Director of Development and Stewardship

Position: Director of Development and Stewardship

Location: Bristol, RI

Job :219

# of Openings:1

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.

Increase sailing participation and excellence through education, competition, and equal opportunity, while upholding the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, and safety.

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.

• 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 the
2028 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.