Director of Corporate and Foundation Partnerships
Reports to: Chief Development Officer (interim period); Senior Director of Development (permanent, once hired)
Location: Sarasota, FL (Hybrid)
Salary: $100,000-$110,000
Join our growing Foundation team of dynamic professionals to create a legacy project for Southwest Florida – a world class performing arts center that you will be a part of. Roll up your sleeves and step into our fast-paced entrepreneurial organization to help us achieve something truly iconic. The mission of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation (“Foundation”) is to create a world-class performing arts center, that enriches the community, supports arts education, and inspires young minds.
The Foundation is partnering with the City of Sarasota, other regional municipalities, private philanthropists and foundations to build and operate what will be the performing arts centerpiece of Sarasota and the entire Gulf Coast region. The new performing arts center will be a public-private-partnership in which the City of Sarasota and the Foundation will be the principal participants. Completing the project – construction, operations and programming – will require funding of more than $300 million, of which 50% is anticipated to be raised from philanthropic sources.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team during the start-up phase of an enormous project that will become an important cultural resource and legacy for Southwest Florida.
Position Summary:
The Director of Corporate and Foundation Partnerships is a key member of the development team responsible for securing and growing philanthropic support from corporations, foundations, and government agencies in support of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation’s mission, programs, and strategic initiatives. The Director will have the exciting opportunity to establish and formalize the Foundation’s corporate and foundation partners program, building it from the ground up to become a cornerstone of the organization’s philanthropic strategy.
This individual will proactively manage a dynamic portfolio of institutional partners and prospects and will lead strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward external partners. A strong communicator and collaborator, the Director will work closely with Development colleagues, other departments, and the board to create engagement strategies and ensure effective cross-functional partnership development.
Additionally, the Director will oversee sponsorship strategies for special events, including the annual Gala, and will play a leadership role in creating meaningful and lasting partnerships with the broader community.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Portfolio Management & Fundraising
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of corporate, foundation, and government funders to generate contributed revenue in alignment with organizational priorities.
Write compelling proposals, sponsorship packages, reports, and grant applications tailored to institutional funders.
Develop customized engagement strategies for each institutional partner based on mutual interests and priorities.
Meet or exceed annual fundraising goals through a combination of grants, sponsorships, and philanthropic support.
Partnership & Community Engagement
Build and sustain meaningful relationships with corporate and foundation representatives and community leaders.
Serve as a key liaison for corporate and foundation partners, acting as an enthusiastic and informed ambassador.
Identify strategic opportunities to deepen and broaden institutional support, including multi-year investments and programmatic collaborations.
Oversee and implement corporate sponsorship strategy for events, including the annual Gala.
Collaborate with departments and board to maximize donor engagement and revenue generation through sponsorships and strategic partnerships for events.
Internal Collaboration & Strategic Planning
Partner with Development colleagues, senior staff, and board members to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities and programmatic goals.
Provide oversight of the cultivation, engagement, recognition, and stewardship processes for institutional donors.
Maintain accurate and timely records in the donor database for corporate and foundation interactions, tracking activity, deadlines, and results.
Minimum Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE credentials a plus
Five years (5) years of experience in fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, or related external affairs in nonprofit, higher education or performing arts setting
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Demonstrated success in managing donor relationships, securing gifts, grants, or sponsorships, and meeting fundraising goals.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with ability to convey impact and inspire support.
Highly organized with strong project management skills and attention to detail.
Self-starter with the ability to take initiative, prioritize tasks, and work independently and collaboratively.
Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications.
Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Tessitura, Raiser’s Edge, or similar).
Positive, action-oriented professional who thrives in a mission-driven and fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, with an understanding of trends and best practices in corporate and foundation engagement.
Ability to work occasionally in the evening and on weekends for events
Position Status:
This is an exempt full-time position. Generally, the hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for a 40-hour work week. The hours may be adjusted as required to ensure that the job is accomplished. This is a hybrid position with the required on-site hours and the ability to work remotely but is subject to change to full-time on-site hours.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and sit.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Acknowledgement:
The Foundation has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. The Foundation reserves the right to change it at its sole discretion at any time and without any advance notice. This job description and list of functions is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.
The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.