CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball and Learfield – the media and technology company powering athletics – have agreed to extend their existing multimedia rights relationship while adding Learfield Amplify’s development vertical to build and grow their philanthropic giving programs.
“We were proud to be the first national governing body to work with Learfield when we announced our partnership in 2019,” said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul V. Seiler. “Over the past five years, our relationship with Learfield has flourished, and we are pleased today to announce a five-year extension and expansion of our agreement with the addition of development to the partnership. As we sought a partner to assist the organization with building a development program, we felt Learfield separated themselves as the undeniable choice in this critical area for USA Baseball.”
Learfield’s flagship multimedia rights division will continue to manage sponsorships, in-venue advertising, experiential marketing and naming rights for USA Baseball while Learfield Amplify will come on board to build out a comprehensive fundraising program that will include annual giving and major gifts. In addition, Amplify will create an annual fundraising operating plan aimed at enhancing messaging and branding to create awareness of philanthropic support for USA Baseball across the country.
“Collaborating with USA Baseball as our first national governing body client has been a tremendous privilege and we are thrilled to continue that relationship as the organization prepares for the return of baseball to the Olympics in 2028,” said Kim Damron, Learfield’s president of sports properties. “Adding Learfield Amplify’s development capabilities only bolsters this partnership, better positioning USA Baseball for future growth.”
As part of the new relationship, Learfield Amplify will bring on veteran fundraising professional Drake Sacenti to serve as Director of Development for USA Baseball. Sacenti has significant experience at all levels of Development, including impactful stops in college athletics at Oregon State, the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Houston. Sacenti will develop and manage all fundraising programs. He will also focus on building and enhancing relationships with existing and potential donors as well as all those who care about the game of baseball at the amateur level nationally.
