Events Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Position Summary: Reporting to the Director of Development, the job is responsible for overseeing strategies that enhance our annual and individual giving programs and the creation, coordination and execution of special events and activities to increase public awareness, knowledge, and support of The Night Ministry.

The position is also responsible for building and maintaining relationships with The Night Ministry’s Associate Board. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for community-centric fundraising, emphasizing inclusivity and engagement of diverse communities. By integrating these values into our fundraising practices, the Manager will play a critical role in fostering a more equitable and community-focused approach to our outreach and development activities.

Position Responsibilities:

Special Events

Lead the planning and execution of special fundraising events, including annual Gala (Lighting Up the Night) and Night Lights event, to increase revenue and grow participation in events. In addition to the two annual events, this may include third-party events, cultivation events, and community events, particularly in neighborhoods where The Night Ministry provides program services.

• In conjunction with VP of Advancement and Director of Development, develop and implement annual plan for events, including goals, objectives, follow-up, and evaluation.
• Recruit, manage, and support volunteers and related special event committees.
• In conjunction with VP of Advancement, Director of Development and Event Chairs, participate in and/or lead event-related meetings.
• Work closely with the Event Planner (Contractor) on annual gala to procure donations, raffle and auction items, and in-kind items and services for events; select third-party vendors; also, to include audio visual, work with auction software company, catering, photography, flowers and other event-related details; produce all event support materials, such as name tags, signage, bidder paddles, auction displays, etc.
• Prepare presentations for each event, in conjunction with Marketing and Communications Team, Director of Development, VP of Advancement, and President.

Work with Director of Marketing and Communications:

• To design, produce, and mail invitations and other printed and digital materials.
• On event promotion to target audiences and increase event participation.
• To ensure that publication-worthy photographs, logos, and graphics are secured for donor recognition, stewardship, and reporting.

Individual Giving

• In collaboration with the Director of Development, implement strategic plans to increase revenue through annual giving programs, targeting lower-level and mid-tier donors up to $10,000.
• Oversee a portfolio of individual donors, ensuring active engagement and cultivation to increase donor retention and upgrade donor levels.
• Manage the Individual Giving Coordinator to coordinate the development, execution, and evaluation of semi-annual appeal campaigns, including direct mail and digital outreach.
• Collaborate with The Night Ministry’s Associate Board to provide overall leadership. Develop and execute strategic and annual operations plans; cultivate relationships with members to maintain and grow the Board. Help to plan and execute special events, including annual Night Lights fundraising event.
• Develop and maintain relationships with a portfolio of mid-level donors through regular communication, acknowledgements, and updates on the impact of their contributions. Create personalized cultivation and stewardship plans, with the Director of Development.
• Utilize donor database to track and analyze donor information and giving patterns to inform fundraising strategies.
• Collaborate with the Database Administrator to prepare regular reports on the progress of fundraising activities, including individual giving and event outcomes, for senior management and board review.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop materials and messages that effectively communicate the appeal and impact of giving opportunities.
• Ensure that all fundraising activities comply with relevant laws and ethical practices pertaining to nonprofit fundraising, with Director of Development.
• Work closely with other departments and team members to ensure a coordinated approach to donor engagement and fundraising across the organization.
• Champion the principles of community-centric fundraising by actively promoting equity and inclusion within all fundraising activities. Ensure that outreach efforts are culturally responsive and inclusive of diverse communities and strive to build authentic relationships that respect and elevate the voices and needs of those we serve.
• Serve as a strong representative of The Night Ministry, its work, mission, programs and services.
• Required to attend meetings and events that occur outside of business hours (evenings and weekends).
• Perform other tasks and duties as requested by Director of Development.

Role Qualifications and Essential Skills:

• Must exhibit the ability and willingness to work individually, as well as part of a team.
• BA degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of demonstrated success in individual giving and/or special events fundraising, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale fundraising events, including planning, logistics, vendor relations, and post-event evaluation.
• Experience developing and maintaining relationships with donors at all levels, with the ability to inspire and engage a diverse donor base.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, tracking event revenues/expenses, and maximizing return on investment.
• Proficiency in donor database management, such as Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge, to track donor engagement and fundraising outcomes.
• Detail-oriented self-starter with demonstrated interpersonal skills and a clear sense of professional boundaries.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing staff, volunteers, and external partners to achieve fundraising goals.
• Ability to create and implement strategic fundraising plans that align with the organization’s mission and goals.
• Strong verbal and writing abilities.
• A passion for The Night Ministry’s mission and the ability to communicate that passion to donors and the community.

Reporting to this position: Individual Giving Coordinator

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; climb stairs; crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally drive an automobile; and lift and/or move 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may vary at the different locations required in this job.