Director of Corporate Partnership

The Organization

The Columbus Symphony has served as central Ohio's flagship music organization since 1951. Our musicians, conductors, chorus, and world-renowned guest artists enrich the central Ohio community through extraordinary talent, passion, dedication, and the highest standards of musicianship. Guided by the artistic vision of Music Director Rossen Milanov, the Columbus Symphony offers four programming "brands" – Masterworks, Pops, Picnic with the Pops, and Education/Community Engagement. This segmented approach, innovative within the American orchestra industry, is helping the Columbus Symphony to reach new, younger, and more diverse audiences.

The Opportunity

Do you have a talent for building strong relationships with the corporate sector and connecting their philanthropic goals with meaningful community impact?

Are you motivated by securing transformational sponsorships and partnerships that fuel the arts?

Are you passionate about advancing orchestral music, education, and community engagement in central Ohio while helping one of the region's premier performing arts organizations thrive?

Primary Function

The Director of Corporate Partnership, a member of the Development team reporting to the Chief Development Officer, is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive corporate giving and sponsorship strategy. The Director cultivates, solicits, and stewards corporate partners, aligning their goals with the Symphony's priorities in artistic excellence, education, and community engagement. This role is a key driver of corporate revenue growth ensuring that corporate partnerships are impactful, sustainable, and mutually beneficial.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Key Performance Objectives

First Month:

• Learn current CSO corporate sponsorship and giving programs.

• Meet with CDO, Development staff, and senior leadership to understand priorities, processes, and opportunities.

• Review current corporate relationships and pipeline; provide observations and recommendations to the Chief Development Officer.

First 3–6 Months:

• Begin active cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate partners.

• Develop at least three customized sponsorship proposals tailored to specific industries or companies.

• Oversee fulfillment of existing sponsorship agreements, ensuring deliverables are executed accurately and on time.

• Collaborate with Marketing/Communications, Artistic, and Education teams to integrate corporate partner visibility into Symphony programming.

• Measures of Success: Renewal of key partnerships, launch of at least one new corporate sponsorship, delivery of partner recognition at agreed-upon levels, satisfaction ratings from corporate partners of 80% or higher.

First Year:

• Secure multiple new corporate sponsorships and gifts of $25,000+.

• Expand the pipeline by identifying at least five new industries or sectors for potential alignment.

• Implement a formal stewardship plan for top 10-15 corporate partners.

• Represent the Symphony at community and corporate events to enhance visibility and networking opportunities.

• Measures of Success: Year-over-year growth in corporate sponsorship revenue, increased retention rates of current partners, strong satisfaction feedback from stakeholders and corporate staff.

Other Duties

• Support and coach Board members in corporate outreach.

• Represent the Symphony at networking, donor, and community events.

• Availability for evening and weekend concerts, special events, and donor engagements as required.

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain an exhaustive listing of duties, responsibilities, and key performance objectives that are expected of the employee. These items may change, or new job-related items may be assigned from time to time.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage senior-level corporate teams.

• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to align corporate goals with organizational needs.

• Excellent planning and organizational skills with attention to detail.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM systems (Tessitura, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce).

• Knowledge of and passion for the performing arts preferred.

Credentials and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred.

• Typically, a minimum of 5 years of experience in corporate fundraising, sponsorship sales, or business development, preferably in the nonprofit or performing arts sector, is needed to have sufficient experience to be successful in an organization of this size and complexity.

• Demonstrated success securing corporate sponsorships and gifts of $25,000+.

Special Requirements

• Requires flexibility with schedule to accommodate needs of the organization.

• Successful evaluation of a background check.

• The majority of CSO's fundraising and public events take place in the evenings and on weekends. This position requires availability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.

• Must have reliable transportation for off-site meetings.

CSO's EEO Statement

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CSO does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, lactation status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other protected status.