MANAGER, CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY
About Music Will
Music Will runs the largest nonprofit music education program in the U.S. public school system. We transform lives by transforming music education.
Using genres including rock, pop, Latin, and hip hop, our program empowers teachers to build music programs as diverse as the kids they serve. As a result, students see themselves reflected in their classes, which strengthens their connection to their school, their peers, and their community. Music Will also donates necessary instruments and curriculum, meeting a key need of many school music programs.
Since 2002, Music Will has served more than 1,600,000 students in more than 6,000 schools in over 1,000 cities and communities across 50 states with highly inclusive and culturally responsive music education. Today, approximately 650,000 kids currently participate in Music Will programs. Learn more here: www.musicwill.org.
Summary of the Opportunity
At Music Will (“MW”), growing the corporate philanthropy program is vital to scaling the organization’s fundraising efforts. The Manager, Corporate Philanthropy is an essential role to expanding MW’s corporate giving program by identifying and cultivating new corporate partnerships and deepening existing relationships that align and advance the organization’s mission and fundraising goals. They will also serve as the primary project manager for music classroom activities and makeovers funded by corporate donations (“corporate activations”) and employee and volunteer engagement opportunities.
Reporting to the Director, Corporate Philanthropy and Events, the Manager, Corporate Philanthropy will be a part of the organization’s Growth department, which includes Philanthropy, Institutional Giving, Marketing & Communications, and Events. This role requires both strategic-thinking and hands-on execution to grow MW’s fundraising efforts among corporations. Donor stewardship and corporate volunteerism experience is critical to the role.
Responsibilities
Corporate Prospecting & Solicitation
- Identify and secure new corporate partnerships through proactive research, outreach, and relationship building that align with MW’s mission and growth goals;
- Maintain corporate portfolio in Salesforce, leveraging the database to track prospects, ensure continued stewardship, timely communication, and progress towards closing gifts;
- Use analytics to qualify corporate giving potential from prospects, inform customized follow up strategies, and track effectiveness of cultivation plans with prospects;
- Liaise with relationship managers within the organization to support an expanding corporate portfolio by preparing tailored corporate activation proposals, creating sponsorship materials, and contributing to outreach strategies and pitch presentations designed to secure new partnerships
- Analyze historical data, evaluate sponsorship trends, and assess opportunities in order to develop accurate revenue projections for the corporate sponsorship portfolio in partnership with broader organizational fundraising targets
- Plan and manage customized corporate volunteer projects and activities that engage corporate stakeholders meaningfully with Music Will’s mission
Corporate Activations
- Serve as primary project manager for corporate activations and employee/volunteer engagement activities - including classroom revitalization service days, corporate sponsored artist school visits, instrument deliveries and music-making workshops. Approximately 5 to 6 per year;
- Collaborate with internal Growth and Program teams, as well as external stakeholders including teachers and school administrators, to plan and execute activations and engagement activities. Craft detailed day-of schedules (including run of show for school assemblies), track budget and expenses, identify supply needs for classrooms and coordinate instrument deliveries
- Maintain accurate records in Salesforce with relevant documents related to activations, logging support collateral and key data points to track planning progress, final event attendance, and post-event follow-up for continued stewardship
- Support donor cultivation events in key programmatic markets as needed
About You
Skills, Experiences, and Qualifications
The ideal candidate will bring a diverse set of skills, characteristics, and experiences - both professional and lived. At Music Will, we strive to mitigate inherent biases that influence hiring practices by focusing on a holistic view of potential candidates and understanding that no single candidate will offer every desired skill and characteristic.
Studies have shown that women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities or a neurodivergence may hesitate to apply unless they meet every qualification. At Music Will, we value diverse experiences and perspectives, and if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply—even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement.
Connector
Ability to build strategic relationships that connect Music Will’s mission with external audiences, partners, teachers, music lovers and donors alike; work across lines of difference and build consensus both internally and externally. High level of emotional intelligence.
Effective and Thoughtful Communicator
Excellent written, verbal, and communication skills. Takes pride in proactively ensuring consistency, accuracy, and timeliness of messaging to keep others adequately informed. Exhibits good listening and comprehension. Demonstrates thoughtfulness in electing and using appropriate methods and frequency for sharing out work, progress, changes, concerns, thoughts and ideas with the widest audience possible (as applicable internally and externally).
Logistics Minded
Thrives on creating order. Able to organize processes and keep details from falling through the cracks at all times. Ability to handle multiple tasks and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment; can prioritize effectively and is extremely organized, detail-oriented, and efficient.
Proactive
Identifies opportunities to make improvements and seizes them.Creates, maintains and evolves systems that work as needed, both for consistent management of support and to adapt as the organization grows.
Required Skills And Experiences
- At least 4-7 years of experience in corporate philanthropy and development, fundraising, volunteer management, and/or event planning;
- Proven track record of securing 5 to 6-figure gifts
- Familiarity with corporate giving trends and the philanthropic landscape
- Comfortable negotiating partnership/sponsorship terms, recognition, and deliverables;
- Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral), and to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
- A successful track record of leading and managing projects and activities with cross-functional teams
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities where processes and/or systems may not be fully defined or developed, and multiple projects happening simultaneously;
- Experience with CRM databases such as Salesforce;
- Proficiency with Google Suite (especially Sheets), and Microsoft Office applications
- Comfortable working and building relationships in a fully remote environment
Preferred Skills And Experiences
- Relevant certifications and/or degrees in nonprofit management/administration, fundraising
- Salesforce experience
- Experience as a music maker is a plus
Compensation And Benefits
Starting salary range for this position is $76,183-$89,627 per year. Music Will is committed to its team and strives to offer employees a competitive compensation package that reflects the organization’s values, culture, and mission. Salary is in accordance with Music Will’s competitive compensation and career path plan, and the organization’s array of benefits include medical coverage (health, dental, vision) with significant employer contributions, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 403(b) plan with employer match, and pre-tax spending accounts (FSA). Perks include generous discretionary time off policy, flexible work arrangements and professional development.
Application Process
Please submit an application through Our Career Page. References may be requested. No phone calls please. Early submission recommended. This position is available immediately. We are accepting applications through June 23, 2025 or until a hire is made.
Location and Travel
This is a full-time position, based remotely. Occasional travel will be required, including being on site for MW’s annual Benefit event each spring, the annual Modern Band Summit each summer, staff retreat, as well as attending select corporate activations, funder site visits, and other events as needed, approximately 5-8 times per year.
Working at Music Will – Our Workplace Values
- We are committed to kids and teachers and passionate about the power of music to impact their lives
- We are one team, with one mission, and one groove, and together we make good things happen
- We are creative, entrepreneurial, positive and playful
- We are inspirational
- We are accountable
- We are respectful
- We support personal and professional growth
- We work to lead the field – thoughtfully, strategically and with urgency
This employer participates in E-Verify.
We will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. If E-Verify is unable to confirm your work authorization, we are required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Social Security Administration (SSA) to resolve the issue. We will not take any action against you, including terminating your employment, until you have had this opportunity. Please note that employers may only use E-Verify after you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
Music Will is committed to recruiting and maintaining a diverse staff; individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We promote equity, diversity and inclusion in order to create a healthy and safe workspace as we work together to foster success for future generations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
EOE
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