Director of Development
New York, NY
Full-time
Hybrid
1 month ago
About the role
About Laureus Sports For Good Foundation USA
Laureus Sport for Good USA is a national nonprofit organization that uses the power of sport to improve the lives of youth and unite communities. Since 2012, we’ve invested over $30 million into community-based organizations, impacting more than one million young people. We support youth-serving sport programs through grants and capacity building, empower local leaders to drive social change, and organize the youth sport sector through convenings, research, and strategic advisement.
Laureus USA is part of the global Laureus network, which includes National Foundations across the world, a Global Foundation, the Laureus World Sports Academy, and the annual Laureus World Sports Awards.
Position Summary
Laureus USA seeks a dynamic and relationship-driven fundraiser to serve as Director, Development. Based in New York City, this role will play a key part in advancing the organization’s fundraising efforts across individual, foundation, and corporate giving, with a particular focus on building and growing individual donor support.
Reporting to the Sr. Director, External Affairs, the Director, Development will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of donors and prospects, with an emphasis on high-net-worth individuals. This role requires a strong external presence, with the ability to confidently engage donors, build meaningful relationships, and move prospects through the full giving cycle. The Director will also play a role as part of Laureus USA’s national leadership team, contributing to organizational priorities and ensuring alignment between fundraising efforts and broader strategy.
The Director will be responsible for developing Laureus’ individual giving strategy, working closely with the Sr. Director, External Affairs and Executive Director to build a more robust and sustainable pipeline. This position requires both strong execution and the ability to operate in a growing area of the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising & Donor Management
Individual Giving Strategy & Growth
Events & Donor Engagement
Partnership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Organizational Engagement & Leadership
Candidate Attributes
What You Can Expect
Laureus USA is a high-performing team with a strong track record of impact, national partnerships, and engagement from some of the world’s most recognized athletes. As part of this team, you can expect a collaborative environment where individuals take ownership of their work while also stepping in to support broader organizational priorities as needed.
This role offers the opportunity to play a central part in strengthening and growing Laureus’ individual giving and overall fundraising efforts. You will work closely with the Sr. Director, External Affairs and Executive Director to build relationships, develop strategy, and contribute to achieving the organization’s annual fundraising goals. This role will also provide opportunities to engage with Laureus’ Athlete Council and broader athlete network as part of donor cultivation and engagement efforts.
The role is highly external-facing and will require regular engagement with donors and partners, as well as participation in events, including some evenings and weekends.
Compensation
The expected salary range for this role is $110,000 to $130,000, with eligibility for performance-based bonus and a comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and alignment with the qualifications and attributes of the role.
Laureus Sport for Good USA is a national nonprofit organization that uses the power of sport to improve the lives of youth and unite communities. Since 2012, we’ve invested over $30 million into community-based organizations, impacting more than one million young people. We support youth-serving sport programs through grants and capacity building, empower local leaders to drive social change, and organize the youth sport sector through convenings, research, and strategic advisement.
Laureus USA is part of the global Laureus network, which includes National Foundations across the world, a Global Foundation, the Laureus World Sports Academy, and the annual Laureus World Sports Awards.
Position Summary
Laureus USA seeks a dynamic and relationship-driven fundraiser to serve as Director, Development. Based in New York City, this role will play a key part in advancing the organization’s fundraising efforts across individual, foundation, and corporate giving, with a particular focus on building and growing individual donor support.
Reporting to the Sr. Director, External Affairs, the Director, Development will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of donors and prospects, with an emphasis on high-net-worth individuals. This role requires a strong external presence, with the ability to confidently engage donors, build meaningful relationships, and move prospects through the full giving cycle. The Director will also play a role as part of Laureus USA’s national leadership team, contributing to organizational priorities and ensuring alignment between fundraising efforts and broader strategy.
The Director will be responsible for developing Laureus’ individual giving strategy, working closely with the Sr. Director, External Affairs and Executive Director to build a more robust and sustainable pipeline. This position requires both strong execution and the ability to operate in a growing area of the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising & Donor Management
- Grow and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects across individual, foundation, and corporate giving, with a focus on high-net-worth individuals
- Cultivate, solicit, and close gifts of $25K+ through thoughtful and strategic donor engagement
- Lead donor relationships through the full lifecycle, from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship
- Leverage athlete relationships and engagement opportunities, in coordination with the Athlete Council, to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising efforts
- Partner with the Sr. Director, External Affairs and Executive Director on strategy and engagement for priority prospects and donors
- Maintain accurate tracking of donor activity and pipeline progress
Individual Giving Strategy & Growth
- Lead the development and execution of Laureus USA’s individual giving strategy
- Identify and pursue opportunities to build a stronger pipeline of high-net-worth individual donors
- Contribute to the creation of compelling cases for support and engagement strategies tailored to individual donors
- Establish systems and approaches to support long-term growth in individual philanthropy
Events & Donor Engagement
- Play a leading role in driving fundraising through events, including cultivation events and major fundraising moments
- Support the planning and execution of events in partnership with the broader team
- Engage donors before, during, and after events to deepen relationships and drive giving
- Collaborate with the Board of Directors, Athlete Council, and broader athlete community to support donor engagement, cultivation, and event-based fundraising opportunities
- Participate in evening and weekend events as needed
Partnership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with the External Affairs team to ensure alignment across development, partnerships, and marketing efforts
- Collaborate with program staff to effectively communicate impact and connect donors to Laureus’ work
- Support broader fundraising efforts across foundation and corporate giving as needed
Organizational Engagement & Leadership
- Serve as a member of Laureus USA’s national leadership team, contributing to organizational priorities and cross-functional alignment
- Represent the development function in internal strategy, planning and decision-making conversations
- Engage regularly with Board members and support their fundraising and relationship-building efforts
- Contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team environment
Candidate Attributes
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising, with a track record of managing donor relationships and closing gifts
- Experience working with high-net-worth individuals and comfort operating in donor-facing environments
- Strong interpersonal presence, with the ability to build trust and credibility with senior stakeholders
- Experience managing multiple donor relationships and moving prospects through a pipeline
- Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with senior leadership
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion across all forms of diversity and difference
- At least 8 years of relevant experience in development, fundraising, or related external-facing roles
What You Can Expect
Laureus USA is a high-performing team with a strong track record of impact, national partnerships, and engagement from some of the world’s most recognized athletes. As part of this team, you can expect a collaborative environment where individuals take ownership of their work while also stepping in to support broader organizational priorities as needed.
This role offers the opportunity to play a central part in strengthening and growing Laureus’ individual giving and overall fundraising efforts. You will work closely with the Sr. Director, External Affairs and Executive Director to build relationships, develop strategy, and contribute to achieving the organization’s annual fundraising goals. This role will also provide opportunities to engage with Laureus’ Athlete Council and broader athlete network as part of donor cultivation and engagement efforts.
The role is highly external-facing and will require regular engagement with donors and partners, as well as participation in events, including some evenings and weekends.
Compensation
The expected salary range for this role is $110,000 to $130,000, with eligibility for performance-based bonus and a comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and alignment with the qualifications and attributes of the role.
Skills
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