Partnerships Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Partnerships Manager is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the mid-level giving and tribute giving programs. They lead the corporate engagement strategy, which includes cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of event sponsors and other ways of giving, eg. employee giving programs and point of sale campaigns. This also includes managing national partnership opportunities that come through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Regular contact with donors is a mandate of the Officer, including personal visits, coordinating cultivation events, and formal solicitations. They will hold a portfolio of 75-100 donors. Collaboration and communication with other fundraising and marketing staff is necessary to ensure a coordinated approach to program development and management.

Job Classification: Permanent, full-time, exempt

Job Location: Hybrid, minimum 2 days/week in office

Reports to: Senior Director, Philanthropy & Campaigns

Leads: Development Assistant (Intern)

Relates to:

Database & Stewardship Officer
Events & Partnerships Coordinator
Event Manager
Grant Writer
Volunteer and Community Engagement Lead (VCE)
Marketing and Communications Manager
Marketing Coordinator

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Partnerships Manager is responsible for the mid-level giving and tribute giving programs. The incumbent is also responsible for supporting and executing donor cultivation & stewardship events. With support from the Grant Writer and Volunteer & Community Engagement Lead, they lead the corporate giving portfolio, which includes national and local partnerships. The Big Sisters fundraising team aims to raise over $3.0 million annually, and is executing a growth plan to diversify revenue streams in order to ensure sustainable funding for the future of the organization. In line with Big Sisters’ strategic pillar to develop financial resilience, the Partnerships Manager will diversify the organization’s fundraising portfolio and focus on leading the growth of partnership fundraising and the mid-level donor program, which currently raises nearly $500,000.

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES:

SUMMARY

  • Build meaningful connections with supporters that result in diverse and sustainable revenue streams
  • Meet/exceed annual fundraising goals through strategizing, managing, and executing the mid-level donor and tribute giving programs
  • Create and lead a collaborative corporate engagement strategy, which includes cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of sponsorships, corporate gifts, and employee giving opportunities
  • Manage national and local partnerships
  • Coordinate cultivation and stewardship initiatives, ie. events
  • Contribute to and support a culture of best practices in event management and fundraising to create efficiencies, improve fundraising margins, and build a stronger culture of philanthropy within the organization
  • Ensure effective supporter (donors, sponsors, partners, and volunteers) relations, including appropriate recognition, acknowledgement and reporting to cultivate relationships with our supporters and maintain the sustainability of events and partnerships
  • Maintain a portfolio of 75-100 sponsors, partners, and donors as their Relationship Manager

STRATEGIC

  • Lead the business planning and launch of new fundraising initiatives, with activities such as committee development and management, sponsor and partner solicitation, fundraising strategy development, etc.
  • Support Senior Director, Philanthropy & Campaigns with budgeting, implementing fundraising best practices, building participant journeys, and deploying communications
  • Develop strategic fundraising messaging collectively with Fundraising and Marketing & Communications teams
  • Evaluate return on investments; implement improvements to achieve higher impact and return
  • Anticipate and plan for future partnerships, trends, challenges, opportunities
  • Continually evaluate, improve, and elevate program delivery
  • Evaluate reasonable risk-taking opportunities
  • Develop creative solutions with new ways of thinking and solving problems
  • Identify and solicit sponsors for potential major gift relationship building
  • Explore existing community initiatives as potential opportunities

SPONSORSHIPS & PARTNERSHIPS

  • Lead the organization’s corporate engagement strategy
  • Research potential funders, sponsors, partners, and donors as required
  • Participate in the development and implementation of solicitation strategies
  • Lead creation of event sponsorships
  • Cultivate and solicit sponsors, participation and/or donation from individuals, corporations, etc.
  • Proactively secure and deepen relationships with current and prospective sponsors, partners, and donors
  • Build relationships and engage constituents through personalized touchpoints, including in-person presentations and kick-offs, coaching and/or goal-setting meetings, stewardship calls, and committee meetings
  • Ensure sponsorship and partnership materials are reviewed, updated, and delivered in a timely manner
  • Create and manage agreements for sponsors and partners, and work with internal departments to ensure all deliverables are fulfilled
  • Cultivate relationships with supporters to ensure that they are aware of partnership opportunities across all events and programs
  • In collaboration with Senior Director and/or VCE Lead, manage National (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada) partnerships
    • Develop implementation plans to maximize outcomes and execute at the local level
  • In collaboration with Events & Partnerships Coordinator and/or VCE Lead, manage local partnership

MID-LEVEL DONOR & TRIBUTE PROGRAMS

  • Develop, implement and maintain programs
  • Research prospective donors, as required
  • Lead creation of proposals and solicitation materials
  • Proactively secure and deepen relationships with current and prospective donors
  • Build relationships and engage constituents through personalized touchpoints
  • Manage mid-level donor pipeline and actively solicit donations
  • Create and manage gift agreements for donors, as needed

