About The Players Alliance
The Players Alliance (TPA) is a nonprofit organization founded by current and former professional baseball players to make the game more equitable and accessible. TPA’s mission is to address baseball’s systemic barriers to equity and inclusion by creating pathways to opportunities on and off the field for an undeniable pipeline of Black talent.
Representing the largest Black sports philanthropic commitment in history, The Players Alliance currently operates with an annual budget of approximately $12 million, positioning the organization for continued national growth and long-term sustainability. TPA maintains partnerships with 100% of Major League Baseball clubs and a large percentage of Minor League clubs. Approximately 75% of all clubs have already adopted TPA’s programming, with the remaining 25% scheduled for activation in early 2026. This expansive network underscores TPA’s influence, scale, and capacity to mobilize professional athletes, teams, and communities toward meaningful, systemic change.
The Players Alliance is committed to owning and supporting solutions to increase the participation of its beloved community in baseball. The Players Alliance has a 360-degree approach that aligns with these core values, encompassing a clear vision and sharp focus on creating programs and campaigns that create real systemic change in baseball. Their seven programs include:
- Amplified – a platform built to highlight black voices in the game
- Equip the Future – giving back and mentoring the next generation of athletes
- Level Up Lab – a retail-style pop-up experience offering custom fittings and access to urban and rural players for the essentials of play (cleats, hat, gloves, and more)
- Gear for Good – a player led donation drive of vital equipment and uniforms for teams in underserved rural and urbans areas
- Jackie Robinson Day – one of the most important days of the year in baseball, honoring and celebrating Jackie Robinson for breaking barriers
- HBCU Summit – a series of conversations to hear firsthand of the barriers to means and needs in HBCU baseball
- Mentorship Program – a player-led program to build and nurture mentoring relationships to foster futures for black baseball players at every level
Learn more about The Players Alliance at https://www.playersalliance.org/.
The Opportunity
The Executive Director (ED) of The Players Alliance is responsible for providing strong leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to advance the organization’s mission of creating increased opportunities for the Black community in every aspect of professional baseball and beyond. The ideal leader in this role is dynamic, collaborative, and mission-driven; brings a proven track record in organizational management, partnership development, and fundraising; and demonstrates a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and social impact. The ED reports to the Board of Directors and serves as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for The Players Alliance, representing its mission and achievements to external stakeholders, partners, and the broader community.
Key Responsibilities will include:
Board & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, providing timely updates and strategic recommendations that support informed decision-making.
- Facilitate board engagement, ensuring members are empowered, strategically aligned, and actively contributing to the organization’s long-term priorities.
- Maintain and extend strong, collaborative partnerships with MLB, MLBPA, and affiliated stakeholders—strengthening coordination, visibility, and mutual accountability across all levels of the sport.
- Leverage existing trust and partnerships with Major League Baseball Clubs and Minor League Clubs to sustain TPA’s nationwide impact.
- Provide transparent, data-driven reports that highlight program outcomes, financial performance, and opportunities for continued growth and innovation.
- Ensure open communication and operational alignment between staff, board, and key partners to reinforce trust and maintain organizational excellence.
Fundraising and Resource Development
- Bring proven experience in fundraising and resource development, with the ability to diversify revenue streams, cultivate donor relationships, and secure long-term funding commitments.
- Articulate compelling cases for support that resonate with donors, sponsors, and partners, clearly demonstrating how resources advance the organization’s mission.
- Build and nurture a culture of philanthropy, ensuring that fundraising efforts are strategic, transparent, and directly tied to community impact and organizational goals.
- Demonstrate a recent history of managing high-net-worth and celebrity donors, with the ability to understand and address the unique requirements of engaging, soliciting, and stewarding these groups for the benefit of The Players Alliance.
- Leverage experience to maximize the work of a dedicated staff fundraiser while safeguarding and optimizing TPA’s donor database as one of the organization’s most critical assets.
- Maintain a sophisticated awareness of the sensitivities, security needs, and potential pitfalls involved in managing relationships with high-profile donors.
