Life After the Jersey: Building Purpose Through Nonprofits

For many athletes, the hardest part of a career isn’t the training or the competition—it’s what comes next. On a recent episode of the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast, host May Harris sat down with Danny Barrett, Executive Director of the Golden Eagles Foundation, to talk about what it really looks like to transition from elite athletics into nonprofit leadership.

Danny’s story begins the way many rugby stories do: with family. Growing up as the youngest of three brothers, rugby wasn’t so much a choice as a natural progression. He followed his brothers into the sport, played at Cal, and went on to an extraordinary professional career—competing for a decade at the highest levels of U.S. rugby, including Olympic Games and World Cups.

But as Danny shared, even a career filled with accolades doesn’t come with a guaranteed roadmap for life after sport. Rugby in the United States is still a niche pursuit, driven more by passion than financial security. That reality forced Danny to start thinking early about what would come next—and how he could use his experiences to “leave the jersey in a better place.”

A Nonlinear Transition into Nonprofit Leadership

Danny’s move from player to nonprofit executive was anything but linear. Through the CARE (Career Advancement, Rugby Enhancement) program, a career advancement program designed to prepare athletes for life after competition, he explored internships far outside rugby. What he learned wasn’t so much what he wanted to do—but what he didn’t.

What stayed constant was a desire to help. For Danny, that meant focusing on the next generation of athletes: helping them grow not only as players, but as people. That instinct eventually led him to direct involvement in the Golden Eagles Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting U.S. national rugby teams and athletes.

Stepping into the executive director role, however, came with a steep learning curve. Danny described the experience as “drinking out of the fire hose”—a familiar feeling for many first-time nonprofit leaders. Fundraising, governance, strategy, and donor relationships all demand fluency, often at once.

His most important leadership lesson? Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”

Danny leans heavily on the experience of his donors and supporters—many of whom are leaders in business, law, and other fields. Rather than viewing donors solely as sources of funding, he sees them as collaborators and advisors. That mindset not only strengthens decision-making, but also deepens trust and long-term engagement.

Donors as Community, Not Just Checkbooks

One of the most distinctive aspects of the Golden Eagles Foundation is the sense of community among its supporters. As May noted during the conversation, donors don’t just support the mission—they support one another.

Danny has been intentional about fostering those connections. Drawing from his experience as an athlete who spent significant time traveling with teammates, he understands that relationships are built as much off the field as on it. Whether it’s shared travel, attending matches together, or simply connecting supporters who happen to be in the same city, the goal is belonging.

Danny doesn’t describe the Golden Eagles as just a nonprofit. He describes it as a family—one grounded in the core values of rugby itself: respect, loyalty, inclusivity, and camaraderie. Those values translate naturally into donor stewardship, board leadership, and organizational culture.

Rugby, Representation, and the Future

The conversation also touched on the broader growth of rugby in the United States, particularly in light of recent Olympic success and increased visibility of women’s rugby due to social media sensations like Ilona Maher. While progress is undeniable, Danny offered a thoughtful perspective: true growth requires timing, access, and sustained investment.

Looking ahead to upcoming global tournaments hosted in the U.S., Danny sees enormous potential—not just for the sport, but for the nonprofit ecosystem supporting it. Increased awareness brings new audiences, new donors, and new responsibility to steward growth thoughtfully.

Leadership Rooted in Experience

What makes Danny’s leadership compelling isn’t just his resume—it’s how deeply his approach is shaped by lived experience. Years spent in diverse locker rooms taught him how to communicate across cultures. Life as an athlete taught him the value of teamwork and humility. And nonprofit leadership has given him a platform to align passion with purpose.

For anyone considering a transition into nonprofit leadership—whether from sports, business, or another field—Danny’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to know everything. You just need to be willing to learn, ask, and build community along the way.

To hear the full conversation with Danny Barrett, including insights on donor stewardship, Olympic momentum, and leading with authenticity, listen to the complete episode of the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast.