As most of you know, I work at a tech nonprofit by-day. One of the projects I’m deeply involved in is our Netsquared project. We’ve just begun the search for a Business Development Pro that will help us raise the support we need to make Year2 a success. Questions or ideas, eme: billy@compumentor.org, or Jennifer Schlegel, the Director of Events & COMM @ jennifer@techsoup.org.
Feel free to share this opportunity with your socially-conscious techie friends!
Business Development Manager
Want to use your extraordinary sales and people skills to make a difference in the world? Is your ideal work environment one in which your contributions are welcomed and encouraged? Are you interested in working with fun, creative, talented people who feel passionately about making technology accessible to everyone? Looking for the energy and fast pace of a startup with the ability to make things happen?
WHO & WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
The Business Development Manager provides key support for our events and conferences by:
- Identifying and securing new sponsorships for cash and in-kind donations
- Building and growing existing sponsor relationships
- Implementing and overseeing all sponsorship deliverables
Sponsors may include major corporations and nonprofits, some of whom have existing relationships with TechSoup, an award-winning, established nonprofit organization with nearly 20 years of expertise in helping other nonprofits find and adopt the technology they need to more effectively serve their missions. (Read more about us in this New York Times article, “A Boon for Nonprofits With Software Needs.”). Sponsorships range in size and scope from local to regional, national and industry leading international events and conferences, including our second annual NetSquared Conference which spotlights Web 2.0 technology tools for nonprofits. Last year’s event was hosted by Cisco Systems, sponsors included Symantec, AOL and Yahoo, and we garnered lots of media and blog attention, including this MSNBC.com article by Michael Rogers, “Can Web 2.0 Change the World?”. (See more press and awards below in “Who We Are”). We’re looking for someone who can build on this impact and extend our reach.
The successful candidate is energetic and enthusiastic about helping nonprofits with technology, has proven sales/fundraising experience and the initiative to design a sponsorship strategy that meets (and exceeds!) TechSoup’s goals while offering compelling value for our partners. This position will be based on the overall ability to provide a high level of attention to fostering strong relationships with sponsors to ensure successful long-term partnerships.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Key responsibilities include:
- Identify and cultivate new sponsor relationships
- Strengthen and grow existing sponsor relationships
- Solicit and secure paid sponsorships for each event according to event goals
- Develop attractive sponsorship packages, including levels of sponsorship and corresponding benefit packages
- Draft, negotiate, finalize and manage all sponsor agreements and contracts through delivery
- Recommend and pursue new integrated business development strategies based on special promotions and new organizational programs and initiatives
- Attend events and networking opportunities as appropriate and proactively promote TechSoup events/sponsorship opportunities to current and potential sponsors
- Conduct market research, planning and analysis, as needed
- Input on setting target revenue goals
- Regularly report on performance progress, setbacks and solutions
- Actively participate in event planning meetings
SKILLS, EXPEREINCE & QUALITIES YOU HAVE
- Minimum of three to five years experience in sales, marketing or business development in the for-profit sector and/or nonprofit sponsorships and fund raising
- Demonstrated track record in meeting (and exceeding) sponsor/sales/funding goals
- An interest in and working understanding of technology tools (particularly Web 2.0 – blogging, podcasting, social networking, etc.) and the nonprofit sector— a passion for them is even better!
- Creativity and ability to identify and energetically pursue a range of sponsorship opportunities while promoting TechSoup and its mission
- Familiarity with donors and sponsors in the for-profit business and emerging technology markets as well as private philanthropy
- A basic knowledge and following of technology industry/social networking and media developments and trends
- Proven ability to work successfully in an environment with a lot of ambiguity and constantly changing priorities
- Management of simultaneous projects at a fast pace
- Self-starting, strategic thinker
WHO WE ARE
CompuMentor, the home of TechSoup, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help other nonprofits find and adopt the technology they need to more effectively serve their missions. Founded in 1987, we currently have more than 140 staff members and an annual budget of about $15.5 million.
Originally we concentrated on helping nonprofits and schools through a mentor-matching program and hands-on consulting. Six years ago, we launched TechSoup (www.techsoup.org) , which hosts online discussion forums, an events calendar, free worksheet and toolkit downloads, and many other resources — all geared towards helping nonprofits make better technology decisions. TechSoup, along with its TechSoup Stock (www.techsoup.org/stock) technology product donation distribution service, has helped us expand our networking platform and services to more than 77,000 nonprofits in the U.S. and around the globe. In 2005, we launched the NetSquared (www.netsquared.org) project, which highlights nonprofits’ growing use of social web tools that dramatically increase their reach and impact.
We’re now embarking on a new strategic event planning initiative to in order to better reach out to, and bring together, the range of sectors and communities with which we have built strong working relationships— and those we’d like to work with.
Press and awards include:
• MSNBC.com article by Michael Rogers, “Can Web 2.0 change the world? Nonprofits embracing technology that built MySpace and YouTube.” (coverage of NetSquared Conference at Cisco Systems), 2006
• “#1 Nonprofit Technology Web site” by the IT Resource Guide for UK Charities, 2001
• New York Times article by Laurie Flynn, “A Boon for Nonprofits With Software Needs.” 2002
• 1st Runner-Up Cisco Growing with Technology Award, 2003
• Grand Prize Winner, Inaugural Yale Business School-Pew Charitable Trust-Goldman Sachs Nonprofit Business Plan Competition, 2003
• Named by PC Magazine as one of the “sites you did not know you couldn’t live without.” 2004
• Founder and President Daniel Ben-Horin named one of 50 most influential nonprofit leaders by Nonprofit Times in 2004, 2005, 2006
• Invited Participant to European Technology Roundtable (ETRE) Conference, in Athens, 2005 and Barcelona, 2006
WANT TO APPLY?
This is a full time, temporary position in a dynamic nonprofit organization. Starting date is as soon as possible. Review of applications will begin as they are received. Preliminary phone interviews will be followed by on-site interviews.
To apply:
1. Review our Web sites at www.netsquared.org , www.techsoup.org and www.compumentor.org
2. Send a cover letter / email that
~ Addresses your ability to do this work
~. Gives an overview of skills and experience
~ Demonstrates an understanding of or commitment to the nonprofit sector
~ Include your resume as plain text pasted within the body of your email (no attachments!) to hsctech@compumentor.org or fax to 415-633-9400.
3. NOTE: Attachments will not be opened.