- Demonstrate a track record of successfully creating and sustaining pathways that connect underrepresented youth and communities to meaningful development opportunities, both within baseball and beyond.
Staff Leadership & Development
- Recruit, mentor, and retain high-performing staff while fostering a positive and collaborative organizational culture.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for staff.
- Encourage professional development and growth opportunities to strengthen the team’s capacity.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration and encourage knowledge sharing among team members.
- Promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all staff feel valued and empowered.
Risk & Compliance Management
- Ensure the organization meets contractual obligations, legal requirements, and internal policies.
- Identify potential operational or reputational risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
- Maintain transparency and accountability in reporting to funders, partners, and governing bodies.
- Oversee internal audit processes and ensure financial controls are in place and consistently followed.
- Ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations, reporting requirements, and funding agreements.
Program Development & Oversight
- Oversee design, execution, and evaluation of athlete-driven programs, events, and outreach initiatives.
- Ensure programs are effectively managed, scalable, and produce measurable impact for youth participants.
- Collaborate with staff and volunteers to maximize participation and engagement in programming.
- Identify gaps or opportunities for new programs that advance the mission and reach in underserved communities.
- Develop partnerships with schools, community organizations, and other nonprofits to enhance program offerings.
- Monitor program budgets, timelines, and resources to ensure initiatives are delivered efficiently and effectively.
- Develop contingency plans to address potential crises, including reputational, legal, or operational challenges.
Organizational Leadership and Vision Execution
- Lead the implementation of initiatives and programs that align with The Players Alliance mission.
- Ensure operational efficiency by monitoring progress, identifying gaps, and optimizing internal processes.
- Set organizational priorities and allocate resources effectively to maximize impact.
- Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure organizational progress and success.
- Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and accountability across all functions.
Candidate Profile
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
Strategic & Operational Leader
The Executive Director will provide visionary leadership to build the organizational infrastructure, systems, and processes needed for accountability, compliance, and long-term sustainability. They will bring experience in governance and board development, creating clarity around roles and responsibilities while balancing the founders’ vision with operational priorities. This leader will have demonstrated success managing complex organizations with sizable budgets and navigating the opportunities and challenges that accompany rapid growth and increased scale. They will establish structure, enforce deadlines, and uphold financial and contractual obligations, ensuring that The Players Alliance delivers on its commitments to MLB and MLBPA partners, donors, and the communities it serves.
Fundraiser & Resource Developer
The ED will bring proven experience in fundraising and resource development, with the ability to diversify revenue streams, cultivate donor relationships, and secure long-term funding commitments. They will articulate compelling cases for support that resonate with donors, sponsors, and partners, while clearly demonstrating how resources advance the mission. This leader will build a culture of philanthropy, ensuring that fundraising efforts are strategic, transparent, and directly tied to community impact and the organization’s overall goals.
Relationship Builder & Ambassador
The ideal candidate will be a skilled relationship builder with the ability to earn trust and credibility with professional athletes, MLB and MLBPA leadership, donors, and community stakeholders. They will leverage the founders’ high-profile reputations to maximize visibility, partnerships, and impact, while serving as a compelling spokesperson for the organization’s mission. This individual will navigate high-profile relationships with professionalism, authenticity, and humility, ensuring that all stakeholders see The Players Alliance as a disciplined, mission-driven, and impactful organization.
Mission-Driven Leader
The ED will have deep understanding of youth development and the unique challenges faced by Black, Brown, and underserved youth. They will ensure that programming, from community-based baseball initiatives to mentorship and development opportunities, is mission-driven, impactful, and sustainable. This leader will also champion collaboration with players, community organizations, and like-minded foundations to expand reach, reduce barriers to access, and align all initiatives with the organization’s long-term vision of growing the game and empowering the next generation of athletes.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $235,000 - $310,000 with a generous benefits package.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trevor Hooper and Judene Hylton. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya 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 [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The Players Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.