Manager, Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Events

Job title: Manager, Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Events

About the Role The Manager, Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Events is responsible for securing charitable gifts and sponsorships from corporations while leading the planning and execution of strategic events that advance The Cooper Union's fundraising, stewardship, visibility, and community engagement goals.

The Manager serves as a frontline fundraiser and event professional who develops corporate relationships, supports donor and prospect engagement, and implements fundraising and event strategies designed to strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, corporations, students, faculty, and friends of the College.

What You'll Do

• Lead planning and execution of assigned strategic institutional events, including donor cultivation programs, stewardship events, corporate engagement activities, presidential events, board events, alumni programs, and other mission-driven gatherings
• Partner with internal stakeholders to establish event goals, target audiences, budgets, messaging, and success metrics
• Develop event strategies that increase philanthropic support, strengthen constituent relationships, enhance institutional visibility, and support revenue generation
• Manage event timelines, logistics, vendors, contracts, registration processes, production schedules, guest experience, and post-event assessment
• Support volunteer, donor, and corporate committees associated with events and engagement initiatives
• Collaborate with Communications and campus partners to ensure events effectively advance institutional priorities and brand standards
• Discover, cultivate, engage, solicit, and steward corporate funders, sponsors, and rental clients capable of making leadership ($2,500+) and major ($50,000+) gifts, sponsorships, or rental commitments, securing approximately $400,000 in new annual commitments
• Prepare or assist in the preparation of proposals, sponsorship packages, presentations, budgets, stewardship reports, and other fundraising materials
• Maintain accurate records and activity reports and ensure compliance with institutional policies and donor requirements
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills and represent the College professionally with internal and external constituents
• Overtime eligible and regularly requires attendance at occasional evening and weekend events
• Other duties as assigned

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of marketing, sales, revenue-generating events, or fundraising experience
• Demonstrated success securing charitable gifts, sponsorships, earned revenue, registrations, or other external support through relationship-building and persuasive communication
• Experience planning, coordinating, or supporting events, conferences, donor programs, community engagement activities, or other constituent-facing initiatives
• Strong time management and organizational skills with sharp attention to detail
• Excellent persuasive writing, proofreading, and editing skills
• Fluency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook
• Comfort in database research activities (Tessitura, Slate, Raiser’s Edge, Tableau, etc.)
• Professional judgment, thoughtfulness, and discretion
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, arts and culture, or mission-driven organizations preferred
• Appreciation for The Cooper Union mission and ethos
• Education: High School diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor's degree preferred

Nice to Have

• Experience working in or with higher education, nonprofit, arts and culture, or mission-driven organizations

Compensation & Benefits

• PT Salary Range: $52,000 - $54,000
• FT Salary Range: $65,000 - $67,000
• This listing notes the salary ranges; specific benefits are not listed in the posting.