Financial strategy and sponsorship development for County Stage - ON-1155

Genre de projet: Innovation
Discipline(s) souhaitée(s): Affaires, Sciences sociales et humaines, Science économique, Arts performants
Entreprise: County Stage Company
Durée du projet: 4 à 6 mois
Date souhaitée de début: Dès que possible
Langue exigée: Anglais
Emplacement(s): Picton, ON, Canada
Nombre de postes: 1
Niveau de scolarité désiré: MaîtriseNouvelle diplômée/nouveau diplômé
Ouvert aux candidatures de personnes inscrites à un établissement à l’extérieur du Canada: No

Au sujet de l’entreprise: 

County Stage Company is a professional not-for-profit theatre organization in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Established in 2006, the company produces a diverse repertory season each summer, complemented by comedy presentations, new play development, youth programs, and community-engaged events. County Stage partners with regional venues such as The Regent Theatre and The Eddie Hotel & Farm and plays a significant role in the region’s cultural tourism economy.

Following a leadership transition, the organization is entering an ambitious new phase focused on long-term sustainability, new revenue streams, expanded partnerships, and a strategic evolution toward year-round programming. County Stage aims to strengthen its financial resilience through diversified funding, increased sponsorship investment, enhanced community partnerships, and deeper engagement with both public and private sectors. This internship will directly support those goals and contribute to the company’s vision of establishing Prince Edward County as a nationally recognized hub for professional theatre.

Veuillez décrire le projet.: 

County Stage Company is expanding its repertory programming and growing toward a year-round regional arts model. To sustain this growth, the organization requires a comprehensive financial strategy and new business model innovation. This project will focus on designing a diversified and future-ready funding ecosystem, with an emphasis on corporate sponsorships, local business partnerships, private-sector support, and identifying new public-sector funding streams currently underutilized by the organization.

The intern will conduct an in-depth analysis of County Stage’s current revenue structure, including earned revenue, existing sponsorships, government grants, philanthropic contributions, and community partnerships. They will research comparable performing arts organizations across Canada, especially those operating in rural or tourism-driven regions, to identify best practices in sponsorship activation, donor stewardship, and private-sector investment models.

Key tasks include mapping PEC’s economic and tourism landscape; identifying high-potential sponsors; designing tiered sponsorship packages; analyzing pricing and benefits models; creating a prospect pipeline; and recommending strategies for activation, retention, and multi-year partnerships. The intern will also compile a comprehensive inventory of public-sector programs (federal, provincial, municipal, foundation) that align with County Stage’s artistic programming, youth initiatives, community engagement activities, and new play development.

Tasks and goals will include financial analysis, market/environmental scans, benchmarking studies, interviews with stakeholders, and the development of strategic frameworks tailored to not-for-profit performing arts. The final deliverables will include a multi-year revenue growth plan, sponsorship toolkit, prospecting database, and a report outlining new public-sector opportunities and eligibility.

This project will strengthen County Stage’s organizational resilience, diversify revenue sources, increase local business engagement, and enhance long-term financial sustainability amid growing demand for high-quality arts programming in Prince Edward County.

Expertise ou compétences exigées: 

• Strong foundation in business strategy, economics, finance, or arts administration
• Familiarity with non-profit financial models, fundraising, and sponsorship development including corporate sponsorship
• Ability to conduct market and sector scans, competitive analyses, and benchmarking
• Strong analytical skills; ability to interpret financial information and identify trends
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to create clear reports and presentations
• Experience with Customer Relationshop Management tools, data analysis, or donor/sponsor systems (asset)
• Knowledge of the cultural sector, performing arts, or tourism-based economies (asset)
• Ability to work independently, manage timelines, and synthesize complex information