Elaine Calip Joins USA Swimming As Senior Director of Development

Courtesy: USA Swimming

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Swimming, the National Governing Body of swimming in the United States, today announced Elaine Calip has been named Senior Director of Development.

The Senior Director of Development will work to generate revenue for the USA Swimming Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming, by developing the Foundation’s annual fundraising plan, leading solicitation and stewardship of major gifts, and developing and implementing strategies to build support for the Foundation and its programs.

“As a woman who has been involved with USA Swimming since my childhood, I hope to bring a unique perspective as a former collegiate athlete, coach, fundraiser and parent to this role,” Calip said. “I am thrilled to partner with USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director Lucinda McRoberts to build on the mission and to elevate the impact of the Foundation.”

“Elaine’s fundraising, swimming and coaching experience made her the perfect candidate on paper, and her leadership, poise and professionalism were even more impressive through the interview process,” McRoberts said. “She is well-equipped to lead the Foundation’s continued growth and development.”

Most recently Calip served as the Director of Development at the University of California, Berkeley, Cal Athletics and previously as the Director of Development, Regional Major Gifts for the University of Texas at Austin. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Calip came up through the sport of swimming, eventually serving as captain of the Longhorns during her undergraduate years at the University of Texas at Austin. Along the way Calip spent over a decade coaching club, masters and collegiate teams throughout Texas and California.

The USA Swimming Foundation works to strengthen the sport of swimming by saving lives and building champions. In addition to providing learn-to-swim grants to programs across the country, the USA Swimming Foundation supports the U.S. National Team and its development efforts aimed at strengthening the future of USA Swimming’s programs and services. In 2020, the Foundation broadened its focus to include providing grants to local competitive swim clubs in need and supporting efforts to open the sport to more Americans. New needs in the swimming community emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Foundation answered the call, providing COVID-19 relief grants to more than 700 clubs.