments including contributed and earned revenue streams for the organization. Prior to Film Independent, he served as Director of Major Gifts at the American Film Institute where he oversaw individual giving programs including support groups, membership, scholarships, customized giving projects, government grants, and donor records management.

From 1987-97, he worked as a fund raising professional at the University of Southern California School of Engineering, serving as Director of Corporate Relations, Associate Director of Major Gifts, and Assistant Director of Annual Giving. He is a graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business where he pursued an MBA with an emphasis in the business of entertainment and a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in decision systems and management. Mc Manus is the Treasurer and a board member of The Trevor Project, a not-for-profit service organization that supports at-risk gay and questioning youth. He was born in Dayton, Ohio.