Director of Philanthropic Events & Partnerships

School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center•New York, NY

47d•$95,000 - $105,000

About The Position

As part of a broader effort to strengthen and align roles with strategic fundraising goals, the School of American Ballet (SAB) is recruiting a new Director of Philanthropic Events & Partnerships. This role emphasizes frontline fundraising, relationship management, and strategic event leadership. The Director will oversee SAB’s major fundraising events, cultivate and steward donors and event leadership, and guide the overall event strategy to strengthen donor engagement and philanthropic revenue. The position also manages SAB’s corporate partnerships portfolio, with a focus on aligning sponsorship opportunities with SAB’s mission, fundraising objectives, and brand marketing strategy. Reporting to the Director of Development and Marketing, the Director will bring a versatile skill set in team management, complex event execution, and personalized relationship-building with event co-chairs, sponsors, Board members, and volunteer leaders. The Director will work closely with the Director of Individual Giving to align donor strategies, stewardship plans, and moves management efforts across all constituencies, and in collaboration with the Marketing team to ensure partnerships strengthen and reflect SAB’s brand priorities and identity. The Director will manage one direct report, an Event Assistant, ensuring high-quality donor engagement experiences and successful execution of all events and fundraising initiatives. This is a full-time, exempt position, reporting to the Director of Development and Marketing.

Requirements

Approximately 5–7 years of progressive experience in fundraising and event management, preferably within a nonprofit or cultural institution.
Proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors, event leadership, and corporate sponsors.
Demonstrated success in planning and executing high-revenue fundraising events.
Strong relationship-management skills with the ability to engage high-level volunteers, donors, and trustees.
Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities; confident, polished, and donor-facing.
Experience managing staff and motivating teams toward shared goals.
Strategic thinker with strong attention to detail, follow-through, and creative problem-solving.
Flexibility to work evenings and weekends for events and cultivation activities.

Nice To Haves

A passion for the arts, culture, or education is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior member of the Development and Marketing leadership team, shaping strategy for SAB’s philanthropic events and corporate partnerships.
Partner closely with the Director of Individual Giving to coordinate donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies tied to events.
Collaborate across the Development, Artistic, and Executive teams to integrate event fundraising into SAB’s overall donor and institutional strategy.
Support the Executive Director, Director of Development and Marketing, and Board leadership in identifying and engaging new event chairs, committee members, and major donors.
Establish revenue goals, budgets, and performance metrics for each major event.
Provide strategic and creative leadership for SAB’s signature fundraising events, including the Nutcracker Family Benefit, SAB Ball, and the Workshop Benefit, with a focus on maximizing philanthropic outcomes.
Cultivate, solicit, and steward event co-chairs, committee members, and individual donors to secure sponsorships, tables, tickets, and contributions.
Develop compelling event concepts and experiences that advance donor relationships and reflect SAB’s mission and artistic excellence.
Oversee logistics, production, and guest experience in collaboration with staff, consultants, and vendors.
Lead post-event follow-up and donor stewardship in coordination with Individual Giving and Development Operations.
Manage SAB’s portfolio of corporate and brand partnerships, stewarding current sponsors and cultivating new relationships.
Partner with the Marketing team to ensure all corporate partnerships and sponsorship activations align with SAB’s brand identity and support broader brand visibility goals.
Develop tailored sponsorship proposals and benefits packages that align with corporate partners’ philanthropic and visibility goals.
Collaborate internally to ensure timely fulfillment of partnership benefits and accurate recognition in print, digital, and on-site channels.
Track and report on corporate revenue goals and sponsor engagement metrics.
Supervise and mentor the Event Assistant, setting clear goals and ensuring the successful execution of all fundraising and cultivation events.
Promote collaboration, accountability, and professional growth within the team.
Manage relationships with external event vendors, consultants, and partners to ensure excellence and efficiency.