Partnerships Senior Associate

Description

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 140,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Under the direction of the partnerships director, the partnerships senior associate is responsible for coordinating tasks for all ‘charity of choice’ relationships for all non-Wendy’s corporate cause partnerships in the United States and Canada, resulting in philanthropic support to the Foundation. This position will assist with non-Wendy’s corporate businesses to support the strategic growth of the Foundation’s donated revenue sources and achieve fundraising goals in support of our mission.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Support the corporate cause partnerships team in the United States and Canada to achieve or exceed financial goals established by the Foundation through effective strategy and partner engagement  

• Support the identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and retention strategies of all qualified non-Wendy’s corporate charitable cause-marketing fundraising partnerships
• Support cause partnership relationships including national operator engagement and stewardship
• Support the procurement, sourcing, and management of commercial co-venture partnerships, including large national brands and non-Wendy’s sports and entertainment fundraising partnerships
• Proactively review corporate partners' ESG, social impact, and CSR reports to maintain an up-to-date understanding of their social impact goals and priorities 
• Foster strong day-to-day communication and relationships with corporate stakeholders, ensuring key information is shared thoughtfully and effectively with the relevant team members
• Create presentation materials and spreadsheets to support key fundraising initiatives and donor stewardship activities

2. Support the development events director with detailed execution of event logistics for third party fundraising, recognition or cultivation events for corporate partners 

• Solicit in-kind donations from individuals, corporations and businesses to support the Foundation’s programs and events
• Assist with the execution of events including event coordination, logistics, volunteer management and event follow-up
• Represent the Foundation at events, ensuring the utmost professionalism and enhancement of the Foundation’s reputation

3. Maintain accurate donor records and regularly update project management tasks in collaboration with the Partnerships Director to support project efficiency

4. Contribute to shared department efforts, including but not limited to mailings, data entry, donor experiences, phone calls and appeals as appropriate

• Support documentation and proactive communication around donor recognition and reporting efforts 
• Provide administrative support, as needed, with corporate partner fulfillment & shipping items 

5. Perform other duties to support the Partnerships Team as required

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The following qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to serve in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships internally and externally; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and in different situations
• Highly organized, thorough and detail-oriented with the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and manage multiple projects with competing priorities
• Excellent planning and decision-making abilities, with the ability to anticipate tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines and adapt to shifting priorities; able to interpret information and proactively manage accounts with a high degree of autonomy
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies, including how events support a donor cultivation plan
• Adaptability and comfort working in ambiguous situations with proactive problem-solving abilities
• Ability to demonstrate tremendous self-awareness and exception interpersonal skills and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Values diversity and supports an inclusive culture through the ability to successfully communicate with and influence a diverse group of audiences 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint and ability to learn and use a donor management system; knowledge of project management tools (e.g., Asana) and quick to learn new systems

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Undergraduate degree required
• Minimum of 4-6 years of business development, account management, corporate engagement or business to business sales experience
• Proven experience collaborating with executives, business owners or entrepreneurs 
• 1+ year of experience in event or project coordination, with a focus on planning and execution in fast-paced, high-pressure environments preferred
• Non-profit experience a plus

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Moderate Travel Required 

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, color, religion, religious beliefs, political affiliation, creed, HIV/AIDS status, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, familial status, veteran/military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, prior arrest or any other category protected by applicable law. Any employee who engages in such conduct is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.