Director of Development

Position:

The Director of Corporate Relations is responsible for developing and managing corporate partnerships and fundraising initiatives that generate philanthropic support for Discovery Cube’s mission, programs, exhibits, events, and educational initiatives. This position manages a portfolio of current and prospective corporate partners and leads strategies to identify new funding opportunities, cultivate relationships, secure corporate gifts and sponsorships, and steward existing partners to support retention and long-term engagement.

The Director also plays a key role in the strategy and execution of fundraising events, including securing sponsorships, in-kind support, and other event revenue. The position is accountable for achieving established corporate and event fundraising goals and maintaining a strong pipeline of prospective and renewing partners.

Working collaboratively with Development leadership and departments across the organization, the Director develops compelling opportunities that align Discovery Cube’s mission and organizational priorities with the philanthropic, community engagement, and sponsorship goals of corporate partners.

Responsibilities:

Corporate Fundraising & Partnership Development

• Manage a portfolio of current and prospective corporate partners, developing individualized strategies for cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal.
• Identify, research, qualify, cultivate, and solicit new corporate prospects to expand Discovery Cube’s corporate funding base and build a strong pipeline of prospective partners.
• Secure corporate support through philanthropic gifts, sponsorships, grants, underwriting opportunities, in-kind contributions, and other strategic partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to increase the level of support and engagement of existing corporate partners and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Develop annual strategies and action plans for assigned corporate fundraising initiatives, including prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, renewals, and stewardship to achieve established annual corporate fundraising goals.
• Stay informed of corporate philanthropy, community engagement, sponsorship, and funding opportunities that align with Discovery Cube’s mission and organizational priorities.

Corporate Relationship Management & Stewardship

• Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with corporate partners, prospects, executives, community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned corporate partners and ensure a high level of responsiveness, professionalism, and stewardship throughout the partnership.
• Coordinate meetings, presentations, tours, site visits, cultivation activities, and other engagement opportunities for corporate partners and prospects.
• Develop and execute renewal and stewardship strategies that encourage continued and increased corporate support.
• Ensure corporate partners receive appropriate acknowledgment, recognition, reporting, and benefits associated with their gifts and sponsorship agreements.
• Collaborate with internal departments to coordinate and fulfill corporate sponsorship benefits and partnership commitments.
• Represent Discovery Cube at corporate, community, networking, fundraising, and donor engagement events as appropriate.

Proposals, Sponsorships & Corporate Grants

• Develop compelling sponsorship proposals, corporate funding requests, presentations, and other solicitation materials tailored to prospective partners.
• Identify Discovery Cube programs, exhibits, events, and educational initiatives that present strong opportunities for corporate sponsorship and philanthropic investment.
• Partner with program and organizational leaders to understand funding priorities and translate organizational needs into compelling corporate partnership opportunities.
• Research corporate giving programs and grant opportunities and prepare assigned corporate grant applications and proposals.
• Coordinate required reports, acknowledgments, and deliverables associated with corporate gifts, grants, and sponsorship agreements.
• Maintain accurate documentation of corporate commitments, sponsorship agreements, deadlines, benefits, and reporting requirements.

Event Fundraising Strategy & Execution

• Develop and execute strategies to achieve established event revenue goals through sponsorships, corporate support, auction items, in-kind contributions, and other fundraising opportunities.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and secure event sponsors and other sources of event support.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure event sponsorship commitments, recognition, benefits, and donor experiences are executed effectively.
• Create meaningful donor and corporate partner cultivation and stewardship touchpoints before, during, and after fundraising events to strengthen relationships and encourage future support.

Revenue, Pipeline & Performance Management

• Meet or exceed established annual corporate partnership, sponsorship, and event fundraising goals.
• Develop and maintain quarterly revenue projections and fundraising pipelines, tracking corporate gifts, sponsorships, event revenue, renewals, proposals, and anticipated commitments.
• Regularly evaluate portfolio and pipeline performance to identify revenue opportunities, potential gaps, and priorities for cultivation and solicitation.
• Monitor fundraising and event performance, including revenue, donor and partner retention, renewals, new partnerships, event results, and other key performance indicators.
• Prepare regular reports and provide Development leadership with updates on fundraising performance, pipeline activity, revenue projections, and progress toward established goals.
• Use fundraising performance and donor data to inform prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, renewal, stewardship, and event strategies.

CRM, Research & Administration

• Maintain accurate and timely records of corporate prospects, donor activity, solicitations, gifts, communications, and relationship strategies within the organization’s CRM/donor database.
• Conduct corporate prospect research and analysis to identify new funding opportunities and inform cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Maintain accurate tracking of proposals, sponsorship agreements, commitments, renewals, reporting requirements, and other corporate partnership activities.
• Ensure donor and corporate partner records, contact reports, and relationship activity are documented consistently and accurately.

Collaboration & Organizational Support

• Work collaboratively with Development leadership, Marketing, Events, Education, Exhibits, and other departments to develop and execute corporate partnership and fundraising opportunities.
• Partner with organizational leadership, board members, and other stakeholders, when appropriate, to identify, cultivate, and engage prospective corporate partners and donors.
• Support broader Development department fundraising initiatives, donor engagement activities, campaigns, and special projects as needed.
• Maintain a strong understanding of Discovery Cube’s mission, educational programs, exhibits, community impact, and organizational priorities to effectively communicate the case for support.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in fundraising, corporate relations, sponsorship sales, business development, account management, or a related relationship-driven goal focused field.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and maintaining professional relationships with corporate partners, donors, clients, or other external stakeholders.
• Experience developing proposals, sponsorship packages, funding requests, presentations, or similar business development materials.
• Experience within a nonprofit, museum, educational, cultural, or mission-driven organization preferred.
• Experience working with a donor database or CRM system preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to establish credibility and develop lasting relationships with corporate and community leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities, cultivate prospects, make effective solicitations, and close or renew financial commitments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to develop persuasive proposals and presentations.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills with confidence engaging individuals at varying levels of an organization.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage a portfolio, multiple proposals, deadlines, relationships, and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Strong research, financial, analytical, and prospecting skills.
• Self-motivated and proactive with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.
• Ability to translate organizational programs and priorities into compelling opportunities for corporate investment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to effectively utilize CRM/donor management systems.
• Ability and willingness to attend occasional evening or weekend events and travel locally for meetings, cultivation activities, and donor engagement as needed.

What’s In It For You: 

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Optional supplemental insurance coverage
• 401K with up to 4% match after one year for full-time employees
• 14 Free general admission tickets per year
• 4 Bubblefest tickets plus admission
• 10% of on-site dining and shopping discount
• Employee discounts through ADP
• Accrued paid time off for full-time employees
• 10 paid company holidays