Director of Development and Partnerships

About the Organization

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) based in Washington, DC, dedicated to celebrating the season with one of the world's foremost spring events. The Festival promotes nature's beauty and fosters international friendship through year-round programs, cultural events, education, and community-building activities, enhancing the arts, environment, and local connections.

Role Overview

The Director of Development and Partnerships plays a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring the Festival's financial health, strategic expansion, and sustainable future. Reporting to the President and CEO, this position spearheads all efforts related to sponsorship, partnership cultivation, donor relations, and revenue creation, while leading the Development and Partnerships team.

This role involves crafting and implementing targeted strategies to identify, engage, secure, and nurture partnerships across corporate, philanthropic, community, and government sectors. Success depends on developing authentic, long-lasting relationships and delivering innovative, tailored partnership and sponsorship solutions aligned with the Festival’s mission and audience demographic.

As a senior representative of the Festival, the Director works collaboratively across departments to activate partnerships, cultivate meaningful collaborations, and enrich the experience for the Festival's 1.5 million annual visitors. Ideal candidates have proven expertise in fundraising, sponsorship sales, partnership growth, creative selling strategies, and team mentorship.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and nurture the Development and Partnerships team, fostering a collaborative, innovative, accountable, and high-performing culture.
• Oversee departmental operations including strategy, goal setting, performance evaluation, and career development.
• Set and track fundraising, sponsorship, and partnership objectives.
• Manage oversight of staff, contractors, interns, and volunteers engaged in development activities.
• Represent the Festival publicly as a key ambassador, establishing and sustaining long-term relationships with sponsors, donors, community figures, elected officials, and major stakeholders.
• Form strategic partnerships with business, cultural, tourism, hospitality, and community organizations.
• Attend and represent the Festival at industry functions, networking events, and community gatherings.
• Design and implement strategies to secure monetary and in-kind contributions.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of prospective corporate, philanthropic, and community partners.
• Create persuasive sponsorship proposals, presentations, and partnership contracts.
• Negotiate agreements including renewals and multi-year deals.
• Innovate tailored sponsorship and partnership programs that align partner objectives with Festival assets and audience engagement opportunities.
• Develop unique partnership concepts delivering measurable outcomes and mutual benefits.
• Execute fundraising initiatives to meet annual revenue targets and promote long-term financial stability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred.
• At least eight years of relevant experience in fundraising, sponsorship sales, business development, or partnership management.
• Minimum four years in leadership and team management roles.
• Proven success in securing corporate sponsorships, philanthropic funding, and strategic alliances.
• Track record of increasing revenue and expanding sponsorship or donor portfolios.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills, including proposal and presentation expertise.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a dynamic work environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• High professionalism, accountability, initiative, and attention to detail.
• Collaborative approach in working with staff, volunteers, consultants, board members, and external partners.

Technical Proficiency

• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office programs – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Experience using CRM and database management systems.
• Familiarity with Monday.com and Slack platforms advantageous.

Core Competencies

• Strategic leadership and vision.
• Expertise in fundraising and revenue generation.
• Advanced relationship management.
• Team development and coaching.
• Partnership and sponsorship program design.
• Innovation in sponsorship offerings.
• Project and process oversight.
• Cross-departmental collaboration.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Results-driven outlook.
• Problem solving and decision-making.
• Adaptability and management of change.

Work Conditions

This full-time, exempt role is essential to Festival operations and requires participation in all event production and execution. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and additional hours during peak periods is necessary. The role involves onsite presence at outdoor Festival venues, requiring mobility, prolonged standing, and work in varied weather conditions.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range is $95,000 to $115,000 annually. Benefits include health insurance (prescription, dental, vision plans substantially subsidized), paid annual and sick leave, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, flexible spending account, and a 401(k) plan with safe harbor contributions after six months. Additional perks include parking or transit subsidies and a centrally located Washington, DC office.

Equal Opportunity

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion.