Grant Jones is a professional fundraiser in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement who raises money to fuel dreams for the coolest athletes and the coolest sport in the world. He believes in sport’s power to inspire greatness – and in philanthropy’s ability to transform lives.

Joining USA Water Polo in March 2025 as Head of Philanthropy & Advancement, Grant leads the organization’s global strategy for fundraising and supporter engagement. He shares athlete stories, builds relationships on behalf of the sport, and inspires supporters to invest philanthropically in growing water polo bigger, stronger, and greater than ever before. He invites donors to dream alongside athletes – to see their passions, ideas, and generosity in action, and to celebrate the impact they help create every day.

With more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, Grant has delivered transformational results across Olympic and Paralympic sport, children’s healthcare, community development, and international luxury hospitality. He has served with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), children’s hospital foundations, universities and academic medical centers, and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sport – helping launch new advancement departments, build endowments, and fund the pathways that turn potential into performance and dreams into medals.  

His achievements include completing a $424MM comprehensive campaign for pediatric health, designing a $250MM community development campaign, exceeding a $169MM capital campaign in Olympic City USA, and reviving an Olympic legacy foundation to record-breaking growth. Across these efforts, Grant has helped transform generosity into lasting impact – mobilizing resources, relationships, and the unwavering belief in what’s possible.

Now, under his leadership, USA Water Polo is launching a new vision for giving and a new era of philanthropy – one that grows our game and propels every athlete toward excellence. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games on the horizon, Grant is uniting supporters, families, alumni, and fans to position our athletes and programs for extraordinary success – creating a movement in motion that will define the future of our sport and make this the most memorable moment in USA Water Polo history.

A former Olympic Development Team gymnast and student-athlete, Grant studied at the University of Oklahoma, Columbia University, the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and the International Olympic Academy. His academic research explores how stories move people and how structure sustains impact – bridging the art and science of human motivation and athlete performance with the heart and mind of charitable giving.

If water polo has impacted you or your family, please connect with Grant by email. He’d love to hear your story – and welcome your passion for the sport to help drive this incredible journey forward.