Position: Director of Corporate Engagement
Department: External Affairs
Reports To: Senior Vice President of Philanthropy
FLSA Status: Full-Time Exempt
Union Status: Non-Union
Human Resources Review: 09/2026
Summary:
The Director of Corporate Engagement is a strategic relationship builder and revenue generator responsible for developing, leading, and growing Envision Unlimited corporate engagement program.
The Director will build a robust pipeline of corporate prospects and develop partnerships that generate philanthropic contributions, sponsorships, employee giving, volunteer engagement, cause marketing opportunities, in-kind support, and other forms of corporate investment.
Serving as Envision Unlimited primary relationship manager for corporate partners and prospects, the Director will develop customized, multi-faceted partnerships that align companies' philanthropic, community engagement, employee engagement, and social impact priorities with Envision Unlimited mission and strategic growth.
The Director works closely with the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy, Events & Sponsorship Manager, Development & Volunteer Stewardship Senior Coordinator, Marketing & Communications team, program leadership, executive leadership, and Board members to build relationships and maximize corporate engagement opportunities.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Responsibilities, include but are not limited to:
Corporate Engagement Strategy & Business Development
- Develop and lead Envision Unlimited annual and multi-year corporate engagement strategy.
- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified corporate prospects across Chicago, Illinois, and other strategic markets aligned with Envision Unlimited growth.
- Proactively identify companies with strong alignment to Envision Unlimited mission, programs, geographic footprint, workforce initiatives, and community impact.
- Develop strategies for moving corporate prospects from initial engagement to significant philanthropic and strategic partnerships.
- Establish annual cultivation, solicitation, renewal, and revenue goals for the corporate portfolio.
- Identify opportunities to develop multi-year corporate partnerships rather than relying solely on transactional or event-based sponsorships.
- Develop customized engagement strategies for Envision Unlimited highest-potential corporate prospects.
- Leverage executive leadership, Board members, donors, volunteers, and other organizational relationships to open doors to new corporate partnerships.
Corporate Revenue Generation
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners capable of making significant investments in Envision Unlimited.
- Generate revenue through corporate philanthropic contributions, event sponsorships, multi-year corporate partnerships, employee giving campaigns, workplace giving, matching gift programs, cause marketing, corporate foundation opportunities, program sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and other strategic corporate partnerships.
- Develop compelling corporate proposals, presentations, pitch materials, and customized partnership opportunities.
- Negotiate partnership agreements and corporate commitments.
- Maintain an active pipeline sufficient to achieve current-year revenue goals and support future growth.
Strategic Corporate Partnerships
- Build relationships with corporate executives and decision-makers across philanthropy, community affairs, social impact, corporate responsibility, human resources, employee engagement, marketing, and executive leadership.
- Create comprehensive partnerships that engage companies across multiple areas of Envision Unlimited rather than through isolated transactions.
- Identify opportunities to move event sponsors and corporate volunteers into deeper year-round relationships.
- Develop multi-year partnership proposals incorporating combinations of philanthropy, sponsorship, volunteer engagement, employee engagement, and program investment.
- Create strategies to increase the lifetime value of corporate relationships.
Sponsorship Strategy
- Partner closely with the Events & Sponsorship Manager to develop sponsorship strategies for Envision Unlimited's fundraising and engagement events.
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit new and recurring sponsors.
- Develop opportunities for annual and multi-event sponsorship commitments.
- Maintain primary relationship ownership for corporate sponsors beyond individual events.
- Work with the Events & Sponsorship Manager to ensure sponsorship commitments and benefits are appropriately transitioned for activation and fulfillment.
- Lead sponsor renewal strategies following events.
Corporate Volunteer & Employee Engagement
- Develop corporate volunteer engagement as an entry point and cultivation strategy for broader corporate relationships.
- Collaborate with the Development & Volunteer Stewardship Senior Coordinator to identify and develop meaningful corporate volunteer experiences.
- Build strategies for converting corporate volunteer relationships into philanthropic, sponsorship, and employee-giving partnerships.
- Identify opportunities for skills-based volunteering, employee education, workplace campaigns, and other employee engagement initiatives.
- Track corporate volunteer engagement as part of each company's comprehensive relationship with Envision Unlimited.
Corporate Foundation & Institutional Opportunities
- Identify corporate foundation opportunities and collaborate with the SVP of Philanthropy and Grant Writer to develop appropriate funding strategies.
- Facilitate introductions and relationship-building with corporate foundation representatives.
- Identify opportunities for six-figure and multi-year corporate foundation investments.
- Coordinate corporate foundation opportunities with the broader institutional funding pipeline to ensure strategic relationship management.
Portfolio & Pipeline Management
- Maintain a portfolio of qualified corporate prospects and partners.
- Develop documented relationship strategies and next steps for priority accounts.
- Maintain accurate and timely corporate relationship activity in Salesforce.
- Monitor pipeline value, solicitation activity, expected revenue, renewals, and prospect movement.
- Conduct regular pipeline reviews with the SVP of Philanthropy.
- Provide accurate revenue forecasting and corporate engagement reporting.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Partner with Marketing & Communications to ensure corporate partners receive appropriate recognition and visibility.
- Collaborate with program leadership to identify fundable and sponsorable initiatives.
- Work with Finance to ensure accurate tracking of corporate commitments and revenue.
- Partner with the Events & Sponsorship Manager on sponsorship activation and fulfillment.
- Partner with the Development & Volunteer Stewardship Senior Coordinator on corporate volunteer engagement.
- Engage the CEO, CEAO, SVP of Philanthropy, and Board members strategically in corporate cultivation and solicitation.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
No supervisory responsibilities.
OTHER EXPECTATIONS
Employees shall respect the diversity of all individuals (e.g., clients, co-workers, stakeholders) and refrain from any form of discrimination and/or based upon a person's legally protected characteristics or conduct, including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
Employees share the responsibility of creating and maintaining a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive work environment.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all employees so classified.
