Philanthropic Engagement Manager

Become a part of the team behind the team.

As employees of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter, we do more than basketball. We are blazing trails toward winning championships on and off the court. 

We are pioneers and innovators. We look for people who push boundaries, who dream, who are committed to inclusivity – who want to contribute to Rip City!

As our Philanthropic Engagement Manager, you will lead the day-to-day execution of Trail Blazers Foundation fundraising and community initiatives that generate resources to lift up community partners throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Reporting to the Executive Director, you’ll manage a dynamic portfolio of programs - from the 50/50 Raffle and auctions, to events, and donor and fan engagement initiatives. 

In this hands-on role, you bring ideas to life, managing projects from initial conceptthrough final reports, andyou will partner across departments to keep programs moving. You will also play a key role at Trail Blazers home games, leading the 50/50 Raffle and coordinating nonprofit volunteers who support game-day fundraising efforts. You’ll ensure every campaign and event is thoughtfully planned, well-executed, and translates into meaningful impact for the communities we serve.

Our ideal candidate is a highly organized philanthropic professional who loves turning ideas into action. You’ve led fundraising programs, events, auctions or other revenue-generating initiatives and know what it takes to move a project from planning through execution and reporting, while keeping timelines, budgets,and details on track every step of the way.

You thrive on building strong and productive relationships with nonprofit partners, vendors, donors, and internal teams. Most importantly, you’re excited by the opportunity to create meaningful community impact. If this sounds like you, apply by September 6.

DAY-TO-DAY:

Foundation Operations and Initiative Execution

• Deliver and maintain a portfolio of philanthropic and fundraising initiatives, including auctions, events, and individual and corporate giving opportunities.
• Manage vendors, technology platforms, contracts, purchasing and payment processes, operational calendars, and program documentation to ensure programs run smoothly and effectively.
• Research and recommend new and innovative fundraising opportunities that leverage Trail Blazers games, players, alumni, facilities, digital platforms, and fans.
• Meet annual fundraising goals to grow charitable resources available for grants, programs, nonprofit partners, and other community investments.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise seasonal staff, vendors, and other operational support.

50/50 Raffle and Game-Night Operations

• Own the Foundation's 50/50 Raffle, including revenue performance, game-night execution, e-commerce operations, nonprofit partner participation, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement tactics with the Executive Director and internal departments to grow awareness, participation, average purchase value, and revenue across in-arena and online channels.
• Serve as the primary Foundation lead during home games, overseeingvolunteers, sales execution, issue resolution, reconciliation, and coordination with internal departments and external service providers.
• Manage the selection, onboarding, communication, and game-night experience of participating nonprofit partners, helping create a positive experience for both partners and fans.
• Partner with Finance and Legal to ensure accurate reconciliation, reporting, disbursement, recordkeeping, licensing, and compliance with all applicable raffle requirements.

Auctions, Events, and Fan Giving

• Manage the Foundation's annual auction program, including planning, sourcing memorabilia, exclusive experiences, hospitality opportunities, player and alumni assets, promotion, fulfillment, and revenue tracking.
• Partner with the Executive Director to plan and bring to life signature fundraising events, donor experiences, or other fan-facing initiatives.
• Develop and manage event workplans, including timelines, budgets, vendors, logistics, registration, guest experience, and on-site execution; establish ticket pricing and packages, attendance and sales goals, auction and giving opportunities, and other strategies to drive participation and maximize funds raised.
• Collaborate with Basketball Operations, Alumni Relations, Ticket Sales, Corporate Partnerships, Retail, and other departments to secure and appropriately use organizational assets to support fundraising efforts.
  
   

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE:

• At least five years of experience in foundation or nonprofit operations, fundraising, development, philanthropic programs, revenue-generating events or initiatives, cause marketing, sports foundations, or a related field.
• Experience managing events, auctions, donor engagement programs, or fan-facing giving initiatives.
• Strong project management skills, including developing workplans, managing timelines and budgets, coordinating vendors and partners, and keeping multiple initiatives moving from planning through execution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across a variety of internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with donors, corporate partners, nonprofit organizations, vendors, and internal teams.
• Working knowledge of donor-management or CRM systems, online fundraising platforms, and performance reporting.
• Experience leading, guiding, or coordinating the work of employees, seasonal staff, interns, vendors, or volunteers.
• Ability to work home games, evenings, weekends, and special events as required.

WE’D BE THRILLED IF YOU ALSO HAVE:

• Experience operating or supporting a 50/50 raffle, gaming-related fundraising program, or other highly regulated fundraising activity.
• Experience within professional sports, sports foundations, entertainment, or a complex community development organization.
• Knowledge of Oregon and Southwest Washington's corporate, philanthropic, civic, and nonprofit communities.

Encouraging All to Apply: We understand that individuals may hesitate to apply if they don't meet every qualification listed above; however, we want to emphasize that if you believe you have the skills and experience to succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply. We would love to hear from you and explore how your unique talents and perspectives could contribute to our team.

Offers of employment are conditional upon the successful results of an individual background check. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories and review results on an individual basis.

The Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter embraces diversity and inclusion. We celebrate individual expression and uniqueness on our campus. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination. We are committed to hiring individuals that reflect the community we serve without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics. We are an equal opportunity employer.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

PERKS: 

We invest in our employees inside and outside of work. Our benefits package for full-time teammates includes:

• Salary Range: $80,000-$89,000 annually, depending on experience
• Competitive Healthcare Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Maternal & Parental Leave
• Flexible Time Off (3 weeks + 11 holidays)
• Wellness Perks
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Free Parking + Discounted Mass Transit Passes
• Discounted & Complimentary Tickets
• Ongoing Learning & Development