Partnerships Manager

Milwaukee Habitat is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven Partnerships Manager to lead our corporate and foundation engagement efforts. This position plays a vital role in advancing our mission by building meaningful partnerships that generate critical financial support and strengthen community impact.

The Partnerships Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate and foundation partners. This role will manage a portfolio of institutional donors and prospects, with a focus on securing annual philanthropic investments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000+.

The ideal candidate is a skilled fundraiser and relationship builder who understands the importance of collaborative partnerships and can effectively engage corporate and foundation leaders in support of Milwaukee Habitat’s mission. Through strategic outreach, thoughtful stewardship, and compelling proposal development, the Partnerships Manager will help drive sustainable revenue growth and expand the organization’s ability to serve the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve annual corporate fundraising goals by securing financial support from corporate partners, including sponsorships for special events and mission-driven initiatives.
• Lead Milwaukee Habitat's corporate, family, and private foundation fundraising strategy by overseeing the grants program and partnering with the Grant Writer to develop compelling proposals and secure grant funding.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of corporate and foundation prospects to support long-term revenue growth, with an emphasis on strategic industries including residential and commercial construction, real estate, financial services, and other mission-aligned sectors.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of corporate and foundation donors, developing strategies to increase philanthropic investments from mid-level and major corporate partners.
• Manage all aspects of corporate sponsorship fulfillment, including pledge documentation, partnership agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), recognition, and delivery of sponsor benefits.
• Partner with the Construction team to secure in-kind donations of materials, products, and services that reduce the cost of home construction.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Advancement and Director of Philanthropy to develop and implement workplace giving campaigns, executive engagement opportunities, and other corporate philanthropic initiatives.
• Partner with the Volunteer Services & Events Manager and Construction Volunteer Coordinator to strengthen and grow Milwaukee Habitat's corporate group volunteer program, ensuring an exceptional partner experience.
• Develop and execute corporate fundraising strategies for Milwaukee Habitat's signature events, including the Framing the Future Gala and Women Build, with a focus on sponsorship acquisition and donor engagement.
• Create meaningful stewardship opportunities that deepen corporate and foundation relationships through exclusive experiences, including home dedication ceremonies, construction site visits, volunteer build days, and other mission-focused events.
• Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer, Vice President of Advancement, and Director of Philanthropy to advance Milwaukee Habitat's $35 million comprehensive campaign, with a strategic focus on expanding corporate investment to support sustained affordable housing production.
• Track fundraising performance, maintain accurate donor records, and prepare reports that measure progress toward fundraising goals and support informed decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, with demonstrated success securing support from corporate and foundation partners.
• Proven experience cultivating and managing relationships with corporate executives, foundation representatives, board members, and volunteers to achieve fundraising goals.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing fundraising strategies, managing budgets, and analyzing and reporting fundraising performance to internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong track record of securing philanthropic investments in a complex, relationship-driven environment, including conducting successful one-on-one solicitations and partnership meetings with C-suite executives and senior business leaders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, presentation, and relationship management skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and build long-term partnerships.
• Valid Wisconsin driver's license and good driving record

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion for Milwaukee Habitat's mission and the ability to effectively communicate the importance of safe, decent, and affordable housing to donors, volunteers, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate organizational priorities and inspire support for Milwaukee Habitat's strategic vision among board members, staff, volunteers, and philanthropic partners.
• Proven success managing a portfolio of major institutional donors and cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding corporate and foundation gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills, with the ability to identify and leverage connections among donors, volunteers, business leaders, and community stakeholders to advance fundraising goals.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including strategic planning, prioritization, process improvement, and the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Collaborative leadership style with experience engaging, motivating, and partnering effectively with board members, volunteers, colleagues, and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to building authentic relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment for donors, volunteers, and community partners.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing leadership to staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support donor cultivation, volunteer engagement, and special events.

Technical Skills

• Experience using donor or constituent relationship management (CRM) databases is required.
• Familiarity with volunteer management systems and event and auction fundraising platforms is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a plus.

Compensation

• $56,000/yr-$67,000/yr; based on experience
• Health, Vision, Dental Insurance
• Life & Disability Insurance
• 401K + employer 3% match
• Generous paid time off + 10 paid holidays
• 20% Employee Discount at Milwaukee’s ReStores
• Employee referral program                                                                       

Affirmative Action / Equal Employment Opportunity Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity affirms its social and legal commitment to promote an atmosphere and environment that recognizes the principle and practice of equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, creed, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, arrest and/or conviction record, genetic testing, honest testing, marital status, pregnancy or childbirth, use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer’s premises during non-working hours, status with regards to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission or citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.