Beyond the Rugby Pitch: Stewardship, Community, and Nonprofit Leadership with Danny Barrett
Release Date: 02/03/2026
Beyond the Rugby Pitch: Stewardship, Community, and Nonprofit Leadership with Danny Barrett
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Nonprofit leadership transition can be challenging, especially for professional athletes. On The Nonprofit Counsel Podcast, host May Harris welcomes Danny Barrett, former Olympic USA Rugby player and current executive director of the Golden Eagles Foundation. Danny shares his journey from representing Team USA at two Olympics and two Rugby World Cups to leading the Golden Eagles Foundation. Discover how he leveraged donor relationships and community building to overcome the unique challenges of promoting a niche sport. Learn practical strategies for building strong donor relationships in...
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info_outlineNonprofit leadership transition can be challenging, especially for professional athletes. On The Nonprofit Counsel Podcast, host May Harris welcomes Danny Barrett, former Olympic USA Rugby player and current executive director of the Golden Eagles Foundation. Danny shares his journey from representing Team USA at two Olympics and two Rugby World Cups to leading the Golden Eagles Foundation. Discover how he leveraged donor relationships and community building to overcome the unique challenges of promoting a niche sport. Learn practical strategies for building strong donor relationships in sports organizations and creating lasting impact through authentic donor stewardship.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to navigate a nonprofit leadership transition by embracing vulnerability, asking questions, and treating donors as mentors who can provide expertise beyond financial support in areas like marketing and strategy.
Why donor stewardship extends far beyond writing checks—creating community through international travel, social events, and personal connections transforms supporters into a loyal family that sustains nonprofit missions long-term.
The importance of timing and visibility for youth sports participation growth, including how significant Olympic moments during primetime can dramatically impact sports nonprofit development and athlete pipeline programs.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Danny Barrett's professional athlete career transition from US rugby national team player to nonprofit leadership role as executive director of Golden Eagles Foundation
03:45 Overcoming challenges in sports nonprofit management for niche sports and preparing for life after an athletic career through career development
10:04 Impact of women's Olympic bronze medal on youth sports participation growth and future opportunities for US rugby with 2028 LA Olympics
15:02 Key advice for nonprofit leadership transition: leveraging donor relationships, asking questions, and using supporters as mentors and board members
19:33 Building community and donor engagement by creating family-like connections among supporters through international travel and shared experiences
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Nonprofit leadership transition requires humility and willingness to ask for help. Executive directors should leverage their donor relationships as a source of expertise in areas such as marketing, sales, and strategy, treating supporters as valued team members rather than just as checkbooks.
Timing matters for sports nonprofit growth. The 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medal for women's rugby may have come "four years too early" - the 2028 LA Olympics during primetime could dramatically increase youth sports participation, similar to the 1999 Women's World Cup impact on soccer.
Successful donor stewardship and community building extend beyond the sport itself. Creating family-like connections through international travel, social events, and personal introductions transforms supporters into a loyal fraternity that mirrors rugby's inclusive culture and values.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Danny Barrett serves as Executive Director of the Golden Eagles Foundation, a 501(c)3 supporting USA Rugby National Sevens programs. The organization provides fiscal support for international competition and career advancement through its CARE program (Career Advancement Rugby Enhancement). Danny is a former USA Rugby 15s & 7s athlete, two-time Olympian, University of California, Berkeley graduate, three-time collegiate rugby National Champion, and five-time All American. He is the father of 2 beautiful children and married to the love of his life.