What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Corporate Partnerships & Engagement position at Big Shoulders Fund?

Job Title : Director, Corporate Partnerships and Engagement

Reports to : Chief Advancement and Development Officer

Date : Spring 2025

Big Shoulders Fund

Big Shoulders Fund is an independent tax-exempt charitable organization that provides support to schools with demonstrated need which provide a quality, values-based education for children. We serve 25,000 students and 92 schools in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions. Each school is a vital community-based organization and an anchor to its surrounding neighborhoods.

For thirty-eight years, Big Shoulders Fund has helped Chicago’s children achieve their dreams through access to high quality education. Of the 25,000 students we serve, 83% identify as people of color and 69% reside in low-income households. We expand access and outcomes by investing more than $40 million annually in scholarship support and enrichment programming for students; operational improvements for schools; cultivation of talent pipelines for school personnel from new teachers through veteran principals; and professional development and support for educators and leaders – all with the goal of not just strengthening schools, but whole communities, while preparing students for life-long success. To that end, 80% of scholars matriculate to college and students earn a degree at two times the national average. Latino and Black scholars graduate at three-times and four-times their counterparts, respectively, and graduates go on to vote, contribute, and participate at greater rates than local and national outcomes.

In 2019, Big Shoulders Fund began an exciting new chapter in Northwest Indiana by making a long-term commitment to The Region. Since then, we have worked to bring our unique approach to building the capacity of local school communities to best serve students and families of Northwest Indiana, with special focus on areas of greatest need : Gary, Hammond and East Chicago. The long-term goals of our efforts include elevating the quality of values-based schools in Northwest Indiana through : academic investments, instructional and data coaching; marketing and outreach efforts; and enrichment and summer programs to expand opportunities for students. While some roles on our staff focus exclusively on Northwest Indiana or Chicago, all Big Shoulders Fund team members contribute to the success of our work across both sites.

Big Shoulders Fund has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of nonprofits, for 18 consecutive years, a distinction held by less than one percent of nonprofit organizations nationally.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Engagement through volunteerism is vitally important to Big Shoulders Fund. The Director, Corporate Partnerships and Engagement creates and manages substantive opportunities for our supporters to engage with students as stock market teachers, mentors, coaches, instructors, tutors, school board members, and more. The Director ensures these volunteer experiences are well‐structured, positive, and rewarding for supporters and schools alike.

In addition, the Director, Corporate Partnerships and Engagement is responsible for growing the annual financial support from corporate donors, through program and event sponsorships and unrestricted annual fund donations. This position works in partnership with the grants team and the Chief Advancement and Development Officer to identify and secure grants from corporate foundations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Corporate Partnerships

Identify, develop, and manage strategic partnerships with corporate supporters that align with the organization's mission and goals.
Steward and cultivate relationships with existing corporate donors to deepen their engagement and support of Big Shoulders Fund and increase funds raised annually from corporate sponsors and donors.
Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and improvement in corporate partnerships and volunteer programs.
Develop and execute a strategy to help grow matching gifts and workplace giving.
Plan, coordinate, and execute all corporate and partner service days, including school selection, calendar scheduling, agenda for the day, projects, obtaining supplies assigning volunteer groups, email reminders, photography, supply reimbursements for school, and support of schools and volunteers at events.

Volunteerism

Develop and implement a comprehensive volunteer program that aligns with the organization's objectives and engages employees effectively.

Provide strategic direction, set goals for and lead team proactively to increase engagement for supporters to volunteer, as well as have this group increase annual fundraising.

Increase awareness of Big Shoulders Fund in the community through volunteerism.

Maintain and grow the brand through turnkey volunteer opportunities that make a measurable impact on the schools and on the lives of the students served.

Identify, implement, and train appropriate staff, in conjunction with the systems team, on volunteer management software.

Create and maintain a database of volunteers, tracking their skills, interests, and availability.

Managing the volunteer opportunities for schools and understanding their needs

Recruit and oversee volunteers at all fundraising and stewardship events.

Develop and execute the volunteer onboarding process.

Plan and execute volunteer recruitment and appreciation events.

Track volunteer engagement, retention, and impact.

Oversee the implementation, maintenance and expansion of use of Galaxy Digital.

Quarterly or bi-monthly check-ins with volunteers to ensure program effectiveness.

Collaboration

Develop and manage budgets related to corporate partnerships and volunteer programs, ensuring cost-effectiveness and resource optimization.

Collaborate with the grants team to understand organizational needs and develop partnership proposals that create mutual value.

Work closely with Big Shoulders Fund Schools and Scholarship teams, as well as volunteers and schools, to evaluate existing volunteer opportunities and revise or create opportunities to meet the needs of Big Shoulders Fund constituents.

Partner with the communications team to develop materials that promote corporate partnerships and Big Shoulders Fund’s many volunteerism and engagement opportunities.

Creating, cultivating, and stewarding relationships with volunteers, their companies, and organizations to increase their involvement in a variety of ways from time, partnerships, and funding.

Develop and maintain feedback loops from school leaders that identify volunteer gaps at schools and develop into new volunteer opportunities.

Collaborating with the Director of Next Generation on next generation volunteer events, placements, and tracking, in particular with bi-monthly Give Back Days and Saturday tutoring.

Manage, coordinate and train volunteers for all Big Shoulders Fund events in conjunction with the Events Team.

Hire and oversee the work of a Manager, Corporate Partnerships and Engagement and a Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, to ensure positive outcomes from their volunteer engagement and fundraising efforts.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

Demonstrate strength and skill in working with teachers, principals, students, and families from diverse cultural, economic, and ability backgrounds

Attend and support the facilitation of fundraising events, service days, and other programs in Chicago and Northwest Indiana that further the mission of Big Shoulders Fund through its outreach to donors and schools as needed

Work cooperatively with Big Shoulders Fund staff in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, and perform other duties as assigned

NOTE : This role requires availability to work some evenings / weekends for Big Shoulders Fund events

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree : Master’s degree preferred

8 years of professional experience, in nonprofit development and volunteer engagement preferred

At least 2 years of team management experience

Strong skills in critical thinking; ability to conceive and implement effective development and volunteer engagement strategies

Desire and ability to actively build and steward relationships with donors through in person meetings and written communications

Wide network of corporate partners

Comfort and fluency in Microsoft suite platforms (Excel, Word, etc.)

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work cooperatively in a team environment

Expertise in setting project priorities and in managing multiple concurrent projects

System experience ideally with Air Table, Salesforce and Galaxy Digital

Cultural sensitivity and ability to work with diverse groups

Commitment and passion for improving education in Chicago’s highest need neighborhoods

This position manages one direct report whose responsibilities are outlined below :

Manager, Corporate Partnerships and Engagement

Creates and sends monthly volunteer e-news for both volunteers and schools

Maintains accurate records of year-round volunteer activities

Manages the volunteer opportunities for schools and understanding their needs

Tracks volunteer engagement, retention, and impact

Pairs volunteers with opportunities i.e., after school tutoring, Saturday tutoring, school board, mentoring, stock market, law program, entrepreneurship program, etc.

Creates and maintains a database of volunteers, tracking their skills, interests, and availability

Conducts quarterly or bi-monthly check-ins with volunteers to ensure program effectiveness

Recruits volunteers through a variety of opportunities such as volunteer fairs, email, in person meetings, events, etc.

Tracks volunteer engagement, retention, and impact

INTERESTED CANDIDATES : Please send resume & brief statement of interest to hiring manager Abby Cohen at acohen@bigshouldersfund.org

NOTE : This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet ongoing needs of the organization and the students / schools.

Salary : $40

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