Director, Philanthropic Communications

Director, Philanthropic Communications in United States Location: , United States Description Are you mission-driven and passionate about helping others succeed? Do you strive to lead, follow, and act with integrity? Are you the one who honors your commitments? Is building trusting relationships an integral part of why you do what you do? Do you push limits and challenge the status quo? If you answered YES, keep reading to discover how you can significantly contribute to Team USA's success!

Here's a summary of responsibilities:

The Director, Philanthropic Communications leads the strategy, development, and execution of donor-centered communications for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation. This position is responsible for shaping the philanthropic narrative across case materials, campaign messaging, stewardship communications, executive and event communications, impact storytelling, digital communications support, and fundraiser-facing tools. The role serves as a strategic partner to the Chief Development Officer, Foundation leadership, USOPC Communications, and cross-functional teams to ensure philanthropic messaging is clear, coordinated, compelling, and aligned to organizational priorities. The Director brings structure to a high-volume communications environment by setting planning rhythms, intake and review processes, standards, templates, and decision points that help the team prioritize effectively, reduce duplication, and support fundraisers, stewardship, events, leadership, and enterprise storytelling needs with consistency and discipline. This position also provides leadership for the Philanthropic Communications team, building the shared systems, judgment, cross-functional practices, and service orientation needed to operate as a coordinated communications function rather than a collection of individual workstreams. The Director is expected to help the team anticipate needs, clarify ownership, strengthen handoffs, and deliver high-quality communications that advance donor engagement, campaign readiness, stewardship, and the Foundation's broader impact narrative.

Here's how you'll have an impact:

Philanthropic Messaging, Case Development & Narrative Alignment (30%)
• Lead the Foundation's donor-centered messaging strategy, including case for support language, campaign messaging, stewardship communications, executive talking points, and philanthropic storytelling frameworks.
• Develop clear, compelling, and consistent messaging that positions philanthropy as essential to advancing Team USA, athlete support, sport priorities, innovation, LA28 and Utah 34 readiness, and the broader Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
• Establish and maintain message architecture, voice, tone, editorial standards, source language, audience-specific positioning, and reusable content so donor-facing communications are aligned across Foundation priorities and adaptable for different audiences, channels, and moments.
• Translate complex fundraising, athlete support, sport, NGB, LA28, Utah 34, Campaign, and enterprise priorities into donor-facing narratives, proof points, briefing materials, proposals, one-pagers, remarks, stewardship updates, and practical tools that fundraisers and Foundation partners can use with confidence.
• Ensure messaging connects strategy, need, impact, and donor opportunity in a way that is accurate, persuasive, appropriately tailored, and usable across principal gift, major gift, campaign, stewardship, and event contexts.

Integrated Communications Planning, Governance & Execution (25%)
• Lead annual and quarterly communications planning with Foundation leaders to build and manage an integrated communications calendar across campaigns, stewardship, events, donor touchpoints, leadership messaging, digital communications, and key organizational moments.
• Coordinate closely with the Chief Development Officer on executive communications, speeches, remarks, presentations, leadership messages, donor updates, Board and Trustee communications, and other high-visibility communications that require strong strategic framing and disciplined preparation.
• Create the operating rhythm, intake process, sequencing, review structure, approval pathways, quality-control standards, and decision points needed to keep priorities coordinated, timelines visible, dependencies managed, and cross-functional partners aligned.
• Provide communications leadership for high-priority donor engagement efforts, Foundation events, complex cross-functional projects, and moments requiring thoughtful message management, executive readiness, stakeholder alignment, or rapid coordination.
• Clarify communications ownership, handoffs, timelines, and expectations across the Philanthropic Communications team and partner teams so work moves efficiently from request to strategy, drafting, review, approval, production, and delivery.

Enterprise Impact Storytelling & Cross-Functional Partnership (25%)
• Serve as the Foundation's primary partner to the USOPC Communications team in support of the enterprise Impact Storytelling strategy, translating philanthropic priorities, funding needs, initiatives, "big bets," and investment opportunities into clear, credible, and audience-relevant narratives.
• Contribute philanthropic content and perspective to the broader USOPC growth narrative, demonstrating how increased investment expands athlete support, strengthens NGBs, advances innovation, and creates lasting impact through LA28 and beyond.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of high-value impact stories, athlete and program examples, outcomes, data, and proof points for use by the enterprise Impact Storytelling function across donor communications, executive communications, employee engagement, owned content, and earned-media opportunities.
• Participate in Communications-led editorial planning and relevant campaign development, identifying philanthropic priorities, funding opportunities, donor proof points, and impact stories that can strengthen broader organizational storytelling and connect donor investment to enterprise priorities.
• Work with USOPC Communications to recommend the appropriate audience, channel, timing, and amplification opportunities for philanthropic stories with broader potential, while respecting Communications' ownership of external communications, media relations, brand, reputation, and enterprise messaging.
• Support enterprise measurement by tracking donor engagement, developing philanthropic proof points, and assessing how effectively philanthropic content is activated across USOPC communications channels.
• Ensure all philanthropic messaging and materials align with the enterprise Impact Storytelling framework, organizational strategy, and established USOPC narrative and brand standards.

