Director of Major Gifts

Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center builds leaders on the court, in the classroom and in the greater community by providing academic, wellness and social development programs alongside recreational and competitive tennis instruction for youth and adults. Sportsmen’s is committed to improving life opportunities for youth in Boston’s Blue Hill Corridor while welcoming a diverse community from the Greater Boston area.

As the first of its kind in the US, Sportsmen’s is an indoor, non-profit tennis club that was created by and for an African American Community. A premier facility and one that is inclusive of a uniquely diverse membership, Sportsmen’s maintains a focus on equity and access, while welcoming individuals from all walks of life. Sportsmen’s continues to be a leader and innovator in efforts to transform a challenged and under-resourced community. Among many accolades, the US Tennis Association has recognized Sportsmen’s with the National Junior Tennis & Learning Chapter of the Year, Organization of the Year, and the ICON Award winner for increasing diversity in tennis.

Sportsmen’s 4-acre facility on the Dorchester/Mattapan line currently hosts 14 tennis courts, The Learning Center (TLC) at Sportsmen’s, and the Center for Community Wellness (CCW), which holds a fitness area and community health programs. Sportsmen’s $4.6M annual operating budget consists of 38% fee-for-service revenue, with the remaining operating funds and capital investments secured through philanthropy. In 2024, Sportsmen’s was honored to be recognized with a $2M gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Campaign.

Through a $22M Capital Campaign currently underway, Sportsmen’s will dramatically expand its facility and programs. Phase 1 of the Campaign, a $10M addition and renovation, has been completed. Fundraising for the second phase is underway.

Sportsmen’s core programs serve over 6,000 residents (pre-Covid) annually and include:

1. THE LEARNING CENTER: a comprehensive suite of out-of-school time educational and social enrichment programs that works to close the performance gap among students in our community.
2. YOUTH TENNIS: youth tennis clinics, camps and lessons place local, low-income and/or minority youth on an intentional developmental pathway to college/post-secondary level high-performance tennis.
3. ADULT TENNIS: Adults play a pivotal role in furthering the Sportsmen’s mission. 400 adult members provide a deep sense of community, a source of revenue and a diverse pool of committed volunteers, while helping adults maintain an active lifestyle.
4. HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Sportsmen’s offers a range of free health and wellness programs within the Center for Community Wellness (CCW), focused on helping residents understand the social determinants of health, and empowering them with knowledge and the tools to make incremental changes. CCW includes a fitness center which offers free fitness classes and access to cardiovascular and weight training equipment.

The Director of Major Gifts Opportunity

Sportsmen’s is seeking an experienced, proven fundraising professional to serve as a Director of Major Gifts to anchor fundraising operations for general operations, program support and a comprehensive capital campaign.

Responsibilities

1. Develop and execute an annual Major Donor fundraising plan that meets all aspects of Sportsmen’s philanthropic needs (unrestricted support, program restricted and capital campaign funding).
2. Lead and partner with other Development Team members on donor prospecting and research.
3. Identify, cultivate and steward donor relationships that ultimately result in major gifts ($10,000 or more), achieving agreed-upon goals for annual general operating, program and campaign support.
4. Introduce Sportsmen’s members and guests to philanthropic opportunities, and steward them through the donor cultivation process, from identification through solicitation, closure and recognition.
5. Create opportunities to introduce new members to Sportsmen’s impact in the community and introduce the CEO to prospective donors inside and outside of Sportsmen’s.
6. Lead the Development Committee of the Board of Directors in the donor cultivation process, increase Board Members’ comfort in soliciting support, in writing or face-to-face, as appropriate, and prepare Board or Committee Members for specific donor meetings.
7. Partner with the Director of Marketing & Communications to ensure that the tone of donor solicitation materials is consistent with Sportsmen’s mission statement and core values.
8. Create and manage a planned giving and stock/asset donation program.
9. Work closely with Development Team and Committee members, board members and volunteers, to maximize individual participation in annual fundraising events and opportunities.
10. Ensure the accurate and efficient use of Raiser’s Edge to capture donor engagement.
11. Identify and execute appropriate methods of recognizing major donor contributions.
12. Other responsibilities as mutually agreed.

Reporting Structure

The Director of Major Gifts reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and supervises the Annual Fund Manager and Development Associate. As Sportsmen’s evolves its Development Team, this position may become or report to a Chief Development Officer in the future.

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with demonstrated success and increasing results, including experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new and established individual donors.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• A comfort with and asset-based approach to working with an ethnically, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse population.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM.
• A passion for social justice, equity and youth development.
• Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent professional experience, in business, development, marketing, nonprofit management or related field.

Additional Characteristics

• Engenders trust in building relationships through strong listening skills and a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrates a team-oriented and collaborative leadership style, with experience working in small teams.
• Leads with a sense of joy and fun as well as purpose.
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and dynamic environment.

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $175,000. Sportsmen’s offers a comprehensive, competitive compensation package, including health, dental, vision and life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and a 401(k) program with a 3% match.

Sportsmen’s is an equal opportunity employer. Since our inception, we have been committed to encouraging and welcoming diversity throughout the organization. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities, policies or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is our policy to employ persons on the basis of ability, experience, education, and character. Our policy regarding equal employment opportunity applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotion, compensation, working conditions, scheduling, wage and salary administration, performance evaluation, benefits, professional development, disciplinary action, and termination.

Contact

Maureen Alphonse-Charles and Kirstin Griffiths of Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role, please submit your materials by filling out the application form , or email Kirstin Griffiths directly at All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

About Koya Partners

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm’s website .

To apply, visit: application page .

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