Summary:

Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, uses the game of baseball to give kids across Canada a place on a team where they belong. Jays Care believes that baseball for development programming can play an important role as an effective low-cost intervention to address pressing mental and physical health challenges for children and youth across the country. Proudly working in all ten provinces and all three territories, Jays Care runs baseball for development programming for more than 60,000 children and youth annually. Through the Field Of Dreams program, the Foundation has also invested nearly $15 million into building or refurbishing more than 160 community baseball diamonds across Canada. Jays Care is recognized as a top 100 Charity in Canada and is the proud two-time winner of Major League Baseball’s Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence.

To enable future generations of children and youth in under-resourced communities to have access to inclusive and accessible sport and play, Jays Care’s Philanthropy team is seeking to hire a Specialist, Corporate Partnerships.

Reports to:        Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships & Events

Salary:                 $50,000 to $55,000 in addition to benefits detailed below

Location:            Toronto – Rogers Centre

With a keen understanding of the value that sport, and recreational programming has in the development of children and youth, the successful candidate will possess a deep commitment to building long-term, donor centric relationships with corporate partners.

The Specialist, Corporate Partnerships is responsible for developing and servicing partnerships with national corporations and local businesses to raise funds for Jays Care Foundation. They prospect, solicit, secure and service partnerships within the community and Corporate Canada that can range from $5,000 to $500,000. These partnerships could include event sponsorships, philanthropic gifts, cause marketing, employee engagement and in-kind support. The Specialist, Corporate Partnerships is responsible for proactively developing and managing a pipeline of up to 100 prospective corporate supporters in all stages of the development cycle. The total annual revenue accountability for this role is estimated to be $1 million.

The Specialist will be part of a high performing philanthropy team that works collaboratively with Foundation colleagues and Toronto Blue Jays departments to inspire meaningful donor relationships.

Responsibilities of the Specialist, Corporate Partnerships include:

Partnership Development (45%)

• Proactively identify and qualify new corporate partnership opportunities and manage incoming inquiries
• Collaborate across Jays Care Foundation departments and Toronto Blue Jays to create strong, mutually beneficial proposals and to develop and implement the partnership. This may include content development, program development and implementation, etc.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward sponsors and donors to achieve agreed upon fundraising targets for programs and event sponsorship, striving for multi-year agreements and renewals
• Effectively manage a portfolio of third-party corporate fundraising events including deepening existing relationships, identifying new possible partners, providing detailed reporting, and fulfilling silent auction or raffle prizing
• Lead the implementation of Pitch In for Jays Care, the in-stadium point of sale fundraising campaign in partnership with Jays Shop
• Write and manage a pipeline of opportunities and prepare profiles, briefing notes, proposals/case for support, online applications, and other fundraising and solicitation materials, in collaboration with Jays Care team members from Philanthropy, Marketing Communications, Programs, and Measurement & Evaluation departments
• Develop and actively use sales materials including pitch decks, research profiles, slide banks, and agreement templates (Documents will need to be approved by appropriate teams including but not limited to Legal, Finance, Programs/ Measurement & Evaluation and Marketing Communications)
• Work with partnerships, legal, finance, and operations teams to negotiate and finalize agreements, create invoices, and track payments

Partnership Service (30%)

• Be the key relationship manager for a pipeline of partners to maintain a great ongoing relationship and offer new and innovative ways to grow the partnership. Become subject matter experts on the partner’s strategy, interest, and motivations for being involved with Jays Care to anticipate their needs and deliver exceptional service
• Proactively identify opportunities to retain and grow partnerships based on their objectives and the needs of Jays Care Foundation. This may include volunteering opportunities, team building initiatives, surprise and delight experiences and others
• In collaboration with the Director, Philanthropy, Senior Manager, Partnerships & Events and Specialist, Community Development Communications, produce stewardship and other reports to demonstrate the impact of the partnership, and analyzes results to recommend changes/ evolutions as required to maximize revenue and renewals
• Accurately forecast, measure, and report on the results of various projects with partners
• Professionally represent the Toronto Blue Jays and Jays Care Foundation brands while delivering a great experience to our partners
• Work with the management team to develop and implement the partnership recognition matrix, and ensure all partners receive appropriate recognition in a timely manner. This could include drafting and gaining approval for social media posts, sponsorship, and philanthropic ads.
• Build strong relationships with cross-functional departments across Rogers Communications and Toronto Blue Jays to create new opportunities and deliver exceptional service to partners
• Host partners at Toronto Blue Jays games and events as required

Fundraising & Stewardship Events (15%)

• Leverage relationships to assist in event sales, member acquisition and service
• Use partnership relationships and conversations to inform best-in-class development of fundraising events and new sponsorable assets
• Support the development and implementation of signature series events with sponsor activations
• Inform photography shot lists, and ensure proof of performance is delivered to partners
• Ensure sponsor deliverables are executed and achieved at a high level at each event
• Attend and support at events as required
• Assist in the creation of post-mortem reports to inform the perspective of corporate partners

Planning & Communication (10%)

• Update financial projections monthly to achieve fundraising goals and future revenue goals
• Help to develop, implement, and evolve corporate partnerships tools including but not limited to revenue tracking, reporting and projecting in Salesforce, employee engagement tools, presentations, etc.
• Assist in the preparation of an annual plan of measurable goals and strategies, to maximize corporate support to the Foundation
• Maintain accurate, timely and professional accounts of current records, actions, and reports and actively plan forward actions via CRM database (ex. Salesforce)
• Prepare compelling and strategic materials including briefing notes, proposals, and stewardship reports and gaining internal approvals.

Additional expectations

• Operate within the culture and core values of the organization
• Work as a team player promoting a positive and professional work environment and conducting the role with integrity and respect
• Cultivate strong professional relationships with programs, finance and marketing & communications standards
• Act as an ambassador throughout the community, positively representing the organization
• Perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall goals and objectives of the organization
• Maintain knowledge and expertise in relevant fields to deliver best in class and innovative partnerships

Qualifications:

• Three (3+) plus years of relevant work experience developing partnerships in either or both the corporate and not-for-profit sector
  • Strong, demonstrated experience in independently developing and managing a relationship pipeline
  • Exceptional relationship building skills with donors/ corporate partners and cross functionally within an organization
  • Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of philanthropic and sponsorship relationships and benefits to companies and not for profits
  • Strong experience working with a cross functional team, multiple stakeholders and a cross section of people from executive corporate leaders to custodians
  • Strong presentation creation experience
• Entrepreneurially minded with creative thinking skills, solution oriented
• Exceptional verbal and written English communications skills, with strong presentation skills
• Demonstrated experience working in a fast-paced environment, managing several initiatives simultaneously
• Proficient in fundraising platforms such as Artez, Classy
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint
• Experience using Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge or similar database management system

Benefits:

• Two weeks paid vacation
• Group insurance benefits include dental, health and vision care which begin on the first day of employment
• Employer-sponsored pension plan
• Eligible for an annual bonus
• Employee assistance program
• Access to Rogers employee benefits

Work Model:

Jays Care’s Philanthropy team works on location at Rogers Centre at least two days per week, with increased presence during the baseball season. Participation in evening and weekend events is required, especially during the baseball season.

Interested candidates should complete the application process including their cover letter and their resume. Deadline for applications is Monday, October 21, 2024.