Lisa Munro Joins the USET Foundation as Director of Development

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation announced that Lisa Munro has joined the organization as Director of Development. In this newly created role designed to further engage the equestrian community in California and the western United States, Munro will be responsible for enhancing donor engagement and building a pipeline of support in the region.

As the philanthropic partner to US Equestrian (USEF), the USET Foundation supports the competition, training, coaching, travel, and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international high performance horses and athletes in an effort to sustain competitive excellence now and in the future. In her role as Director of Development, reporting to USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie Jenkins, Munro will play an integral part in the USET Foundation’s fundraising initiative, “Pathway to the Podium,” which has a $55 million goal to propel USEF athletes to podium placings at the upcoming 2024 and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

A lifelong equestrian, Munro brings more than 10 years of experience in philanthropy and sports management and most recently served as Senior Program Manager, Advancement at the University of Colorado, Boulder. In this role, Munro oversaw leadership annual giving and donor relations, stewardship, and engagement for the University’s College of Media, Communication and Information. She developed and implemented innovative strategies that exceeded several fundraising goals, which included a 12.5% increase in the College’s number of donors and a 36% increase in the average gift size. Earlier in her career, Munro held roles overseeing and executing corporate sponsorships for professional soccer teams.

“Lisa’s proven track record in fundraising, her passion for all things equestrian, as well as her charismatic personality will be immensely valuable as we double down our communication efforts with U.S. equestrian team supporters on the West Coast,” said Jenkins. “I’m confident she will help the USET Foundation build more impactful and mutually beneficial relationships with current and prospective donors, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the team.”

“I’m excited to leverage what I know and love about the sport and philanthropy to help our U.S. equestrian teams achieve success at the highest levels,” stated Munro. “As a young rider, I dreamed of competing at the Olympic Games. While that wasn’t my path, this new position enables me to help fulfill that dream for talented athletes including those that might not have the opportunity to succeed on the greatest international stages without the help of the USET Foundation. I look forward to working with the sport’s passionate donors whose experience and support can help our equestrian teams maintain international greatness.” 

A California native, Munro received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism from California State University, Fresno, where she also competed on the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Equestrian Team. She received a Master of Arts in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco. Munro lives in Colorado with her husband, two children, and horse, and remains active in the equestrian community having served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association since 2019.