Executive Director: Leveling Playing Field

Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) is a national nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and equity by redistributing athletic equipment to under-resourced communities. LPF’s mission is simple and powerful: to ensure that cost and lack of resources are never the reason a young person is sidelined from sports and physical activity.

Founded in 2013, LPF operates at the intersection of sports, youth development, health and wellness, and education to address persistent systemic inequities embedded in youth sports. Through large-scale equipment redistribution, community partnerships, volunteer engagement, and earned revenue strategies, LPF supports schools, community-based organizations, and recreation programs serving young people who would otherwise lack access to safe, appropriate sports gear.

With a ~20-person team and a $3 million budget, plus an additional $5 million in in‑kind goods, LPF is a national nonprofit with strong local partnerships. It currently operates in key markets, including Greater Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Ohio, Western New York (Buffalo), Southeast Michigan (Detroit), and Atlanta. Gear4

Good, an e‑commerce platform for gently used equipment, offers a burgeoning opportunity for earned revenue. Learn more at levelingtheplayingfield.org .

The incoming Executive Director will lead LPF at an exciting inflection point, carrying forward the momentum of its founder‑led beginnings while shaping a focused strategy for national growth and elevating its platform for sports‑based youth development. The organization seeks a strategic, values‑driven, and outward‑facing leader who can amplify LPF’s vision and inspire partners, donors, and communities around its future impact.

Over the past several years, LPF has rapidly expanded its national footprint with increasing scale and complexity. The next phase includes institutionalizing its operations both at the national office and at the local program sites, and updating a business plan to ensure long‑term sustainability. The E.D. will lead this strategy, responsible for setting and advancing organizational goals, leading a growing national team, strengthening systems and infrastructure, and expanding LPF’s visibility, partnerships, and financial stability.

The E.D. will balance big‑picture thinking with organizational capacity building, ensuring that LPF’s programs and ambitions remain grounded in equity, sustainability, and measurable impact.

Guided by LPF’s strategic priorities—including deepening impact and strengthening the organization’s operations and growth plan—the E.D. will work closely with the Board and staff to position LPF for long‑term success. This leader will be a compelling ambassador for LPF’s mission, building authentic relationships with funders, corporate and community partners, and the broader youth sports and development ecosystem.

The E.D. reports to the Board of Directors and supervises a senior leadership team, prioritizing strategic direction, team development, and staff accountability across core organizational functions. Their leadership style will center on building positive team cultures, valuing clear and transparent communication, developing internal talent, and empowering staff to succeed. As a strong coach, the E.D. will bring a robust playbook to improve processes, procedures, and tools, ensuring LPF’s operations reflect the organization’s ambition to knock it out of the park.

Specific areas of responsibility include:

• Partner with the Board and senior team to refine and implement LPF’s strategic direction; translate mission and values into actionable priorities, goals, and metrics.
• Lead the evolution of a sustainable and efficient national business model that integrates contributed revenue, earned revenue, and volunteerism.
• Balance strategic ambition with operational discipline, ensuring future growth is thoughtful, scalable, and financially sound.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen LPF’s infrastructure, systems, and organizational design in support of long‑term impact.
• Build a strong, transparent, and collaborative relationship with the Board of Directors, supporting effective…