Director of Development and Stewardship
US Sailing, Bristol, RI, United States
Position:
Director of Development and Stewardship
Location:
Bristol, RI
Job Id: 219
# of Openings: 1
US Sailing Director of Development and Stewardship
As the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing, US Sailing’s mission is to provide leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States. The organization works to achieve this mission through a wide range of programs and events. US Sailing sets the course enabling sailors to enjoy the sport for a lifetime.
Membership in US Sailing is open to all individuals and organizations, including all sailors, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression or mental or physical disability.
Our Mission Increase sailing participation and excellence through education, competition, and equal opportunity, while upholding the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, and safety.
Our Vision for the Future of Sailing Sailing has become a rapidly growing sport in the US, driven by innovations in access and education, and inspired by American success in international competition. The diverse sailing community is aligned around common goals for the sport. Sailing has been embraced by the public as being inspiring, inclusive and accessible.
Our Values
Respect
Integrity
Collective Success
Clarity and Transparency
Sustainability
US Sailing is seeking aDirector of Development and Stewardshipto work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior staff to design, lead, and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that increases philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and programs, including the US Sailing Team and the road to the2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
This is a pivotal moment for US Sailing. The Director will build on an established base of philanthropic support and work with passionate leaders across the sport to grow sustainable resources that strengthen sailing in the United States. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, creative, and results-oriented fundraising professional who thrives in a changing environment and enjoys building meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers, and leaders in the sailing community.
Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Development and Stewardship will lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and oversee development operations, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and a multi-year Olympic campaign.
Key Responsibilities
Design and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to grow philanthropic revenue across all giving levels.
Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects.
Lead the planning and execution of amulti-year Olympic campaign leading into the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Identify and develop new revenue streams, including individual giving, planned giving, and other mission-aligned funding opportunities.
Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, securing significant philanthropic investments in the organization’s mission.
Establish performance metrics and systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising programs.
Donor Stewardship & Engagement
Build long-term relationships with donors through thoughtful stewardship and engagement strategies.
Develop and manage donor communications and stewardship materials that support cultivation, solicitation, recognition and reporting, including annual reports, campaign updates, impact stories, newsletters, and related donor content across print and digital platforms.
Work closely with senior leadership to provide donors with meaningful insight into US Sailing’s programs and priorities.
Leadership & Team Management
Lead and mentor the development team while fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
Develop and manage departmental goals, operations, and budgets to support organizational priorities.
Coordinate with the Finance Department to monitor fundraising revenue, reporting, and departmental budgets.
Implement data-driven systems and processes that strengthen development operations and donor management.
Board & Stakeholder Engagement
Work closely with the CEO and Board of Directors on fundraising strategy and donor cultivation.
Engage Board members in development activities and support board-led fundraising initiatives.
Build strong relationships with volunteers, sailing leaders, and partners throughout the sailing community.
Key Qualifications
10+ years of progressively responsible development experiencein a high performing nonprofit development program.
Demonstrated success securingfunds through donor engagement, including five- and six-figure contributions.
Proven ability to design and execute fundraising strategies that grow donor pipelines and philanthropic revenue.
Experience leading and mentoring development staff.
Strong understanding of donor cultivation, stewardship, and moves management best practices.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Experience working with donor databases/CRMs and fundraising analytics.
Ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership, boards, and volunteers.
Willingness to travel and attend occasional events, which may include evenings and weekends.
Appreciation for the sport of sailing and belief in the Olympic movement.
Demonstrates integrity, empathy, and a relationship-centered approach when working with donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with the sailing community, maritime education, or sport nonprofit organizations.