Team Leadership, Standards & Operational Excellence (20%)
• Lead, coach, and develop the Philanthropic Communications team, establishing clear ownership, empowering shared standards, quality-control practices, service expectations, and repeatable workflows that support consistent, high-quality execution.
• Manage team capacity, prioritization, budget, vendor coordination, professional development, and performance expectations in a way that builds judgment, accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, and the ability to support cross-functional needs without operating in silos.
• Build and maintain practical tools, templates, editorial guidance, project plans, process documentation, content libraries, and communication norms that make the team's work easier to understand, access, plan, execute, and sustain over time.
• Develop shared practices that ensure team members understand the broader communications portfolio and can provide coverage, continuity, and informed support when priorities shift, deadlines compress, or colleagues are unavailable.
• Foster a culture of partnership, disciplined execution, proactive communication, continuous improvement, and service excellence so the Philanthropic Communications team is viewed as a trusted and effective resource for Foundation stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Here are the skills and experience you'll need to be effective:

• Bachelor's degree with a preferred emphasis in Communications, Journalism, English, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or equivalent work experience
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in a sophisticated fundraising, advancement, philanthropy, Olympic and Paralympic Sport, or mission-driven environment
• Deep understanding of how high-performing fundraising shops operate, including donor engagement, stewardship, campaign readiness, principal and major gift support, event-driven cultivation, internal coordination, and the materials, messaging, process, and cadence fundraisers need to be successful
• Demonstrated understanding of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, the role of philanthropy in advancing athlete support and sport priorities, or the ability to quickly translate complex Movement priorities into compelling donor-facing narratives
• Experience supporting senior fundraising leaders, program leads, executives, Boards, Trustees, or volunteer leaders with high-quality donor-facing materials, briefings, case language, campaign or initiative messaging, and stakeholder communications
• Exceptional insight and experience overseeing a high-volume donor communications shop or comparable advancement function, including managing process, cadence, intake, prioritization, quality control, stakeholder alignment, and workflow discipline across multiple philanthropic priorities
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with strong editorial judgment, strategic framing, donor-centered message development, and ability to create consistent voice, tone, and narrative across multiple communication streams
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex institutional, fundraising, programmatic, and stakeholder priorities into clear donor-facing messaging, case language, communications plans, and practical tools for fundraisers and Foundation partners
• Ability to operate as a strategic generalist and cross-functional connector, with the judgment to synthesize input from multiple stakeholders, identify strategic throughlines, balance competing priorities, and move complex work forward through collaboration, coordination, and influence
• Strong people leadership, coaching, prioritization, and decision-making skills, with the ability to build clear ownership, develop team judgment, and support high-quality execution without over-directing day-to-day work
• Strong collaboration and coordination skills with the ability to manage a complex communications calendar, anticipate organizational needs, align stakeholders, manage sequencing and dependencies, and drive clarity around communications priorities, deadlines, and decision points
• Excellent interpersonal and executive presence skills with the ability to influence, advise, and collaborate across diverse teams, senior leaders, and external partners
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate discretion in sensitive matters
• Strong judgment in managing reputational considerations, sensitive information, competing perspectives, and high-pressure communications needs
• Strong understanding of fundraising principles, donor engagement, stewardship, and comprehensive campaigns
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, tight deadlines, executive stakeholders, and high-visibility communications needs with discipline and composure
• Proactive and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to think strategically, lead operationally, and build scalable systems, standards, and processes
• Appreciation for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement and the power of sport

Here are the tools, equipment, & conditions:

• Office environment in a multi-story building
• Standard office equipment
• Some domestic and international travel required
• Non-traditional hours on occasion, including nights and weekends
• Regular attendance at work is an essential job function

Here's where you'll work:

Remote

Here's some more information you need to know:

Hiring pay range $130,000 - $140,000 per year. This Full-Time, Exempt position is intended to work 40 hours per week. Bonus: This position will be eligible for the Annual Incentive Award Program, which has a 20% target. The USOPC may change or eliminate this program at any time at its sole discretion. Benefits: This position will be eligible for USOPC benefits. You can view a summary here. This job posting will close 12:00pm MT on 10/1/2026