WHO WE ARE

Robert Sengstacke Abbott, a Georgian native and son of freedman slaves, was formally trained as an attorney. However, upon settling in Chicago, he learned the printing trade and founded a newspaper in 1905, still in publication called the Chicago Defender.

A key part of his distribution network was made up of African American railroad porters, who were highly respected among African Americans – adding to the reputation and credibility of the newspaper. The Chicago Defender is often noted as having played a major role in initiating The Great Migration, during 1915-1919, resulting in approximately 1.3 million African Americans to northern cities

Myiti Sengstacke-Rice now continues the legacy of 4 generations – she was voted President and CEO of the Chicago Defender Charities in February 2017. Under Myiti’s leadership she has since being doing business as the Robert Sengstacke Abbott (RSA) Charities to honor the legacy her family and community. 

MISSION

We connect the community to opportunities dedicated to performing arts, education, health, wellness, business training and entrepreneurial development. We strive to unite, empower, improve the quality of life, and enrich families and individuals in our communities.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Sponsor Support team supports our Sponsor manager with corporate sponsorship proposals, selling sponsorship opportunities to local businesses, planning and executing sponsorship activation components, as well as facilitating internal and external communications. The Sponsor Support team will be primarily focused on tracking Sponsor deliverables with Bud Billiken and leading their Hospitality onsite. 

Role Responsibilities

The Charities hereby agrees to engage the Sponsor Support to provide the Charities with the following services:

1. Help Partner Relationships, by assisting with management of marketing deliverables, delegating responsibilities, supporting day to day client relations

2. Help Facilitate Creative Content and Projects, assisting with new and existing marketing campaigns, serve as a liaison between the Marketing, Creative, and Production teams

3. Serve as customer support, helping with technical assistance, and general relationship management

4. Sales Support, serve as the subject matter expert for sales teams from both corporate clients and media partners.

5. Contract Fulfillment. Ensure that all contractual requirements are completed.

6. Provide professional after-sales support to the Director of Sales

7.Lead Sponsor Hospitality and follow-up activities

8. Assist with coordination of the sponsor reception

9. Support with sponsor packet distribution

10. Assist the Director of Programming as needed

Role Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Associate's Degree or relevant work experience

• Minimum of one year experience with proven track record in sponsorship and/or fundraising development; corporate and major gift cultivation/solicitation

• Experience with Salesforce a plus but not required

• Excellent time management, organizational skills, and ability to juggle and prioritize multiple projects

• Superior communication and writing skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and strong database management skills are necessary

• Demonstrated desire and capacity to work collaboratively with colleagues and consultants, as well as volunteers

• Attention to detail, high productivity and concern for accuracy and excellence

• Must be a self-starter, proactive and self-driven, with a strong work ethic, a high level of motivation, a strong sense of urgency when needed, the ability to work without direct supervision and consistently meet deadlines

• Ability to foster positive, productive relationships, collaboration and teamwork, internally and externally, among staff, board members, volunteers, partners and other Charities’ stakeholders

  Timeline: Three (3) Month Project, June – August
  Work Location: Hybrid, in-person meetings as scheduled 
  Compensation: $6,000