Experience working with computers and databases
Experience with ecommerce or retail sales or similar
Excellent organizational skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to multitask and solve problems
Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, SharePoint, or similar tools
High School Diploma or equivalent
Possess a positive attitude and be a team player
Equal Opportunity Statement: US Sailing provides a vibrant work environment that values creativity, teamwork, and respect. As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, US Sailing is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally-recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
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Director of Development and Stewardship
Location:
Bristol, RI
Job Id: 219
# of Openings: 1
US Sailing Director of Development and Stewardship
As the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing, US Sailing’s mission is to provide leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States. The organization works to achieve this mission through a wide range of programs and events. US Sailing sets the course enabling sailors to enjoy the sport for a lifetime.
Membership in US Sailing is open to all individuals and organizations, including all sailors, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression or mental or physical disability.
Our Mission Increase sailing participation and excellence through education, competition, and equal opportunity, while upholding the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, and safety.
Our Vision for the Future of Sailing Sailing has become a rapidly growing sport in the US, driven by innovations in access and education, and inspired by American success in international competition. The diverse sailing community is aligned around common goals for the sport. Sailing has been embraced by the public as being inspiring, inclusive and accessible.
Our Values
Respect
Integrity
Collective Success
Clarity and Transparency
Sustainability
US Sailing is seeking aDirector of Development and Stewardshipto work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior staff to design, lead, and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that increases philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and programs, including the US Sailing Team and the road to the2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
This is a pivotal moment for US Sailing. The Director will build on an established base of philanthropic support and work with passionate leaders across the sport to grow sustainable resources that strengthen sailing in the United States. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, creative, and results-oriented fundraising professional who thrives in a changing environment and enjoys building meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers, and leaders in the sailing community.
Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Development and Stewardship will lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and oversee development operations, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and a multi-year Olympic campaign.
Key Responsibilities
Design and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to grow philanthropic revenue across all giving levels.
Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects.
Lead the planning and execution of amulti-year Olympic campaign leading into the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Identify and develop new revenue streams, including individual giving, planned giving, and other mission-aligned funding opportunities.
Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, securing significant philanthropic investments in the organization’s mission.
Establish performance metrics and systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising programs.
Donor Stewardship & Engagement
Build long-term relationships with donors through thoughtful stewardship and engagement strategies.
Develop and manage donor communications and stewardship materials that support cultivation, solicitation, recognition and reporting, including annual reports, campaign updates, impact stories, newsletters, and related donor content across print and digital platforms.
Work closely with senior leadership to provide donors with meaningful insight into US Sailing’s programs and priorities.
Leadership & Team Management
Lead and mentor the development team while fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
Develop and manage departmental goals, operations, and budgets to support organizational priorities.
Coordinate with the Finance Department to monitor fundraising revenue, reporting, and departmental budgets.
Implement data-driven systems and processes that strengthen development operations and donor management.
Board & Stakeholder Engagement
Work closely with the CEO and Board of Directors on fundraising strategy and donor cultivation.
Engage Board members in development activities and support board-led fundraising initiatives.
Build strong relationships with volunteers, sailing leaders, and partners throughout the sailing community.
Key Qualifications
10+ years of progressively responsible development experiencein a high performing nonprofit development program.
Demonstrated success securingfunds through donor engagement, including five- and six-figure contributions.
Proven ability to design and execute fundraising strategies that grow donor pipelines and philanthropic revenue.
Experience leading and mentoring development staff.
Strong understanding of donor cultivation, stewardship, and moves management best practices.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Experience working with donor databases/CRMs and fundraising analytics.
Ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership, boards, and volunteers.
Willingness to travel and attend occasional events, which may include evenings and weekends.
Appreciation for the sport of sailing and belief in the Olympic movement.
Demonstrates integrity, empathy, and a relationship-centered approach when working with donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with the sailing community, maritime education, or sport nonprofit organizations.
Experience working with computers and databases
Experience with ecommerce or retail sales or similar
Excellent organizational skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to multitask and solve problems
Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, SharePoint, or similar tools
High School Diploma or equivalent
Possess a positive attitude and be a team player
Equal Opportunity Statement: US Sailing provides a vibrant work environment that values creativity, teamwork, and respect. As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, US Sailing is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally-recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
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