Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Foundation Relations

Position Summary

The Director of Corporate Sponsorships & Foundation Relations will build and lead Billingsley Company's sponsorship program from the ground up. Reporting to the Vice President of Community Development & Events, this role is primarily responsible for generating sponsorship revenue that funds signature events, community programming, placemaking and public art, starting with The Sound at Cypress Waters and expanding across the portfolio.

The Director will identify, sell, negotiate and steward corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships with regional and national brands. As a secondary focus, the Director will pursue foundation and philanthropic funding for eligible community initiatives in coordination with Legal and Finance.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, consultative seller with established relationships in the Dallas-Fort Worth corporate community and a proven record of closing significant, multiyear partnership agreements.

Key Responsibilities

Sponsorship Strategy & Revenue Generation

• Develop and execute an annual and multiyear sponsorship sales strategy with revenue goals, forecasts and performance benchmarks agreed with the Vice President.
• Prospect, cultivate and close corporate sponsorships with regional and national businesses; build and maintain a qualified pipeline.
• Design tiered sponsorship programs, including presenting sponsorships, naming rights and exclusive category partnerships.
• Create customized packages aligned with each partner's marketing, community engagement and employee experience objectives.
• Negotiate multiyear agreements that generate predictable, recurring revenue, and manage renewals.
• Bundle sponsorship benefits across multiple events and properties where it increases partner value.

The Sound at Cypress Waters & Portfolio Inventory

• Lead sponsorship development for The Sound at Cypress Waters, including concerts, festivals, seasonal celebrations, waterfront programming, public art and outdoor experiences.
• Expand sponsorship opportunities to Bravo Park, Austin Ranch and other Dallas-area properties as the program matures, and to future developments, property launches and new public spaces.
• Identify and value sponsorship inventory, including presenting rights, branded installations, event activations, digital media and promotional partnerships.
• Ensure all sponsorship activity reflects Billingsley property standards, tenant relationships and brand positioning, and enhances the visitor experience.

Signature Events & Experiential Partnerships

• Partner with Events, Marketing and Property Management to identify sponsorship opportunities within existing and proposed programming.
• Secure cash and appropriate in-kind partnerships that offset event production and operating costs.
• Develop sponsorships for interactive installations, traveling exhibitions, wellness programs and family experiences.
• Work with Marketing on sponsor recognition, branded experiences and promotional deliverables; Marketing retains ownership of execution.
• Measure sponsor return on investment through attendance, engagement, impressions and other outcomes, and use results to drive renewals.

Corporate Advisory Council

• Partner with the Vice President to establish and grow a Corporate Advisory Council for events and sponsorship.
• Develop membership levels, contribution expectations, benefits and an annual engagement and stewardship calendar.
• Recruit corporate executives, community leaders and business partners, and convert council relationships into sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

Foundation Relations & Philanthropic Funding

• Identify private foundations, corporate foundations and corporate giving programs that support arts and culture, education, recreation, environmental initiatives and public-space enhancements.
• Coordinate with Legal, Finance and leadership to determine charitable eligibility, appropriate funding structures and nonprofit partnerships before any solicitation.
• Prepare grant proposals, project narratives, budgets and supporting materials for eligible initiatives.
• Manage foundation stewardship, grant reporting, compliance and renewals.

Sales Tools, Reporting & Financial Accountability

• Develop a portfolio sponsorship prospectus, property-specific sales presentations, rate structures, benefit inventories and standard proposal templates.
• Establish and maintain a CRM to track prospects, proposals, commitments, renewals and relationships.
• Prepare monthly revenue reports, forecasts, pipeline updates and performance dashboards for the Vice President.
• Track sponsorship revenue, foundation funding, in-kind contributions and contracted commitments separately.
• Partner with Finance on invoicing, collections, revenue recognition and agreement tracking, and with Marketing and Events to confirm all contracted benefits are delivered.

What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months

• Sponsorship prospectus, rate card and benefit inventory complete for The Sound at Cypress Waters.
• CRM in place with a qualified, documented pipeline.
• First presenting and multiyear sponsorship agreements signed.
• Corporate Advisory Council structure defined and founding members recruited.
• Foundation funding approach confirmed with Legal and Finance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Nonprofit Management, Hospitality or a related field.
• Minimum 6 years of progressive experience in corporate sponsorship sales, strategic partnerships, business development or fundraising.
• Demonstrated success securing significant corporate sponsorships and negotiating complex, multiyear partnership agreements.
• Established relationships within the Dallas-Fort Worth corporate, philanthropic or business community.
• Strong understanding of sponsorship valuation, corporate marketing objectives and consultative selling.
• Experience setting revenue goals, managing a sales pipeline and forecasting results.
• Exceptional presentation, negotiation, communication and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to work independently, build new business and manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms, Microsoft Office and sales reporting tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mixed-use developments, commercial real estate, destination marketing, public parks, cultural institutions, sports, entertainment or large-scale events.
• Experience building a sponsorship program from inception.
• Experience securing foundation grants and familiarity with charitable giving structures and grant compliance.
• Experience developing corporate membership or advisory council programs.
• Established relationships with major North Texas corporations and corporate foundations.

Work Environment

• Regular evening and weekend attendance at events and community engagements.
• Work at outdoor event venues in varying weather, including standing and walking for extended periods.
• Local travel among Billingsley properties and partner offices across Dallas-Fort Worth.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary plus a performance-based incentive tied to sponsorship revenue and program milestones, and a comprehensive benefits package.