Mission Partnerships & Development Specialist

Job Title: Mission Partnerships and Development Specialist

FSLA Status: Salary Hourly Non-Exempt

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; Hours may vary occasionally, including some evening & weekends

Reports to: Chief Innovation Officer

Annual Salary: $65,000 - $80,000 (depending on experience)

About Clear Path for Veterans

Clear Path for Veterans is a Central New York-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and supporting veterans, service members, and their families through programs that promote wellness, community, and purpose. Founded on the belief that veterans thrive when they are connected, valued, and supported, Clear Path has built a strong reputation for impactful programming, trusted partnerships, and meaningful engagement with the veteran community. As the organization continues to grow its reach and deepen its impact, Clear Path is entering a pivotal stage of organizational development, investing in its development operations to support sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term mission success.

Position Summary

The Mission Partnerships & Development Specialist plays a key role in helping Clear Path grow the relationships, partnerships, and revenue needed to sustain and expand the mission. This is not a traditional fundraising support role. This is a relationship-cantered, externally facing position for someone who knows how to build trust, open doors, follow up with purpose, and connect people to work that matters.

The ideal candidate may come from nonprofit development, but that is not required. Clear Path is especially interested in candidates with high-touch relationship experience in fields such as senior living sales, healthcare or medical sales, hospitality, catering or event sales, real estate, relationship banking, corporate partnerships, luxury service, or other community-facing revenue roles.

This position supports donor cultivation, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, community engagement, stewardship, and revenue-generating initiatives across Clear Path. The Mission Partnerships & Development Specialist will work closely with leadership, marketing, programs, culinary/hospitality, and external partners to create meaningful experiences that deepen support for veterans and their families.

Primary Functions

Relationship Development and Donor Engagement

• Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with individuals, businesses, civic groups, community leaders, and organizations that may support Clear Path’s mission.

• Build and manage a pipeline of prospective donors, sponsors, partners, and community supporters.

• Conduct outreach through phone calls, emails, in-person meetings, campus tours, community visits, networking events, and follow-up communications.

• Help translate Clear Path’s mission, programs, campus, and future vision into clear and compelling conversations with prospective supporters.

• Support the movement of relationships from first introduction to meaningful engagement, sponsorship, donation, partnership, or long-term stewardship.

• Represent Clear Path professionally at community events, business meetings, donor gatherings, networking opportunities, and campus experiences.

• Assist in creating thoughtful donor and partner touchpoints that make supporters feel seen, valued, and connected to the mission.

• Maintain strong follow-up discipline with prospects, donors, partners, and internal team members.

Corporate Partnerships, Sponsorships, and Community Revenue

• Support the development and growth of corporate partnerships, sponsorships, third-party fundraisers, community campaigns, and revenue-generating initiatives.

• Help identify businesses and organizations that align with Clear Path’s mission and may be strong candidates for sponsorship, employee engagement, fundraising events, or long-term partnership.

• Assist with sponsor outreach, proposal development, benefit fulfillment, stewardship, and renewal conversations.

• Support Clear Path’s [LaunchKit Platform for Fundraising] and community partnership efforts by helping local businesses, volunteer leaders, and ambassadors understand how to participate.

• Work with marketing and communications staff to ensure sponsorship materials, donor communications, and campaign language are clear, accurate, and compelling.

• Collaborate with culinary, hospitality, events, and program staff to create meaningful donor and partner experiences on campus and in the community.

• Track partnership activity, revenue opportunities, next steps, and outcomes in Salesforce or other assigned systems.

• Help evaluate which outreach efforts are producing meaningful relationships, revenue, and long-term value for Clear Path.

Stewardship, Events, and Mission Experience

• Support donor and sponsor stewardship before, during, and after events, campaigns, tours, meetings, and partner activations.

• Assist with planning and execution of cultivation events, donor appreciation experiences, corporate visits, sponsor gatherings, and community engagement opportunities.

• Help ensure that donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners have a positive and mission-connected experience with Clear Path.

• Prepare talking points, partner notes, follow-up messages, recognition details, and briefing materials as needed.

• Work with internal teams to make sure donor and sponsor promises are fulfilled accurately and professionally.

