Director of Development

Back Director of Development Play Like A Champion Today Remote, US Apply Now Download Prospectus About Play Like A Champion Today Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series is an independent 501(c)(3) organization leading a nationwide effort to change the culture of youth sports through education, research, and consultation. Since 2006, Play Like a Champion Today has served more than 187,000 coaches and parents through a network of more than 300 partners across North America. Together, these adults shape the experiences of more than one million children. Play Like a Champion Today works with schools, dioceses, leagues, sports organizations, and community leaders to create athletic environments where every child can play, belong, and develop. Its research-based programs move beyond the basics of sport to equip coaches, parents, administrators, and student-athletes with practical tools for motivation; team building; leadership; faith and virtue formation; social emotional learning; and whole-child development. With historical ties to the University of Notre Dame, where faculty, coaches, administrators, and practitioners brought together expertise in moral education, developmental psychology, theology, and sport science. In 2016, following more than a decade at Notre Dame, Play Like a Champion Today became an independent nonprofit. That transition created a platform for national growth while preserving the organization's close relationship with Notre Dame and its commitment to rigorous, evidence-informed programming. Play Like a Champion Today is entering an important next chapter. With established programs, trusted partnerships, a growing community-impact model, and a compelling case for broader investment, the organization is creating its first Director of Development position to build the philanthropic capacity required for sustained national impact. Mission Play Like a Champion Today is dedicated to changing the culture of youth sports through education and consultation and to creating opportunities for all children to experience the joy and developmental benefits of sport, regardless of ability or socioeconomic status. A Vision for Youth Sports Play Like a Champion Today believes every child deserves the opportunity to play in a safe, fun, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate environment. Sport should help young people grow physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, morally, and, within faith-based settings, spiritually. The organization works toward a future in which quality youth sports are understood as a public good and every community has the relationships, knowledge, and resources to make that opportunity real. Core Values Kinship. Play Like a Champion Today walks alongside partners, taking time to recognize the dignity, identity, knowledge, and strengths of each community. The organization builds trust through a together-with approach rather than imposing top-down solutions. Community. Teams, schools, dioceses, neighborhoods, and local organizations are the heartbeat of the mission. Play Like a Champion Today works with community leaders to create places where children can play, belong, and thrive. Collaboration. Expanding access to quality sport requires shared effort across organizations and sectors. Play Like a Champion Today helps schools, sports programs, city leaders, healthcare institutions, funders, and other partners draw strength from one another and increase local impact. Education. For more than 20 years, Play Like a Champion Today has translated research into practical, engaging education for adults and young people. Its training gives communities the tools to elevate sports culture and support the whole development of children. Programs and Impact Play Like a Champion Today combines research-based curricula, a scalable train-the-trainer model, continuing education, and long-term consultation. Programs are tailored to the identity and needs of each partner and are offered in both faith-based and secular settings. This work is grounded in the belief that sport can be life-saving and transformative. In communities where young people face violence, isolation, school disengagement, and too few constructive opportunities, Play Like a Champion Today helps create consistent access to caring adult mentors, positive teams, and co-curricular experiences that build character, confidence, connection, and well-being. Developing Champions for the Next 20 Years - As Play Like a Champion Today marks more than two decades of impact, it is building toward a more sustainable and far-reaching future. The organization's priorities include deepening work in targeted communities of concentrated poverty, expanding educational partnerships, strengthening evaluation and evidence of impact, and building the philanthropic resources necessary to make quality sport accessible to more children. A Team for Every Child - Through A Team for Every Child, Play Like a Champion Today partners with leaders in under-resourced communities to expand access to safe, high-quality sport and recreation. The organization begins by listening, assessing community assets and needs, and building trust. It then helps local programs form collaborative associations that can coordinate services, share resources, strengthen operations, collect data, and pursue funding together. Parent and Athlete Programs - Parent Like a Champion workshops help families understand their role in a healthy sports experience and build productive partnerships with coaches and programs. Student-athlete offerings include leadership seminars, retreats, CHAMPS groups, servant-leadership formation, and resources that help young people become moral leaders on their teams, in their schools, and in their communities. Coach Education - Interactive clinics prepare coaches and athletic leaders to build cohesive teams, motivate young people, protect the joyful dimension of sport, and support athletes' physical, social, emotional, moral, and s