DONOR RELATIONS

  • In collaboration with Senior Director and Database & Stewardship Officer, develop and implement donor journeys
  • In partnership with Senior Director, manage event committees
    • Attend and manage all event committee meetings to support volunteers
    • Secure and deepen volunteer relationships with the organization and assist their efforts to maximize fundraising opportunities and elevate event experiences
  • In collaboration with Manager, Marketing & Communications and Event Manager
    • Ensure all event, sponsorships, and partnership related postings and information are appropriate, timely and within brand guidelines.
    • Provide content and review email blasts for all events, appeals, and general announcements.
  • Lead customer service and stewardship for mid-level donors, sponsors, partners, and alumni
  • Ensure all stewardship and recognition materials for mid-level donors, sponsors, and partners are regularly reviewed and updated
  • Ensure delivery of acknowledgements, receipts, recognition, and reporting to mid-level donors, sponsors, and partners
  • Ensure timely submission of data for processing of contributions/donations
  • In collaboration with Senior Director and Events & Partnerships Coordinator, create and lead donor cultivation and stewardship events
  • Ensure sponsorship and partnership agreements are honoured in a timely manner

LEADERSHIP

  • Support, mentor, and coach seasonal and temporary staff, including interns, co-op students, summer students, and practicum students, as needed
  • Support, mentor, and coach volunteer committee members
  • Contribute to the growth of the fundraising team through mentorship, sharing of fundraising best practices, and promoting event excellence
  • Maintain a community presence through membership in local and/or regional professional groups

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

  • Set standards of performance, coordinate operations and activities, evaluate performance and see that policies and programs are carried out
  • Through mentorship, coaching, and leading ensure an effective and high performing team with high standards of delivery and competence
  • Foster an empowered culture of collaboration, creativity, generosity, and high-performance
  • Ensure the organization’s values and culture are maintained

ADMINISTRATION

  • Update and maintain database to reflect interactions with all constituents, including communications sent and received, meetings, volunteer commitments, etc.
  • Assist with preparing budgets and provide periodic progress reports to present to leadership on all mid-level donor, corporate donor, sponsor, and partner initiatives

OTHER

  • Maintain an up-to-date and deep knowledge of Big Sisters’ work as well as industry best practices in fundraising, events, sponsorships, partnerships, and stewardship
  • Participate in general organization functions, such as but not limited to, the Annual General Meeting, Volunteer Recognition Events, and the annual gala
  • Ensure adherence to CRA regulations and all organization policies
  • Assist in general organization functioning and perform other duties as requested or required

REQUIREMENTS

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

  • Three (3) plus years of experience planning and executing revenue generating fundraising programs in progressively senior roles
  • Experience and comfort with public speaking
  • Highly developed interpersonal and relationship skills
  • Proven ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy and discretion
  • Superior communication skills; able to write clear and compelling emails, letters and proposals, and make concise and engaging presentations
  • Excellent understanding of database management, database concepts including data enhancement, data quality, data acquisition techniques, and using these in segmenting.
  • Demonstrated planning and project management skills, proven ability to meet deadlines and time and resource constraints
  • Post-Secondary education fundraising, sales, or marketing would be ideal
  • Computer literate with good working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge NXT, Microsoft Suite, and Adobe Suite would be ideal
  • Ability to travel locally to meetings and events
  • Ability to understand, communicate and support the mission, vision, and values of the Big Sisters
  • Experience in not-for-profit workplaces would be ideal
  • An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered

    Corporate Engagement Strategy, Sponsorships, & Partnerships  –  35%
    Mid-Level Donor Program  –  35%
    Tribute Program  –  10%
    Donor Relations  –  10%
    Other duties as assigned  –  10%

KEY COMPETENCIES*

Applies Self-Awareness
Being mindful of one’s strengths and challenge areas, and thoughtful in one’s choice of words and actions.

Leads with Courage
Putting fear and comfort aside and leaning wholeheartedly into challenging work, issues, and conversations.

Makes Thoughtful Decisions
Analyzing situations and available information to make thoughtful decisions and take action.

Thinks Strategically
Visualizing and anticipating potential opportunities or problems and transforming these insights into realistic plans the organization can action.

Nurtures Teamwork
Working together to pursue a common goal in a way that engages and inspires each individual to contribute their unique skills, experiences, and perspectives while valuing the same in others.

Promotes Purpose & Vision
Demonstrating passion for the organization’s purpose and vision and communicating both in a way that inspires the heads, hands and hearts to act to support our mission.

Manages the Work
Managing activities to ensure great work is completed in an effective and efficient manner that leads to the accomplishment of goals.

Drives for Results
Setting clear direction and strategy, engaging and inspiring others to focus efforts on achieving desired outcomes.

*See Competency Program for full description of behaviours