Manager, Sponsorships & Brand Partnerships

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first research university and home to nine world-class academic divisions working together as one university.

The Manager, Sponsorships & Brand Partnerships is a creative, relationship-driven fundraiser responsible for generating meaningful unrestricted revenue through corporate and brand partnerships and activations. This position identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of corporate and individual donors to advance Jhpiego’s mission and meet annual fundraising goals.

The Manager leads all corporate fundraising, sponsorship, and brand activation efforts, securing unrestricted five- and six-figure gifts and partnerships in support of Jhpiego’s programs and signature events, including the Laughter is the Best Medicine Gala. The role builds and grows corporate engagement and philanthropy through sponsorships, cause-marketing campaigns, employee giving programs, and VIP donor experiences.

This position partners closely with colleagues across GECO to align fundraising goals with marketing and communications priorities, ensuring that all partnerships deliver measurable impact and revenue growth. This is a highly collaborative, outward-facing role with significant visibility across the organization to shape a growing brand partnerships programs

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

Corporate Fundraising & Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of unrestricted corporate and individual donors in the corporate sector.
• Lead solicitation strategy, set revenue targets, and ensure achievement of annual fundraising goals.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, partnerships, and sponsorships.
• Report on pipeline development, revenue progress, and ROI.

Event Fundraising & Sponsorships

• Lead corporate fundraising strategy for Jhpiego’s Gala and other signature events (without managing event logistics).
• Secure and renew corporate sponsorships and underwriting support.
• Collaborate on major gift asks and corporate proposals.
• Develop compelling cases for support and partnership packages.

Corporate Engagement & Donor Experiences

• Design and execute engagement strategies that strengthen relationships and drive unrestricted giving.
• Oversee employee engagement initiatives and VIP donor experiences.
• Develop follow-up and stewardship plans to ensure donor retention.
• Advisory Board & High-Profile Partnership Engagement.
• Manage corporate fundraising relationships with Advisory Board members and celebrity advocates.
• Support board and committee fundraising initiatives and events.
• Coordinate cultivation and recognition activities with senior leadership.

Proposal Development & Stewardship

• Draft and deliver corporate partnership proposals, agreements, and stewardship reports.
• Track donor engagement metrics and provide actionable insights..
• Ensure compliance with recognition commitments and donor intent.

Collaboration & Team Support

• Supervise and mentor Associate, Partnerships & Events.
• Foster collaboration across GECO to align fundraising, marketing, and communications goals.
• Contribute to shared revenue planning and donor engagement initiatives.

Special Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Proven record of cultivating and securing corporate support, CSR or brand partnerships.
• Experience managing corporate donor portfolios and securing five- and six-figure corporate gifts or sponsorships
• Advanced knowledge of corporate fundraising, CSR, sponsorships, and cause-marketing.
• Expertise in moves management, solicitation planning, and donor engagement strategy.
• Experience designing and managing corporate donor journeys, employee engagement programs, and high-level cultivation experiences.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills; proven ability to engage corporate decision-makers.
• Strong data management and reporting skills; proficiency in donor CRMs (Raiser’s Edge preferred).
• Collaborative team player with strong organizational and analytical skills

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Five years professional related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
• Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally, including evenings/weekends for cultivation events.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 + years in corporate partnerships, fundraising, or nonprofit engagement