NATA Research & Education Foundation

Position Summary

The Development & Partnerships Director is responsible for advancing the NATA Foundation’s fundraising and engagement efforts through strategic donor cultivation, corporate partnerships, and revenue-generating events. This role focuses primarily on securing unrestricted funding to support the NATA Foundation’s mission and long-term sustainability.

Working in close collaboration with the Executive Director, this position plays a key role in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, supporting board engagement in development efforts, and enhancing donor stewardship and organizational visibility.

The Development & Partnerships Manager reports directly to the Executive Director.

Primary Responsibilities

Fundraising & Development

• In partnership with the Executive Director, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, corporate sponsors, and programmatic partners to increase unrestricted revenue.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and VP of Development to design and implement comprehensive development strategies, including 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year plans.
• Support and strengthen board and volunteer engagement in fundraising through training, tools and resources, and strategic opportunities.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Development Committee and District Relations Committee; attend monthly NATA Foundation Board Meetings and support additional development-related committees and workgroups as assigned.
• Partner with district leaders to support localized fundraising initiatives, including ideation, planning, and administrative coordination.
• Coordinate all fundraising activities associated with the NATA annual symposium, including event planning, sponsorship sales, logistics, and volunteer management.
• Lead the planning and execution of the NATA Foundation’s annual online silent auction, including item procurement, sponsorships, platform management, fulfillment, and volunteer coordination.
• Support additional fundraising campaigns and initiatives (e.g., district events, holiday campaigns, and other special projects).
• Develop and distribute donor communications, including solicitations, acknowledgments, and impact reports.
• Enhance and maintain donor stewardship efforts, including recognition programs, website donor listings, tribute gifts, and annual tax acknowledgments.

Marketing & Communications

• Collaborate with NATA Foundation staff to support and execute integrated marketing strategies that advance fundraising and organizational awareness.
• Assist in the development and management of content across social media platforms, ensuring alignment with NATA Foundation messaging and priorities.
• In partnership with the Executive Director:
• Maintain and update NATA Foundation website content (WordPress).
• Coordinate content submissions for NATA communication channels (e.g., NATA News, Range of Motion, and other outlets).
• Provide marketing support and materials for district communications, meetings, and reports.
• Develop promotional materials for fundraising campaigns, events, and the NATA Foundation’s presence at convention using platforms such as Canva or similar tools.
• Design and distribute surveys related to fundraising, engagement, and organizational initiatives (e.g., SurveyMonkey).
• Manage the NATA Foundation’s exhibit booth at the NATA annual symposium, including setup, teardown, and volunteer coordination.

Organizational Engagement

• Represent the NATA Foundation in NATA staff meetings and collaborate cross-functionally to align efforts and maximize impact.
• Serve as an ambassador for the NATA Foundation, promoting its mission, programs, and funding priorities to internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director to support the NATA Foundation’s strategic priorities and operational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, donors, and partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom).
• Willingness to work occasionally early mornings, evenings, or weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in fundraising, customer service, volunteer relations, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with fundraising and marketing tools, including platforms such as GiveSmart and Nimble (or similar donation platforms), Salesforce (or other CRM/database systems), Hubspot, Monday.com, WordPress, Canva (or similar design tools), SurveyMonkey, social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube), and scheduling tools (e.g., Later, ClickUp).
• Experience supporting fundraising events, sponsorship development, or donor engagement strategies.

Work Environment & Expectations

• This position may be 100% remote for candidates residing outside the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) area (more than 50 miles from the office).
• For candidates residing within the DFW area (within 30 miles of the office), this position is primarily remote, with occasional in-person responsibilities as needed.
• Ability to travel up to 5% for business-related purposes, including meetings and events.
• Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of balancing competing priorities.
• Must be a collaborative, proactive team player with a solutions-oriented mindset.

For more information on the NATA Foundation, including its leadership, programs and activities, please visit www.natafoundation.org.

The salary range for this position is $65-75k. NATA offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous PTO and paid holidays; 401(k) retirement and pension plan; fully remote work environment; professional development support and life and disability coverage.

EOE

About National Athletic Trainers' Association

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association is the professional membership association for athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession. Please visit www.nata.org for more information.

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