• Support post-event and post-campaign follow-up, including thank-you communications, impact updates, renewal conversations, and next-step outreach.

• Identify opportunities to improve the supporter experience and strengthen long-term relationships.

Administrative and Miscellaneous

• Maintain accurate and timely records of outreach, meetings, donor activity, sponsorship conversations, partner commitments, and follow-up tasks in Salesforce or other assigned systems.

• Prepare reports, contact summaries, pipeline updates, and progress notes for leadership.

• Work with the Chief Innovation Officer and leadership team to support short-term and long-term development priorities.

• Collaborate with marketing, finance, culinary/hospitality, programs, and operations to support donor relations, partnership activation, campaign execution, and stewardship.

• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling donor, veteran, organizational, and financial information.

• Participate in team meetings, strategy discussions, and planning sessions related to development, partnerships, and mission growth.

• Complete other duties or tasks assigned or needed to complete job responsibilities and support Clear Path’s mission.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required. Relevant equivalent professional work experience in relationship-based revenue, sales, hospitality, development, business development, community relations, or customer experience will be strongly considered.
• Two or more years of experience in one or more of the following areas preferred: nonprofit development, senior living sales, healthcare or medical sales, hospitality sales, event sales, real estate, relationship banking, corporate partnerships, sponsorship sales, business development, account management, or other high-touch relationship roles.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, maintain relationships, communicate clearly, and follow through consistently.
• Experience working with donors, customers, clients, families, business leaders, community partners, or other external stakeholders.
• Comfort making outreach calls, requesting meetings, asking thoughtful questions, and moving relationships toward a clear next step.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain a mission, opportunity, or partnership in a clear and compelling way.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple relationships, tasks, deadlines, and follow-up items.
• Experience using CRM systems, donor databases, sales tracking tools, or similar platforms preferred. Salesforce experience is a plus.
• A genuine commitment to Clear Path’s mission and to serving veterans, service members, and their families.

Knowledge, Skills , and Abilities Needed to Perform Effectively in the Position

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds, including veterans, families, donors, volunteers, business owners, executives, community leaders, and staff.
• Ability to listen carefully, ask strong questions, and identify what motivates a person or organization to engage.
• Comfort with outreach, networking, follow-up, and relationship-based revenue development.
• Ability to speak professionally and confidently in one-on-one meetings, small groups, community events, and donor conversations.
• Ability to be articulate, persuasive, diplomatic, and engaging.
• Strong written communication skills sufficient to draft emails, meeting notes, donor updates, proposals, thank-you messages, and professional correspondence.
• Ability to manage a relationship pipeline and keep accurate records of contacts, activity, next steps, and outcomes.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills; attention to detail.
• Good knowledge of the sources for funding available as well as fundraising trends.
• Good knowledge of CRM tools / Salesforce.
• Good knowledge of non-profit fundraising compliance.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating across departments.
• Ability to represent Clear Path’s mission, values, and standards with professionalism and care.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Ability to travel and work flexible hours including weekends.
• Computer literate with good Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and willingness to learn new software programs as needed.

Additional Requirements

1. Valid New York State driver’s license and must have use of a reliable vehicle.
2. May be required to travel daily as needed to events in and outside of New York State in varying weather conditions.
3. Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed for events, donor meetings, and community engagement.
4. Must be comfortable with dogs in the workplace.

Job-related Physical Abilities are needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Must possess speech and hearing sufficient for telephone and in-person communications. Manual dexterity sufficient for regular use of the computer keyboard and other office equipment. Vision sufficient for frequent use of a computer monitor to write and read documents. This position requires the ability to lift up to twenty-five 25 pounds.

• All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with

Expectations

• All Clear Path for Veterans employees are required to conduct themselves professionally towards others, including but not limited to: Veterans, volunteers, visitors, and other Clear Path employees.
• Ensure that Veterans, volunteers, employees, donors, and visitors have a positive experience.
• Supports and promotes the Clear Path mission, core values, and vision.
• Adheres to Clear Path for Veterans policies and procedures.
• Promotes teamwork amongst coworkers.
• Meets or exceeds expected performance standards, including consistently reporting to work on time and being prepared to perform the position’s duties.

New York State Pay Range

$65,000—$80,000 USD