Director, Development and Foundation Operations

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Foundation’s annual fundraising strategy to achieve philanthropic revenue goals
• Cultivate, solicit, steward, and grow relationships with corporate partners, donors, foundations, and community stakeholders to expand philanthropic support
• Identify, develop, and secure new philanthropic partnerships, sponsorships, grants, and funding opportunities aligned with the Foundation’s mission and strategic priorities
• Oversee donor stewardship, sponsorship fulfillment, gift acknowledgments, and engagement strategies that strengthen long-term relationships and donor retention
• Lead fundraising operations, including donor database management, prospect research, campaign tracking, reporting, and development systems
• Develop fundraising collateral, sponsorship proposals, impact reports, Board presentations, and executive communications to support donor cultivation and fundraising efforts
• Lead operational planning and execution for Foundation programs, community initiatives, signature fundraising events, and engagement activations
• Develop and implement organizational systems, workflows, and operational processes that improve efficiency, accountability, and scalability
• Oversee project management, organizational planning, budgeting, implementation timelines, and cross-functional execution across Foundation initiatives
• Manage administrative operations, vendor relationships, contracts, reporting, and internal communications
• Establish performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting processes to measure fundraising performance, operational effectiveness, and community impact
• Build and maintain the operational infrastructure necessary to support the Foundation’s continued growth and long-term strategic objectives
• Partner with the Executive Director on organizational planning, annual priorities, budgeting, and long-term strategic initiatives
• Prepare reports, presentations, and updates for Foundation leadership, Board meetings, and key stakeholders

Required Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• 7+ years of leadership experience in nonprofit development, sports, philanthropy, corporate partnerships, community engagement, sports philanthropy, or a related field.
• Experience developing and executing fundraising strategies, donor cultivation and stewardship, sponsorship development, and partnership management
• Proven experience leading organizational operations, project management, and cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment
• Experience building systems, processes, and operational infrastructure that support organizational growth and long-term sustainability
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, reporting, and organizational planning
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to engage executive leadership, Board members, donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite/Google Suite; experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud) or similar donor management systems
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, and handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion
• Passion for advancing community impact through philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and operational excellence