JOB TITLE: Manager, Fundraising & Strategic Initiatives
REPORTING TO: Director, Community Development
DEPARTMENT: Community
LOCATION: New York, NY
POSITION OVERVIEW:
New York City Football Club (NYCFC) is seeking a strategic and mission-driven Manager, Fundraising & Strategic Initiatives to lead development operations and drive revenue growth across the Community Department.
This role serves as a key partner to the Director, Community Development and works closely with the Executive Director of City in the Community (CITC), the club’s nonprofit foundation (annual budget ~$1–3M). The Manager will lead institutional fundraising efforts, including grant writing, oversee development operations, and support execution of strategic initiatives tied to CITC’s 4-Year Strategic Plan, World Cup legacy efforts, and stadium-related community commitments.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Fundraising Strategy & Institutional Giving
- Lead grant writing and institutional fundraising efforts, including proposal development, submission, and reporting
- Identify and pursue new funding opportunities across foundations, public agencies, and corporate philanthropy
- Support development and execution of CITC’s annual fundraising strategy in collaboration with the Executive Director
- Lead key fundraising campaigns and initiatives aligned with annual revenue targets
Financial Management & Development Operations
- Manage and monitor CITC’s fundraising budget in collaboration with Finance and Legal, ensuring accurate tracking, compliance, and adherence to annual targets
- Support development of the annual CITC budget (~$1.2M+) and oversee adherence across programs and initiatives
- Own preparation and delivery of monthly development reports for the CITC Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team, including revenue tracking, pipeline updates, and key insights
- Lead development of CITC’s annual report and impact materials in collaboration with internal stakeholders
Events & Campaigns
- Lead fundraising strategy and revenue generation for key events including Golf Classic, Consulate Cup, donor events, and matchday activations
- Develop and implement revenue-driving campaigns (raffles, auctions, giving initiatives) tied to events and matchdays
- Identify and execute new event-based fundraising opportunities, including donor cultivation and stadium-based engagements
- Oversee execution in partnership with the Development & Community Relations Associate, ensuring clear ownership of logistics and delivery
Donor & CRM Management
- Own donor pipeline management, including tracking, segmentation, and movement across giving levels
- Oversee CRM system integrity, reporting, and data management to support fundraising strategy and decision-making
- Support donor cultivation, stewardship, and communications in collaboration with the Director and Executive Director
- Ensure consistent tracking of donor engagement, touchpoints, and outcomes across campaigns and events
Strategic Initiatives & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Support implementation of CITC’s 4-Year Strategic Plan, particularly across fundraising and external engagement
- Support rollout of Etihad Park community initiatives, including Community Benefits Agreement commitments
- Support planning and execution of World Cup legacy initiatives and other cross-functional projects
- Collaborate with Commercial, Marketing, and Legal teams to support partnership integration and community-facing activations
WHO YOU ARE:
At New York FC, we are committed to upholding our core club values and our values guide how we show up and work together every day. If you share our values listed below, please consider NYCFC as a great place for you to work (and play):
Acts Honorably: listens and communicates respectfully, without judgement
Engages Collaboratively: provides and seeks constructive feedback to and from peers, proactively sharing appreciation for quality contributions of others
Champions Inclusion: celebrates the value of differences recognizing the value in the unique backgrounds and lived experiences of every team member
Drives Forward: embraces new opportunities with curiosity and a focus on improvement and innovation
Shows Heart: demonstrates passion for the Club and sport, operating as an NYCFC ambassador in encouraging and inspiring that passion in others
WHAT YOU’LL BRING:
- 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, grants, or partnerships
- Strong grant writing and financial tracking experience preferred
- Strong writing, organization, and project management skills
- Experience with CRM systems and stakeholder coordination
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Applicant must be able to comply with MLS Next Safety and Well-Being policy and any other applicable child safety policies provided to applicants by NYCFC
- Must be able to work games scheduled which may be at night and on weekends and holidays
COMPENSATION:
This exempt position has an estimated annual base salary range of $70,000 - $80,000 and is not overtime eligible. Final compensation offer amounts are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to demonstrated skill set, years and depth of relevant experience, and some role-dependent factors such as certifications and software expertise. We welcome direct conversations with each candidate about compensation in all of our initial calls.
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Excellent health, dental & vision insurance, with options to fit you and your family’s needs
- Comprehensive and competitive benefit programs, including maternal & paternal leave
- Ancillary benefits: Commuter, and Citi Bike discounts
- Your health is important! Our wellness strategy focuses on mental and physical wellbeing through in-office and virtual programs
- Four complementary tickets to every NYCFC home match
- Team outings, happy hours, and annual staff gatherings to celebrate our co-workers
- A dynamic, ambitious, and fun work environment
NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB OVERVIEW:
At New York City FC, we are on a mission to build this city into one of the soccer capitals of the world. The Club was announced as Major League Soccer’s 20th franchise and is the first and only MLS team located within the five boroughs of New York City. The Club has qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs nine times over the past 10 seasons, winning MLS Cup in 2021. Games are available to stream via an Apple TV subscription, providing every match of the MLS regular season, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, annual Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Campeones Cup, and more all in one place and with no blackouts. New York City FC is building New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, Etihad Park, which is set to open in 2027. For more information, please visit: www.newyorkcityfc.com.
New York City FC is also one of 12 clubs comprising City Football Group and counts Manchester City FC, Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F-Marinos, Girona FC, Montevideo City Torque, Shenzhen Peng City FC, Lommel SK, ESTAC Troyes, Palermo FC, Bahia, and Club Bolívar among its sister clubs.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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