Director, Sponsorships (BBC)
Best Buddies International

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.

Job Title: Director, Sponsorships

Department: Director, Sponsorships

Reports to: State Director, New York

Location: New York, NY

Salary Range: $75,000-85,000

# of direct reports: 0

Revised date: 8/22/2024

Position Overview: The Director, Sponsorships, will work directly with the New York State Director, National Best Buddies Challenge team and Best Buddies Vice Presidents to manage fundraising efforts in coordination with the New York Challenge. The Director, Sponsorships will be responsible for overall sponsorship coordination and cultivation, with the development of a major gifts portfolio from individuals and national corporate partners. The Director, Sponsorships is responsible for creating long term partnerships to diversify funding for Best Buddies International in relation to the New York Challenge including current and new sponsor efforts.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and at least 5-7 years of progressive experience in fundraising, including a record of success in expanding a donor base through: research, cultivation, personal solicitation and stewardship; grant writing and deck creation; event underwriting, CRM database portfolio management
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, analysis, prioritizing, multitasking, decision making and problem solving -- often competing deadlines. Ability to work under pressure
• Superior persuasive writing and presentation skills with the ability to exert influence, inspire others and articulate the mission, goals, and the activities of Best Buddies with passion and enthusiasm
• Superior initiative, drive for results, and self-assessment skills, with the ability to support/lead individuals and teams in setting and achieving challenging goals
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, OneDrive, SharePoint, NXT Raisers Edge
• Available to travel nationally as needed to cultivate and solicit gifts, use personal cell phone and occasionally work evenings and weekends if needed to accomplish job responsibilities
• Must be the lead team player who is willing to pitch-in and help with everything from grassroots marketing to presenting to corporations
• Flexible and strong work ethic
• Must be an independent, self-starter and team player with sincere interest in the Best Buddies mission
• Must be comfortable engaging with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)

Job Duties include, but are not limited to:

Development

• Under the direction of the State Director, responsible for securing $500,000+ in donations from a portfolio of new and existing donors and prospects
• Identify, research, cultivate and develop volunteers capable of making personal commitments and becoming directly involved in the solicitation process on behalf of Best Buddies
• Research prospective donors, target corporations and potential new streams of revenue
• Maintain existing relationships as assigned by state director and senior director, and seek new alliances with current individual donors and corporate sponsors
• Responsible for working with the state director to identify, cultivate and solicit funding from individuals and corporations to support existing programs through special events in NY, along with managing relationships as assigned by the state director
• Responsible for managing key corporate and sponsor relationships, from cultivation to execution, to meet overall event budget goals
• Utilize Summa and Raiser's Edge systems to develop and compile reports to track and facilitate event and donor management
• Work in partnership with the State Director to maintain and support a strong presence for Best Buddies throughout the NY area through community involvement, special events and other media initiatives
• Prepare written proposals, including solicitation materials, executive summaries, sponsorship decks, letters, and thank you notes for assigned sponsors

Operations

• Assist with preparing budgets and provide periodic progress reports to leadership for each event project
• Keep track of event finances including check requests, invoicing, and reporting
• Prepare and modify event contracts as requested
• Secure authorization for payment of vendor invoices
• Generate and customize tracking reports through CRM system

• Maintains communication with HQ and State Director with timely reports and other information as directed

Best Buddies® is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EOE and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational to Best Buddies International's core values and help the organization continue to achieve its mission. Here at Best Buddies, our goal is to lead and advocate for a more inclusive world.

Best Buddies offers a comprehensive and generous benefits program that include financial security, health and wellness and time off.

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