Though the US women’s football team suffered heart ache after being knocked out of the FIFA Women’s World Cup by Sweden, its governing body has signed a major name to boost philanthropic revenues in its long-term goal to grow the game.  

US soccer, the governing body of football in the United States, has hired Leah Heister Burton, a former fundraiser who has overseen endowments with the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 

Her new role as chief advancement officer will focus on expanding funding for US Soccer through multiple avenues, including philanthropic contributions. 

“Leah brings years of experience across a changing philanthropic landscape that will allow her to hit the ground running in building the relationships needed to solidify US Soccer’s financial future as we prepare for 2026 and beyond,” said JT Batson, CEO of US Soccer in a statement. 

US Soccer says it seeks to “build a culture of philanthropy” to support the growth of the game across the country.  

Individual philanthropic contributions to US Soccer only make up less than 5 per cent of the nonprofit’s current operating budget of $175 million, with the majority of its funding stemming from partnerships, events, media, consumer products and memberships.  

Burton is additionally an adjunct lecturer at Columbia University, where she teaches a course on fundraising for nonprofits. 

She received the National Young Professional of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2017, where she is currently a board member. 

Shafi Musaddique is a news editor at Alliance Magazine.