Partnerships & Growth Manager

Company Description

Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) is a non-profit organization. Through youth leadership development, institutional sustainability development, and community capacity building, ILIA aims to enhance the capacity and resilience of Muslim youth and communities.

Role Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a high-performing college student with strong interpersonal skills, maturity, and a demonstrated interest in leadership, community engagement, or business development.

Candidates should meet most of the following:

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student in business, marketing, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and communicate professionally with community leaders, educators, and organizational decision-makers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including comfort with phone outreach, in-person meetings, and virtual presentations.
• Self-motivated and organized, with the ability to manage a flexible schedule and work independently with limited supervision.
• Comfortable representing an organization in masjids, Islamic schools, and community settings with professionalism and cultural sensitivity.
• Understanding of sales, fundraising, sponsorships, or partnerships.
• Ability to track outreach, follow-ups, and progress toward partnership or sponsorship goals.
• Comfortable using Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Meet) and basic CRM or tracking tools.
• Ability to work remotely from home, in the field, or from ILIA locations.
• Ability to organize meeting supplies, info table items and protect and securely store ILIA assets.

Preferred (but not required):

• Prior experience in student leadership, nonprofit work, fundraising, sales, or community organizing.
• Familiarity with Muslim community institutions, Islamic schools, or faith-based nonprofits.
• Experience working with or pitching programs, initiatives, or services to organizations.
• Interest in youth development, leadership training, technology, or community capacity building.

Personal Attributes

• Professional, trustworthy, and relationship-oriented.
• Persistent without being pushy; confident without being arrogant.
• Able to listen, learn quickly, and incorporate feedback.
• Comfortable working toward measurable goals and outcomes.
• Can work with and lead other student workers.

Responsibilities

• The Partnerships & Growth Manager is responsible for advancing ILIA’s partnership and sponsorship pipeline through consistent outreach, relationship-building, and follow-through.
• Core responsibilities include:
• Identify, research, and initiate outreach to potential sponsors, partners, and institutional clients aligned with ILIA’s programs and services
• Conduct outreach via phone, email, in-person meetings, and virtual meetings to advance partnership conversations
• Represent ILIA professionally at masjids, Islamic schools, community centers, and partner events, including staffing information tables and attending meetings before or after community gatherings
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including Imams, board members, school administrators, and organizational leaders
• Support and participate in meetings to explore sponsorships, service offerings, and partnership opportunities, with the goal of advancing toward signed MOUs or sponsorship agreements
• Track outreach activity, follow-ups, and partnership progress using provided tools or templates
• Coordinate with ILIA leadership to align outreach efforts with current priorities, approved offerings, and sponsorship packages
• Support the preparation and follow-up of proposals, sponsorship decks, and MOUs
• Contribute to impact stories, updates, and basic reporting to support stewardship of partners and sponsors.
• Encourage and support community members and institutions in sponsoring or funding ILIA programs aligned with their values and priorities.
• May coordinate and guide other student workers on outreach activities, as needed.

Success in this role is measured by:

• Consistent and professional outreach activity
• Progression of relationships through defined pipeline stages
• Number and quality of partnership conversations advanced
• Sponsorships, donations, or MOUs closed or meaningfully progressed