The Special Events Manager is responsible for implementing an integrative array of events that promotes engagement and connection with donors, board members, and other stakeholders. The Manager executes fundraising and stewardship events, including Gleaners’ signature annual fundraising event, third party events, virtual fund drives, cause marketing, and peer-to-peer fundraising. The Manager provides excellent communications skills to educate, cultivate and recognize supporters. This position is vital to Gleaners’ development program and serves a primary role in retaining and engaging existing donors and growing our donor base. All responsibilities shall be consistent with Gleaners Food Bank’s mission to be a leader in the fight against hunger.
Essential Functions:
Work collaboratively with fundraising, communications, marketing, volunteer, operations, and finance staff with planning, coordinating, and implementing events and activities designed to raise funds and provide best-in-class stewardship to donors and fundraising engagement experiences.
Develop follow up plans in advance of events to enrich engagement and evaluate best next steps.
Lead coordination of logistics for fundraising and stewardship events to include management of vendors such as caterers/Audio-Visual/technology companies, management of budget, production schedule creation, main contact with event venue, accepting guest registration/RSVPs and communicating relevant information to guests, coordinating with guest speakers/talent, event set up, execution and conclusion. Such events include: small donor lunches, annual stewardship event (Food for Thought), signature annual fundraising event, fundraising celebrations, naming dedications, IBJ Health + Hunger Breakfast, and custom donor stewardship engagement to assist in meeting annual fundraising goals and strengthen engagement with community constituents.
Serve as the lead contact to execute virtual fund drives and third-party events. Third party events include any circumstance where another organization is raising funds for Gleaners. For example, Clothing with a Cause (an Indianapolis-based boutique store with 2 locations) donates a portion of their annual proceeds to Gleaners. Provide technical assistance for online platform to set up virtual fund drives for groups. Provide strategic engagement with top virtual fund drive campaigns.
Collaborate with the Director of Donor Engagement to recognize donors for lifetime giving milestones and special recognition such as planned giving Tomorrow’s Harvest members.
Perform complex administrative duties related to fundraising, exercising confidentiality and professional judgment. Examples include creating custom packets for donor engagement, support to volunteer leaders for events; correspondence with event leaders, creating and maintaining lists, assist CPO with President/CEO and Board engagement for philanthropy and other activities.
Liaison with CPO for assistance with the Development Committee of the Board, Campaign Cabinet, and other fundraising ambassadors/volunteers (examples include attending and taking minutes for Development and Campaign Committee meetings, serving as contact for event committee volunteers [e.g., annual fundraising event committee] coordinating and executing smaller custom communications, preparing custom gift acknowledgement letters related to gifts in memory/honor, creating gift invoices, etc.).
Participate in professional development opportunities annually.
All other duties as assigned by the CPO.
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
Special events and/or related project management experience.
Understanding of fundraising and principles of philanthropy.
Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems preferred (Salesforce experience a plus), with ability to create reports.
Skills and Abilities:
Demonstrate strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, enthusiasm, and commitment to serving the mission of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and an understanding of our organization’s work.
Highly organized, detail oriented and professionally mature with the ability to handle multiple priorities and work independently under minimal supervision to produce timely and accurate work.
Excellent project management, planning, organizational and time management skills.
Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach to management.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Knowledge of fundraising concepts and techniques.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to professionally communicate with audiences (donors, corporate contacts, staff, board, etc.).
Basic mathematical and analytical thinking, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, mail merges, and transcription.