Jonathan Alter

Jonathan Alter serves as Senior Advisor for Policy and Planning in the Office of the Administrator. In this role, Mr. Alter provides specialized leadership and professional insights to support the mission of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). As Senior Advisor, Mr. Alter advises and assists SBA senior leadership with the planning, development and implementation of programs, policies, and priorities. Previously, Mr. Alter served as Senior Advisor in SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation and Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.

Before joining the U.S. Small Business Administration, Mr. Alter served on campaigns in numerous management and leadership roles during the 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2020 election cycles.

In addition to his political activities, Mr. Alter has served in executive and strategic advisory roles for numerous private and nonprofit organizations. Within the private sector, Mr. Alter held leadership roles in several consultancies, including Pathfound and The Xigent Group – bringing together inventors, investors, and entrepreneurs to incubate, accelerate and commercialize innovation. In this capacity, Mr. Alter nurtured and facilitated the successful launch of numerous small businesses, start-up ventures, and social enterprises.

Mr. Alter’s experience within the nonprofit sector includes engagements in governance and as a strategic advisor for aligned organizations, their founders, and senior leadership – specifically for organizations and institutions focusing on social justice, educational equity, and economic development. In this capacity, Mr. Alter championed a culture of virtuous entanglement – engaging diverse stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes.

A native of Winnetka, Illinois, Mr. Alter is an alumnus of University of Chicago and Yale University.