Gift Officer (Corporate Partnerships)

The Walker Art Center empowers people to experience the transformative possibilities of the art and ideas of our time and to imagine the world in new ways. In our over 125-year history, we have become one of the most celebrated art museums in the country and we are known for our innovative presentations and acclaimed collections of contemporary art across the spectrum of the visual, performing, and media arts.

Reporting to the Director of Major Giving and Institutional Relations, the Gift Officer (Corporate Partnerships) is a collaborative position on the Development and Membership team. This Gift Officer position will develop and execute fundraising strategies to build a strong prospect pipeline and expand meaningful engagement with corporate partners, including corporate members, foundations, sponsors, and social responsibility teams. Primary responsibilities include the identification/qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate donors, sponsors, and prospects. The Gift Officer will build and manage a portfolio of corporate partners and prospects; make direct asks to secure funding for the Walker; identify opportunities for in-kind contributions; manage and enhance the Walker’s Corporate Partners Program; serve as the lead for event sponsorships; create compelling materials, proposals, agreements, and reports; expand opportunities for corporate employee engagement; and engage appropriate staff, vendors, partners, and volunteers to advance fundraising strategies. Excellent fundraising/sales, negotiation, communication, interpersonal, and writing skills are required in order to serve as a key representative of the Walker with corporate donors and prospects, work effectively with cross-departmental teams, and persuasively convey the Walker’s mission, programs, and impact. 

What You Get To Do

Portfolio Management: Corporate Partners and Prospects

• Manage an assigned portfolio of corporate partners and prospects (60-85+), with annual contributions ranging from $5,000 to $100,000+.
• Actively participate in fundraising strategy meetings to identify prospective corporate donors and opportunities for support, align fundraising activities with the Walker’s priorities, and strategize fundraising approaches.
• Build relationships with corporate executives and decision-makers and expand the corporate partner pipeline; identify, research, and qualify prospects through tailored outreach, communications, and engagement.
• Secure corporate contributions to meet ambitious fundraising goals in support of the Walker’s annual operations, exhibitions, programs, events, special projects, strategic priorities, and campaigns.
• Conduct one-to-one meetings and communications to qualify, cultivate, solicit, retain, upgrade, engage, and steward corporate partners, and to strengthen corporate relationships and support for the long-term.
• Create compelling presentations, pitch decks, and tailored proposals.
• Manage direct solicitations and negotiations.
• Draft and execute agreements to meet corporate partner needs, expand corporate engagement, and increase retention rates.
• Ensure agreements and stewardship plans are executed to the highest standards, including benefits fulfillment and tracking, recognition activities, and reporting.
• Grow and manage donor relationships through ongoing communication, anticipation of donors’ needs, and full understanding of benefits and opportunities.
• Engage trustees and committee members to identify prospective corporate partner connections and engagement opportunities.
• Facilitate opportunities to engage Walker leaders, curators, and staff; Board of Trustees; and committee chairs and members in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate partners, including participation in events, tours, and site visits.
• Refer possible prospects for individual giving and/or board and committee opportunities.
• Ensure all donor information, strategies, and initiatives are recorded in the Walker’s database (Tessitura), including actions, deadlines, contact reports, and follow-up activities.
• Follow best practices in donor development and moves management.
• Communicate on activities and provide timely and accurate progress reports.

Program Management: Corporate Membership and Sponsorship

• Manage the Walker’s Corporate Partners Program; develop and execute annual strategies for engaging corporate donors and prospects through memberships (Corporate Annual Fund), foundation grants, sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and employee matching gifts.
• Review and refresh the Corporate Partners Program, with a focus on growth to build the pipeline, expand meaningful corporate engagement, and meet revenue goals:
• Evaluate effectiveness of current program and develop recommendations for improvements.
• Gather and synthesize corporate partner feedback to identify opportunities for enhancement and innovation.
• Conduct valuations of sponsorship packages and regular benchmarking with peer organizations.
• Research and stay up-to-date on trends in corporate giving and sponsorship.
• Collaborate with Development leadership to inform annual projections for corporate contributions, ensure alignment with the Walker’s priorities, track progress to goals, and manage the annual expense budget for the Corporate Partners Program.
• Play a key role in the planning, fundraising, and implementation of the Walker’s signature fundraising event(s); serve as the lead for event sponsorship with corporate partners, staff, trustees, co-chairs, and committees.
• Develop creative packages that provide corporate partners with valuable benefits, including distinct brand association, hospitality and entertainment opportunities, employee engagement, and custom activations.
• Create compelling materials to promote corporate partnership with the Walker, including corporate membership materials, sponsorship packages, presentations, donor profiles, website pages, reports, and other materials; collaborate with staff across Walker departments as needed to gather relevant information for a wide range of materials.
• Create, manage, evaluate, and enhance annual benefits and communications plans for corporate partners, including e-newsletters, appreciation days, discounts, ticket offers, and recognition.
• Work collaboratively with the Donor Relations Associate on implementation and logistics related to the Corporate Partners Program, including communications, stewardship, benefit fulfillment, logistics, tracking, and reporting.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Membership and Development, Marketing, Design/Editorial, Visitor Experiences, Walker Shop, and Facility Rentals) to enhance and execute the Corporate Partners Program, promote corporate engagement, and increase the value of corporate partnership with the Walker. 

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain an active, current body of knowledge of the Walker, its mission and history, programs and activities, institutional needs, and fundraising priorities.
• Work with the Finance team to ensure compliance, accountability, and transparency.
• Participate in trainings and professional development.
• Stay up-to-date on trends, vehicles, and best practices for corporate giving, sponsorship, grant-making, portfolio management, and donor relations. Assist with other departmental duties as needed or assigned.
• Cultivate and network with donors and prospects and represent the Walker at events, including some evenings and weekends.
• Partner with members of the Development team to maintain accurate donor records; fulfill benefits, deliverables, and agreements; and ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and financial forecasts.
• Serve as a liaison to and collaborate with corporate giving/sponsorship colleagues at peer organizations.

What We Need In You

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years’ fundraising experience focused on corporate giving, sponsorship and/or institutional relations.
• Proven track record of successfully developing relationships with corporate partners and soliciting, closing, and stewarding corporate contributions, grants, and sponsorship agreements.
• Experience managing an assigned donor portfolio, including creating and executing donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Ability to serve as an enthusiastic and professional representative of the Walker.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate with a wide range of individuals with varied talents, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Excellent storytelling, writing, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create compelling proposals, presentations, and reports.
• Self-motivated and results-driven, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and deadlines.
• Thrives in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to work with discretion and sensitivity to confidential matters.
• Proficiency with CRM/donor database systems, Microsoft Office, and Adobe applications.
• Availability and willingness to work weekends and evenings as needed. 

Preferred Skills

• Experience working in the nonprofit arts and culture sector.
• Tessitura experience. 

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk
• Prolonged periods of looking at computer or phone screens

JOB SPECIFICATIONS This position is considered full-time, exempt. As an exempt position, it is not eligible for overtime pay. The compensation for this role is $65,000 - $75,000 annually.

The Walker offers a wide range of benefits for both part-time and full-time employees, click link to view benefits: https://walkerart.org/primary-benefits-package/

This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.

All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship. 

Walker’s DEI commitment The Walker is committed to being an employer with a staff who, at all job levels, reflects the rich diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We are dedicated to ensuring inclusion and equity in all our employment practices. We deeply value and welcome all the unique lived experiences in our applicants and encourage anyone meeting the minimum requirements to apply.

Recruitment Timeline All positions are open until filled.