Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Gifts
Location: Long Island University - University Advancement Job Type: Full-Time | Exempt Reports To: Vice President for University Advancement About the Role Long Island University is seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Gifts to lead our corporate engagement efforts. This individual will be responsible for cultivating and managing high-impact partnerships, multi-year gifts and sponsorships with corporate entities that align with the university's mission and strategic goals. The ideal candidate will bring creativity, relationship-building expertise, and a proven track record of securing significant corporate support. This individual will report to the vice president for university advancement and partner closely with key stakeholders at all levels across the university. The position is based locally on the LIU Post and Brooklyn campuses. Long Island University was founded in 1926. The university is committed to providing a high-quality education through teaching excellence and impactful research opportunities. LIU offers over 275 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs, educating over 15,000 students each year. The university cultivates academic, professional, artistic, and cocurricular opportunities. LIU Brooklyn offers more professional programs in health care than any other campus in the New York metropolitan area, including the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy & Health Science, The Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing, and LIU's Health Professions. The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment provides dynamic instruction and interaction with top artists and industry leaders in the classroom. The Polk School of Communications is aligned with the nearly 75-year history of the university's Polk Awards for investigative journalism. LIU Post is a scenic, historic, and scholarly campus that offers a small-school environment with the access and resources of a major metropolitan university. The university's 334-acre campus is located on the estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 27 miles east of New York City on Long Island's Gold Coast. The campus houses the College of Veterinary Medicine - one of only four in the northeast - the nation's first professional School of Accountancy, an AACSB-accredited Business School, recognized by Princeton Review as a top business school for 15 consecutive years, and a theater program ranked in the top 30 in the nation and a recipient of 20 Kennedy Center Awards. LIU is home to the world-renowned Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, featuring top artists and providing master class instruction for students. LIU Global offers a one-of-a-kind bachelor's degree around the globe. It spans eight countries on five continents, preparing students for careers as global leaders in international business, entrepreneurship, and communications. LIU's unwavering commitment to providing students a high-quality, affordable education is demonstrated through the in-demand programs, world-class faculty, and state-of-the art academic and campus facilities the university provides to their exceptional students. Long Island University has a tradition of excelling in athletics. The Division I Sharks compete in 39 NCAA sports at the Bethpage Federal Credit Stadium and the Barclay's Center LIU's financial position is the strongest it has been in its long history, and the university's recognition as a national teaching and research university is solidified through this strength - more than tripling of the endowment from $79 million in 2012 to over $500 million as of June, 2025, and strengthening investments per student to over $26,000 in 2025. Since 2014, LIU has continued to honor its pledge of affordable tuition with annual tuition rate increases of two percent or less. Average national and regional tuition rate increases were roughly double that during this timeframe. As a result, LIU tuition and fees are as much as 47 percent less than its regional peers. From the shores of Long Island to the epicenter of business and tech innovation in Brooklyn, and to the far corners of the world, LIU offers a unique college experience for every student seeking academic enrichment and professional opportunity. Upon graduation, LIU students join a community of more than 221,000 alumni in 118 countries to become global leaders in fields that include the arts, health sciences, media, education, pharmacy, business, technology, public service, and professional sports. More information about Long Island University can be found at https://www.liu.edu/Home. Leadership Kimberly R. Cline became the 10th president of Long Island University in July 2013 and assumed leadership of one of the largest and most comprehensive private universities in the country. Dr. Cline has led the nearly century old institution through a transformational process to provide students with an exceptional education that emphasizes experiential learning and excellence in teaching and research. Dr. Cline's tenure has seen dynamic new schools, centers, and career-ready programs launched at LIU to increase retention and graduation, attract high achieving applicants, and improve philanthropy, while exposing students to high-demand academic programs led by innovative leadership. LIU was the first private college in the region to be selected to participate in the STARTUP NY initiative, with a newly renovated business incubator designated for use by fledgling high-tech businesses. Dr. Cline has also spearheaded an exciting collaboration with RXR Realty, allowing historic investments in the LIU Brooklyn campus. These initiatives reinforce LIU's prominent role in the renaissance of Downtown Brooklyn, providing unique opportunities for the entire LIU community in all areas of study. A recognized leader in education, Dr. Cline has been named to the Long Island Press Power List of the 50 most influential people on Long Island, was named to the inaugural Long Island Power 50 by City and State and was named one of Brooklyn's Women of Distinction. Dr. Cline is a past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities and a past member of the board of the Center for Creative Leadership. She currently serves as Chair of the Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education (LIRACHE) and as a board member of the Long Island Association. Along with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Relations, Dr. Cline also holds a Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor, and Doctor of Educational Administration. She previously served as Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of the State University of New York System.Kerry Kruckel joined LIU as Vice President for University Advancement in September 2022. Kerry comes to LIU after leading the Florida Atlantic University's northern campuses as Assistant Vice President for Advancement for five years, including a role as Interim Vice President for University Advancement and the FAU Foundation in 2021. Prior to FAU, Kerry served as Chief Advancement Officer of The New School, Chief Development Officer of WNET Public Media and Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at NYU Stern School of Businesses from 2000 through 2014. Following are the key responsibilities and objectives for the Director of Corporation Sponsorships and Gifts position: - Essential member of the team that is charged with raising $40 million+ annually for the university.
- Maintain a portfolio of 75-100 prospects for gifts, grants and sponsorships.
- Maintain an active calendar of calls, visits and solicitations with top prospects with the goal of 20 visits per month; align with KPIs designed to ensure fundraising results and success with the goal of raising at least $3-5M annually.
- Work daily to identify, engage and cultivate alumni and non-alumni high net worth prospects for major gifts and oversee the stewardship of current donors and their gifts.
- Ensure integration with the overall campus strategic plan, coordinate with campus colleagues and partners to locate and use resources to meet identified development goals and objectives.
- Develop proposals, presentations and promotion collaterals to advance university needs and priorities and educate the donor community about the LIU upward trajectory.
- Develop and execute a university-wide strategy for corporate sponsorships and philanthropic gifts for the university's academic and student programs.
- Identify and engage corporate partners whose values align with LIU's academic, research, and student success initiatives.
- Create customized sponsorship packages that offer brand visibility, employee engagement, and community impact for signature as well as new events.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align corporate support with university priorities, including academic programs, student success, and campus events.
- Prepare compelling proposals, presentations, and stewardship reports tailored to corporate audiences.
- Maintain and grow a portfolio of corporate donors and prospects.
- Represent LIU at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities.
- Monitor and report on partnership performance, donor engagement, and giving trends.
Qualifications - Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in corporate fundraising, sponsorship development, or related business development and sales experience.
- Demonstrated success in securing six- and seven-figure corporate gifts or sponsorships.
- Strong understanding of corporate social responsibility, marketing, and brand alignment.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate across departments.
- Proficiency in CRM systems and fundraising databases.
LIU is an equal opportunity employer. LIU is committed to extending equal opportunity in employment to all qualified candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community. LIU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal laws. Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the United States
