U.S. Soccer Overview

We are U.S. Soccer, and we are the future of sport in the United States. Our mission is to make soccer the preeminent sport in the United States. We embrace diversity, technology and global connections to drive the growth of our sport and serve our athletes and fans. We seek motivated, passionate, skilled people who can think, create and work on a team.

U.S. Soccer is a growing company that looks for team members to grow with it. U.S. Soccer offers a comprehensive compensation package, casual work environment, an inclusive culture and an atmosphere for professional development.

The Federation’s core principles set organization-wide standards to identify and foster our culture and inform how we interact and hold each other accountable. These principles guide U.S. Soccer: We Win Together. We Aim High. We Champion Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. To be successful as a USSF employee, it is critical to demonstrate and live up to these principles every day and with every interaction with peers, stakeholders, and partners.

The Federation’s core values are the individual attributes and characteristics that staff embody to uphold the organization’s principles and succeed. These values guide our employees: Integrity. Commitment. Teamwork. Respect.

Position Description

Reporting to the Vice President for Major and Principal Giving, the Director, Major Gifts is a key member of U.S. Soccer’s major giving team responsible for building relationships and generating significant philanthropic support for the organization. The individual will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gift prospects, and donor stewardship activities as part of a growing Major Gifts team. The Director, Major Gifts will personally manage a portfolio of approximately 50-75 donors and prospects capable of making a gift of $50,000+.

Primary Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and steward prospects and donors through individualized donor action plans and engagement activities including in-person visits, telephone, email and events.
• Responsible for achieving personal fundraising goals/metrics as well as contributing to overall team goals.
• Ability to travel to visit donors and/or attend scheduled strategic events and competitions and to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
• Work within the U.S. Soccer prospect management and tracking system, following all protocols for visits and solicitations.
• Be guided by the direction and scope of each prospect’s interest, proactively collaborate across the entire organization to leverage the maximum philanthropic potential of each donor.
• Work with senior level leaders and volunteers to secure major gifts for US Soccer.
• Prepare senior and executive leadership and others with appropriate prospect and donor information as needed.
• Co-manage, supervise, and mentor the Development Coordinator, Major Giving.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master's degree or CFRE Certification preferred
• Minimum of five (5) years of front-line experience cultivating major gifts from individual donors
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting and securing gifts of $100,000 or more
• Comprehensive capital campaign fundraising experience
• Superior interpersonal communication and relationship building skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite
• Demonstrated experience in talent identification, mentorship and guidance
• Must be living in or willing to live in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Minnesota

Desired Characteristics

• Passion for the sport of soccer, and able to have authentic conversations about the U.S. National Teams, domestic and international leagues, and current and former players.
• Broad knowledge of fundraising principles and techniques, preferable in a complex environment and proven success in building productive, long-term relationships with key business leaders, volunteer boards, and high-level donors.
• Excellent written and oral communication ability as reflected in proposals, oral presentations, and strategic plans.
• Must be a self-starter, organized, creative, energetic, and assertive, and possess the ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing constituencies, and a comfort in working in a fast-paced, results-oriented, and structured environment.
• Possess a growth mindset, is open minded and seeks challenges.
• Pursue lifelong development and learning.
• Request feedback and is open to criticism.
• Practice self-assessment and self-reflection.
• Believe and commit to the company’s culture and organizational goals.
• Ability to anticipate challenges and identify opportunities to support U.S. Soccer’s initiatives.

U.S. Soccer is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, military status, political belief, or any other characteristic protected under the law. This policy applies to all our employment practices within our organization.

We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA, veterans, parents, and persons with disabilities to apply.