Specialist, Sponsorship Development & Corporate Partnerships

Foundation for California Community Colleges•US CA Remote, CA

4d•$70,304 - $73,000•Remote

About The Position

The Foundation for California Community Colleges is seeking a proactive, relationship-oriented Specialist to expand sponsorship opportunities for statewide conferences, summits, events, and initiatives that support California’s community colleges. This is a business-to-business sponsorship sales and corporate partnership role focused on revenue generation, rather than traditional nonprofit fund development. The Specialist works closely with the Manager, Partnership Engagement and collaborates with event teams and internal stakeholders to develop sponsor relationships and support organizational goals. The role identifies and engages prospective sponsors, manages leads, conducts discovery conversations, develops customized sponsorship packages and proposals, and advances opportunities from prospecting through securing commitments. The Specialist uses Salesforce to manage the sponsorship pipeline, track outreach and prospective revenue, and maintain accurate records. The position is remote within California; employees must reside in California and should expect approximately 25% travel for in-person events.

Requirements

At least three years of experience in sales, business development, sponsorship development, corporate partnerships, or a related field.
Strong understanding of sponsorship development, prospect identification, relationship cultivation, and strategies for advancing partnership opportunities.
Demonstrated experience in outbound prospecting, lead generation, relationship development, and consistent follow-up to advance sponsorship or business development opportunities.
Experience managing prospective client or sponsor relationships, advancing opportunities through a sales pipeline, and contributing to revenue goals.
Proficiency with CRM systems for managing sales pipelines, documenting prospect communications, tracking outreach, and monitoring opportunities.
Must reside in California.
Approximately 25% travel for in-person events.

Nice To Haves

Direct Salesforce experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify and pursue corporate sponsorship opportunities for statewide conferences, summits, events, and initiatives supporting California’s community colleges.
Drive sponsorship sales through proactive prospecting, outbound outreach, lead generation, and consistent follow-up to secure commitments and generate revenue.
Build and maintain relationships with prospective and existing corporate sponsors, identifying opportunities to expand engagement and develop long-term partnerships.
Manage leads generated through independent outreach, client referrals, internal teams, and existing corporate relationships.
Conduct discovery conversations to understand prospective sponsors’ business objectives, marketing priorities, and potential mutually beneficial partnerships.
Develop and present customized sponsorship packages, proposals, and event engagement opportunities that connect corporate partners with relevant audiences.
Communicate the value of sponsorship opportunities, respond to prospective sponsors’ questions, and advance sales conversations toward commitments.
Manage assigned sponsorship opportunities throughout the sales pipeline, from prospecting and qualification through securing commitments and coordinating appropriate handoffs.
Use Salesforce to manage sponsorship pipelines, track outreach, monitor prospective revenue, and maintain accurate sponsor communication and follow-up records.
Collaborate with the Partnership Engagement Manager, event teams, and internal stakeholders to identify business opportunities, strengthen corporate relationships, and support sponsorship revenue goals.