Vice President, Corporate Partnerships

Our Mission in Action

Trees play a vital role in solving some of the most pressing issues facing our communities and natural spaces today. For 150 years, American Forests has stood boldly at the forefront of the conservation movement, working collaboratively and innovatively to ensure that all people have access to the benefits of trees. As we look ahead to the next 150, continued collective action will be essential to securing a healthy, climate-resilient future for all. To support this work, we are looking for a Vice President, Corporate Partnerships to join our Philanthropy team.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Revenue Officer, the Vice President, Corporate Partnerships serves as the senior leader responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of American Forests' corporate fundraising program. The VP will set and drive ambitious revenue goals, build and steward a high-value portfolio of corporate partners, and lead a high-performing team to advance American Forests' philanthropic priorities at scale. This is a highly visible role that requires a strategic and entrepreneurial leader who brings deep expertise in corporate philanthropy, exceptional relationship-building skills, and a track record of closing transformational gifts. The VP will serve as a key organizational ambassador, working closely with the Executive Team, CEO, and cross-functional colleagues to position American Forests as the partner of choice for mission-aligned corporations.

What You’ll Do

Executive-Level Relationship Management (40%)

• Build and maintain a portfolio of 50–70 high-priority corporate prospects and partners, with a focus on seven-figure and transformational gift opportunities.
• Conduct in-person and virtual donor engagements annually, including C-suite and senior executive meetings, to deepen partnerships and advance solicitations.
• Develop sophisticated, tailored engagement strategies for top prospects; writes and presents high-stakes proposals and stewardship materials.
• Cultivate blended and multi-year investment opportunities, including cause marketing, employee engagement, matching campaigns, in-kind support, and co-branded initiatives.
• Partner with the CRO, CEO, and Board members to engage executive-level relationships and create meaningful touch points that deepen corporate investment.
• Maintain rigorous and current records in Raiser's Edge, ensuring accurate pipeline forecasting and activity tracking.

Strategic Leadership & Program Development (25%)

• With the CRO, set the vision and multi-year strategy for the Corporate Partnerships program, including annual and long-range revenue goals, pipeline development, and a growth investment framework.
• Partner with Philanthropy leadership to integrate the corporate program into the broader development strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and fundraising goals.
• Lead the development and continuous refinement of American Forests' corporate value proposition and partner benefits suite, ensuring offerings are competitive, compelling, and mission-aligned.
• Identify and drive new revenue opportunities, including sector diversification, emerging corporate ESG priorities, and national and global partnership structures.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and dashboards to evaluate team performance, pipeline health, and portfolio growth; regularly reports on progress to the CRO and Executive Team.
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within all aspects of the Corporate Partnerships program, including partner selection, engagement practices, and community-centric fundraising principles.

Team Leadership & Management (25%)

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of three, which will expand as the program does.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular coaching and feedback, and foster a team culture of collaboration, excellence, and accountability.
• Build team capacity through professional development, best practice adoption, and Raiser's Edge optimization.
• Partner with the CRO to assess organizational structure and staffing needs as the program scales.

Brand, Communications & Cross-Functional Collaboration (10%)

• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to elevate American Forests' brand and visibility with corporate audiences, ensuring alignment of messaging, collateral, and digital presence.
• Oversee the development and refresh of corporate partnership materials, including decks, impact reports, proposals, and stewardship communications.
• Lead cross-departmental coordination with Programs, Finance, and Marketing to develop budgets, manage grant deliverables, and ensure partners receive a seamless and exceptional experience.
• Serve as a senior leader across the Philanthropy team, contributing to department-wide strategy and supporting broader fundraising initiatives as needed.

What We’re Looking For

We don’t expect you to check every single box. If this role excites you, we want to hear from you! We’re interested in your ability to learn, collaborate, and bring fresh perspectives. Our ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degreerequired; advanced degreea plus.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with at least 5 years in corporate partnerships, or major gifts role.(Conservation experience a plus.)
• Demonstrated success closing seven-figure corporate gifts and managing a portfolio of complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Proven track record of building and leading high-performing fundraising teams.
• Exceptional relationship builder with demonstrated ability to engage and influence C-suite executives, board members, and senior organizational leadership.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organizational priorities into compelling corporate narratives and partnership structures.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including experience crafting high-stakes proposals, executive briefings, and stewardship materials.
• Highly organized and self-directed; comfortable managing multiple priorities and leading through ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
• Deep commitment to ethical fundraising practices in accordance with Association for Fundraising Professionals standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Raiser's Edge (or comparable CRM), and project management tools such as ClickUp.
• Genuine commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and to the principles of community-centric fundraising.
• Willingness to travel locally, regionally, and nationally for donor engagement and organizational representation.
• Passion for the mission, vision, and culture of American Forests.

Reporting and Supervision

The VP, Corporate Partnerships, reports to the Chief Revenue Officer. This position will have 3 direct reports to begin and may increase as we continue to grow.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried exempt position. The budgeted salary range is between $155,000 and $170,000.

Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support employees’ health, financial well-being, and overall quality of life. We offer medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with health and wellness resources such as an Employee Assistance Program, flexible spending accounts, and disability, life, and AD&D insurance. To promote work-life balance, employees receive vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, parental bonding leave, bereavement leave, and military leave. Financial and retirement benefits include a 401(k) plan with a 5% employer match. Additional perks, such as a technology stipend and pet benefits, further enhance the overall employee experience.

Working Conditions

This is a remote position based in the United States. Up to 30% of travel throughout the U.S. and/or to American Forests’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. may be required. This position requires the ability to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods and to operate a computer and other office equipment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to support individuals across the full range of abilities and experiences in performing the essential functions of the job.

About Us

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S., working to restore urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years.

American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.

American Forests is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.