Administrative Sponsorship Manager | Newport NewWorks Musical Theater Festival Newpor

Sponsorship Manager | Newport New Works 2026 Musical Theater Festival DESCRIPTION

Newport New Works is seeking a motivated, personable, and entrepreneurial Sponsorship Manager to help build meaningful sponsor, partner, and community relationships for our annual musical theater festival in Newport, Rhode Island.

We are looking for someone who is excited to go out into the community, identify potential sponsors and partners, and help connect local businesses, individuals, and organizations with the festival in ways that feel mutually beneficial, thoughtful, and aligned with our mission.

Start date is ASAP and runs through August 16, 2026. Opportunity to continue and return for future year festivals.

The Sponsorship Manager will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing sponsor ships, program ads, in‑kind donations, service partnerships, and other forms of support for Newport New Works.

This is a relationship‑driven role for someone who is comfortable making outreach, starting conversations, following up consistently, and helping potential sponsors understand the value of partnering with a growing, artist‑centered cultural festival in Newport.

Potential sponsorship opportunities may include, but are not limited to:

• Paid ads in festival programs
• Event sponsor ships
• Hospitality, food, beverage, and restaurant partnerships
• Housing, transportation, beauty, wellness, retail, and service partnerships
• In‑kind donations in exchange for recognition and publicity
• Local business collaborations
• Individual or small‑business underwriting opportunities

We are looking for someone who is warm, persistent, organized, and excited about the arts, hospitality, community, and local relationship‑building.

Base salary: $325 per week
Additional compensation:
Commission and/or bonuses for sponsor ships, ads, partnerships, and in‑kind support successfully secured

Final commission and bonus structure will be discussed and confirmed as part of the hiring process.

Identify potential sponsors, advertisers, donors, partners, and collaborators for Newport New Works

Conduct outreach by email, phone, and in person as appropriate

Pitch sponsorship, advertising, and partnership opportunities to local businesses and community partners

Follow up consistently and professionally with prospective sponsors

Help secure paid program ads, sponsor ships, and in‑kind donations

Track leads, conversations, commitments, and next steps

Build relationships with businesses, restaurants, hotels, service providers, cultural organizations, and community leaders

Identify creative partnership opportunities that benefit both the festival and the sponsor

Help match potential partners with the right sponsorship or publicity opportunity

Work with festival leadership to shape packages and opportunities as needed

Collect sponsor logos, ad materials, descriptions, and other required information

Coordinate sponsor recognition across programs, signage, website, social media, and other festival materials

Ensure sponsors receive the benefits promised in their agreements

Maintain clear communication with sponsors before, during, and after the festival

Help create a positive experience that encourages sponsors to return in future years

Experience in sponsorship sales, fundraising, advertising sales, business development, partnerships, hospitality, events, arts administration, or a related field preferred

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Locally based in Newport, RI is A BIG PLUS! Familiarity with Newport businesses, tourism, restaurants, hospitality, or arts/culture organizations

Comfortable making cold and warm outreach

Organized, detail‑oriented, and reliable with follow‑through

Entrepreneurial, proactive, and comfortable working independently

Warm, professional, and persuasive without being pushy

Interest in theater, the arts, hospitality, community‑building, or Newport’s local business community

Ability to represent the festival with discretion, enthusiasm, and good judgment

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to info with the subject line…