Individual Giving Manager
Position Summary
The Individual Giving Manager, a newly-created position, will join Athlete Ally at a pivotal time in its fifteen-year history, helping to steward the growth of our individual donor portfolio. The Individual Giving Manager will be a close partner to our Director of Development and Founder and Executive Director, initially supporting and co-managing the major gifts pipeline, with a clear path to managing a personal donor portfolio and leading solicitations over time.
The ideal candidate will be a self-driven development professional who brings initiative, energy and enthusiasm about individual giving, and is highly organized and detail oriented. The Individual Giving Manager will oversee the moves management of the organization’s major gifts pipeline, drive the initiatives detailed in Athlete Ally’s annual fundraising calendar, and ensure meaningful donor engagement and stewardship. This role combines tactical execution and relationship building along with a commitment to maximizing the use of Athlete Ally’s CRM to streamline workflows, capture donor journeys, analyze donor data, and take advantage of all the tools available in Salesforce.
The ideal candidate will be located in the tri-state area to be able to meet with donors and handle administrative responsibilities at our office located in NYC.
The successful candidate will have opportunities for professional growth at Athlete Ally with the potential to manage a portfolio of donors and independently lead development initiatives over time.
Key Responsibilities
Major Gifts Pipeline & Donor Engagement
- Support management of the major gifts pipeline by tracking prospects and donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
- Collaborate with the Director of Development and Executive Director to develop and execute moves management tailored to donor interests and organizational priorities
- Maintain detailed records of donor contacts, profiles, and next steps in the CRM
- Prepare briefing materials, impact updates, and stewardship communications for donors and prospects
Annual Development Calendar
- Oversee the development calendar, ensuring coordinated scheduling of key fundraising activities, deadlines, and stewardship touchpoints across the fiscal year
- Coordinate internal planning meetings and workflows to support all development initiatives including solicitations, cultivation and stewardship events (virtual and in person) and board- and staff-led outreach
- Monitor progress toward annual fundraising goals and flag areas needing attention
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
- Ensure that the Director of Development, Executive Director, board and staff are executing timely and personalized donor cultivation and stewardship activities to strengthen engagement and retention — including thank-you calls, personalized notes, impact reports, and event invitations
- Lead the planning and execution of cultivation and stewardship events, donor briefings, and small group gatherings
- Ensure all donor commitments (acknowledgments, special recognitions, naming privileges, etc.) are fulfilled thoughtfully and promptly
Data Management & Reporting
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor information and moves management activity in the CRM (Salesforce)
- Produce regular status updates for the Director of Development and Executive Director on pipeline metrics, engagement progress, and fundraising forecasts
- Use donor data analytics to support decision-making and strategy refinement
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant nonprofit experience.
- At least 2 years of experience in development, fundraising support, donor relations, or a related nonprofit role; or equivalent transferable experience
- Strong interpersonal and written communication skills with a proven ability to build relationships and engage diverse stakeholders
- Well-organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines
- Experience with CRM/fundraising database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Bloomerang) and proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
- Commitment to Athlete Ally’s mission and values
Preferred
- Experience supporting major gifts or annual fund initiatives
- Prior involvement in donor events or stewardship
- Knowledge of sports or the athletic community is a bonus
- Ability to create graphics for any related development programs
About Athlete Ally
Athlete Ally is the leading nonprofit working to foster allyship and solidarity between athletes. Established in 2011, Athlete Ally’s mission is to help every athlete act as an ally and make sure every LGBTQ+ person is welcome and safe in sports. Athlete Ally has been a trusted partner of colleges, teams, leagues, brands and athletes, helping them turn their shared principles into lived practices. We exist to help individuals and organizations find and practice the courage needed to change the world.
In 2025, Athlete Ally announced its new strategic direction focused on creating inclusive campuses at 40 of the 70 Power 4 colleges. To achieve this goal, Athlete Ally has created an “Athlete Action Fund” that will distribute money directly to student athletes at target institutions who are going to do the work on campus to move culture towards inclusion. Athlete Ally’s goal is to raise $5.8M and distribute $4M through the Fund over the next four years.
We believe that when we are successful at helping these schools and athletes model the kind of allyship and advocacy we hope others will emulate, it will reverberate throughout the rest of youth, collegiate, and professional sports.
Development at Athlete Ally
The Individual Giving Manager will be the second Development team member at Athlete Ally, with the opportunity to apply an entrepreneurial and creative approach to all Development initiatives.
Athlete Ally’s primary funding source to-date has been corporate partnerships—at one time representing close to 80% of the organization’s revenue. While corporate partners will continue to be an important part of Athlete Ally’s philanthropic revenue, the Individual Giving Manager will take on the exciting opportunity–and challenge–to help the Director of Development and Executive Director shift Athlete Ally’s model towards a more balanced mix, primarily by focusing on the growth of individual, family foundation, and DAF giving.
At the core of this new role is a focus on the Athlete Ally donor experience–ensuring that when new donors begin their relationship with Athlete Ally, they are stewarded throughout the year with non-ask touchpoints, inspiring them by communicating the impact of their support, and building authentic, rewarding relationships between donors and the organization and individual staff members.
What’s great about working at Athlete Ally?
- Small committed team of colleagues who want the best for each other & the world
- Lead the conversation on LGBTQ+ allyship & sports
- Remote / Flexible work conditions
- Put your skills to work where it matters most
- Access to sporting events & VIP sporting experiences
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary, commensurate with experience; salary range for this position is $70K-85K
- Location: Remote, with the ability to travel into NYC twice a month.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance
- Up to 4% 401K matching contribution, 2% guaranteed.
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth
To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to careers@athleteally.org with the title Individual Giving Manager in the subject line.
Note, there will be at least two rounds of interviews for this position and it is likely that at a later date we will ask applicants who make it to more final rounds to produce additional application products for our review.
Athlete Ally is an equal opportunity employer. Oppression disproportionately affects the most marginalized in society, and we are committed to building an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, military status, religion, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. We especially welcome and encourage applications from people of color, indigenous people, transgender and gender-nonconforming people and people with disabilities to apply.
