Director, Corporate Partnerships

Segerstrom Center for the Arts; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

403(b) with employer match

Paid time off

Discretionary annual bonus

Job summary

Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA seeks a Director, Corporate Partnerships to grow and steward its corporate funding partnerships. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, you will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of key sponsors with a focus on multi-year, six- and seven-figure commitments.

The role requires exceptional relationship-building, strategic thinking, and experience with Tessitura CRM, plus the ability to lead a team and collaborate with

Qualifications

• Five+ years of progressive fundraising or sales experience with corporate sponsors.
• Experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts and multi-year sponsorships.
• Strong communication, proposal writing, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate supporters to meet revenue targets.
• Secure multi-year, high-value sponsorships and collaborate with leadership.
• Manage sponsorship portfolio and moves management within Tessitura.
• Lead the Arts and Business Leadership Council and plan the annual fundraising gala.
• Mentor staff and work with education and community engagement teams.
• Build relationships with boards, donors, and executive leadership.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship building

Negotiation

Donor lifecycle management

Proposals/writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Tessitura CRM

Job description

Revel in creativity. At Segerstrom Center for the Arts, you’re in the company of world-celebrated artists, experiencing the most acclaimed, sought-after performances. We bring you a diverse lineup of glittering hits straight from Broadway; both storied and innovative dance; intimate jazz concerts; side-splitting comedy; family shows that delight all ages; and free community events that bring all of Orange County together.

Opened in 1986, Segerstrom Center for the Arts is one of the nation’s most respected multi-disciplinary cultural institutions and is Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization. Segerstrom Center remains committed to supporting artistic excellence and offering unsurpassed experiences to engage the community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs. In addition to all that the Segerstrom Center presents, you can enjoy the inspiring music of our three resident companies—Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Pacific Symphony, and Pacific Chorale—plus thrilling dance from our official dance company American Ballet Theatre, and captivating theater and visual art from our campus partners South Coast Repertory and the Orange County Museum of Art.

OUR MISSION

Segerstrom Center for the Arts enriches and transforms lives by entertaining, educating, and engaging our community through exceptional programs for our stages, for the classroom, and for our community.

Vision: Segerstrom Center for the Arts will serve as Orange County’s cultural anchor, elevating civic pride and quality of life by redefining what a performing arts center can be – connecting our community through powerful artistic experiences that strengthen the very fabric of our region and create shared positive experiences to unite all of Orange County.

To learn more about Segerstrom Center for the Arts, please visit: https://www.scfta.org/

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

Our 23-person development department builds key strategic relationships with our philanthropic community to raise critical funds for Segerstrom Center. We work closely with individuals, corporations, and foundations to make the renowned, life-changing work we do possible, raising more than $18 million annually. Segerstrom Center was built through philanthropy, and it is at the core of our vision for becoming the model of the successful performing arts center of the future. We recently completed a five-year strategic plan, which is centered around five initiatives, including expanding education and engagement programs, as well as developing an arts and health campaign, and gearing up for a capital campaign.

The Director, Corporate Partnerships reports to Abigail Sherlock, Vice President of Development at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. She leads fundraising strategy across individual giving, foundations, grants, and special events to advance the Center’s mission. She has over 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry spanning New York City and Southern California, with expertise in fundraising, marketing, and business development.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary: $120,000-–150,000 per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 403(b) with employer match after one year
• Core benefits + supplemental benefits
• Paid time off, including 10 vacation days per year, 10 sick days per year, early release on select summer Fridays, and company holidays.
• Discretionary annual bonus incentives

LOCATION

Our office is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. This is a hybrid role with an expectation to be out in the field with donors and prospects.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director, Corporate Partnerships is a key leadership role at Segerstrom Center, responsible for the growth and stewardship of Segerstrom Center’s strategic funding partners. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director leads the strategy for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding support from corporate partners and business leaders. This includes managing a sponsorship revenue portfolio exceeding $2M, with a particular focus on building major, multi-year partnership agreements within Orange County’s thriving technology, science, and business sectors as well as nationally.

The Director will serve as the organization’s lead corporate partnership strategist, with the ability to negotiate complex, multi-year partnerships and sponsorship deals. This role oversees the full lifecycle of corporate giving, from prospecting through stewardship. This person is confident and experienced in networking and relationship building, bringing a strong network within Orange County, Southern California, and/or national brands, while demonstrating a polished and relationship-driven approach. Additionally, the Director manages the Arts and Business Leadership Council, overseeing its recruitment and annual fundraiser, and supervises and mentors the Senior Manager to ensure the smooth operation of corporate partnerships. This role oversees the Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Prospecting, Cultivation, and Stewardship – Fundraising (80%)

• Execute the full donor lifecycle—identification through stewardship—for a portfolio of corporate supporters to meet or exceed annual revenue targets.
• Strategize and secure high-level corporate sponsorships, prioritizing multi-year and major-gift commitments.
• Partner with Board Members and Executive Leadership to identify and bridge funding gaps for major organizational initiatives.
• Maintain rigorous data integrity within the Tessitura database to track moves management and prospective pipelines.
• Plan, attend, and work special events throughout the season.
• Track and cultivate donor relationships through 14–18 meetings per month with corporate partners.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with 40 corporate donors in the current portfolio, with a goal of building an active portfolio of 60+ corporate supporters.
• Be a high-level representative of Segerstrom Center at corporate events in Orange County.
• Ability to lead while also being a contributing member of a larger development team.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Boards of Directors and senior volunteer leadership groups.
• Build authentic relationships with corporate donors, internal staff, and board members.
• Confident in establishing new relationships, developing partnership opportunities, and making direct sponsorship asks.
• Demonstrated ability to secure multi-year, six-figure sponsorships.

Management (10%)

• Mentor and supervise support staff, overseeing their professional development in grant writing, data management, and frontline fundraising.
• Work closely with the internal Education and Community Engagement team to cultivate donors.
• Work collaboratively with a large and sophisticated fundraising team.
• Lead the Arts and Business Leadership Council, collaborating with the Chair on recruitment, communication strategy, and the annual fundraising gala.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• Deep appreciation for the performing arts and the transformative role they play in community life, specifically within the diverse communities of Orange County.
• A driven and strategic self-starter who will actively identify and pursue new funding opportunities and creative sponsorship activations.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to write creative, high-level proposals, prepare supplemental budgets, and create compelling sponsorship decks.
• At least five years of progressive sales or fundraising experience with demonstrated success in cultivating corporate partnerships and sponsorship opportunities.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; a Master’s degree and prior supervisory or management experience are a plus.
• Exceptional relationship builder who can engage donors across generations, inspire confidence, and translate institutional values into meaningful philanthropic opportunities.
• Demonstrated success in the full donor lifecycle—cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—for institutional partners, with strong negotiation skills and sensitivity to donor motivations.
• Proficiency with the Tessitura database or similar CRM software to manage donor pipelines and track activity.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends for Center performances and special events.
• A self-starter who embraces and creates opportunities, with the strategic ability to cultivate relationships that lead to six- to seven-figure corporate gifts.