Director, Corporate Partnerships

Department: Director of Corporate Partnerships

Reports to: Development 

Status: Full Time / Exempt

Location: Remote; must reside and be authorized to work in the United States

About PolicyLink

PolicyLink is a research and action institute working to advance a nation that truly governs for all. We advance structural solutions, shape conditions, build connections, and strengthen the field infrastructure needed to deliver on the promise of a nation where all can thrive. We are relentlessly focused on delivering results at a scale that matches the challenges — and the potential — of this country.

To achieve this vision, we concentrate our efforts in five key arenas that shape how the nation governs and delivers for its people:

• The legal and regulatory systems that shape our democracy and economy, including amending and advancing the U.S. Constitution

• Federal agencies, which are the engines of public policy and implementation that must deliver results

• State and local governments that deliver the benefits of citizenship to our everyday lives in the cities and states where we live

• We the People, whose collective consciousness and action must be activated toward everyone’s thriving

• The institutional leaders, decision-makers, and capital allocators who hold disproportionate influence over how the nation governs

Across these arenas, we are working to awaken a shared consciousness that embraces the humanity of every person; to shape government to deliver results for all; and to align the full force of our public, private, and civic resources to realize this future.

Position Overview 

PolicyLink is seeking a Director of Corporate Partnerships to build and lead a corporate fundraising and engagement portfolio that advances PolicyLink's mission and Governing For All.

The Director of Corporate Partnerships builds and leads PolicyLink's corporate fundraising and engagement portfolio, supporting the goal of a $10 million three-year annual average from corporate partners by 2030. The Director develops relationships across corporate philanthropy, sponsorship, executive engagement, and mission-aligned strategic partnerships; creates compelling opportunities connected to Governing For All; and coordinates complex relationships across PolicyLink's executives, Programs, Communications, Finance, and Development teams. The role requires both revenue leadership and sound judgment about mission alignment, reputational risk, and organizational capacity.

The role joins a growing Development team of seven people, working across institutional, individual, and corporate giving. 

Responsibilities

Corporate strategy and portfolio leadership

• Develop and execute a multiyear corporate fundraising and engagement strategy aligned with Governing For All and annual revenue goals.

• Build, qualify, segment, and manage a portfolio of corporate prospects and partners across industries and relationship types.

• Research corporate priorities, giving programs, leadership interests, business context, and pathways to engagement.

• Set portfolio goals, forecasts, cultivation strategies, and performance reviews in partnership with the Chief Philanthropy Officer.

Partnership design and revenue generation

• Create corporate philanthropy, sponsorship, executive-engagement, and strategic-partnership opportunities that advance PolicyLink’s mission, including executive learning, visibility, employee engagement, or issue education, without creating obligations Programs cannot support.

• Design partnership menus and sponsorship standards.

• Lead cultivation, solicitation, negotiation, renewal, and upgrade strategies for assigned relationships, and secure new and renewed commitments that contribute to annual and Governing For All campaign goals.

• Coordinate proposals, pitches, benefits, budgets, agreements, and internal approvals with Institutional Partnerships, Programs, Finance, Communications, Events, and legal counsel as needed.

Executive, partner, and team engagement

• Prepare PolicyLink and corporate executives for meetings, briefings, convenings, and relationship-building opportunities.

• Partner with the Donor Events and Stewardship Manager on cultivation experiences, recognition, and follow-up.

• Build relationships with corporate foundations, corporate social impact leaders, business executives, and relevant intermediaries.

Portfolio operations, stewardship, and risk

• Maintain complete Salesforce records, probability-weighted forecasts, relationship maps, contact reports, and next steps.

• Track deliverables, restrictions, benefits, reporting, and recognition associated with corporate commitments and sponsorships.

• Monitor corporate-philanthropy trends and advise leadership on opportunities, sensitivities, and reputational risks.

• Apply PolicyLink's gift-acceptance, ethics, recognition, and mission-alignment standards throughout the partnership life cycle and maintain due-diligence practices.

Internal leadership and integration

• Serve as PolicyLink's internal subject-matter leader on corporate fundraising and partnership development.

• Create repeatable internal workflows for corporate partnership development.

• Help executives and program leaders understand the corporate portfolio, priority opportunities, and appropriate engagement roles.

• Coordinate with Institutional Partnerships so corporate and foundation relationships are managed coherently.

Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge Required 

• Strong corporate relationship-development, consultative partnership-design, negotiation, presentation, and proposal skills.

• Ability to connect corporate interests with mission-aligned opportunities without compromising organizational values or overextending program capacity.

• Strong judgment regarding gift acceptance, sponsorship, recognition, reputational risk, and corporate influence.

• Ability to coordinate executives, Programs, Communications, Finance, legal counsel, events, and external partners.

• Strong portfolio-management skills, including forecasting, relationship mapping, documentation, and disciplined follow-through.

• Commitment to racial and economic equity and the mission of PolicyLink.

Experience Qualifications                     

• A minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in corporate philanthropy, corporate partnerships, sponsorship, business development, institutional fundraising, or a related field.

• Demonstrated success securing and renewing six- to seven-figure corporate commitments and managing complex, multistakeholder partnerships.

• Experience developing partnerships involving executives, Programs, Communications, Finance, legal counsel, and events.

• Experience managing staff, consultants, or cross-functional project teams is valuable.

• Experience in policy, civic engagement, racial equity, social impact, or a national nonprofit is strongly preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

PolicyLink offers competitive salaries commensurate with the experience and skills of our employees. The starting salary range for this position is $140,000–$163,000. 

Additionally, PolicyLink provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision plans.

• 401(k) with employer and employer-matching contributions. 

• Flexible spending account.

• Short- and long-term disability insurance.

• Group term life insurance plus voluntary life insurance.

• Unlimited vacation and sick leave and other generous leave benefits.

• Two required organization reset weeks, a paid week off between Christmas and New Year’s Day, plus 13 paid holidays.

Work Environment

The position will involve leading and participating in frequent remote video and telephone conferences. It is a 100% remote position, though travel will be required.

To Apply

We accept online applications only. Please note that the application includes two required written prompts. Candidates should provide thoughtful and complete responses to the prompts; incomplete answers will not be considered.

Only those selected to participate in our hiring process will be contacted.

No emails or phone calls, please. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT

PolicyLink strongly values equity and believes in a just and fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We work toward a more inclusive world and, as such, we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. PolicyLink is committed to maintaining a diverse and multicultural working environment.

Candidates selected for hire must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

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