Join Our Talent Community

Development Events Manager

About Special Love

Special Love is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to support children with cancer and their families. It offers free camps, financial assistance, and scholarships, including its flagship program, Camp Fantastic, in partnership with the National Cancer Institute. Serving families primarily in the Washington, D.C. area, Special Love provides a compassionate community to help navigate the challenges of childhood cancer.      

Position Summary:
The Development Events Manager is a vital member of Special Love’s Development team, responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing high-impact fundraising and community engagement events. This role blends the logistics of event planning with the strategy of community-based fundraising, helping to raise critical funds while building meaningful connections with families, donors, and partners. This position requires excellent organizational, communication, and time-management skills, along with a passion for creating memorable experiences that reflect the heart of Special Love’s mission.

Purpose:
To manage and execute events that advance Special Love’s mission, enhance donor and community engagement, and provide memorable experiences for attendees. The Development Events Manager contributes to the success of the organization by ensuring events are professionally organized, well-executed, and aligned with fundraising and programmatic goals.

Responsibilities:

Event Planning and Management

  • Plan and manage all logistics for events including the Annual Gala, Golf Tournament, third-party fundraisers, and smaller community gatherings.
  • Oversee event timelines, contracts, catering, venues, A/V, guest speakers, and run-of-show logistics.
  • Act as on-site event lead, managing setup, check-in, volunteers, troubleshooting, and guest experience.
  • Procure, price, and manage auction items for major fundraising events.
  • Conduct post-event debriefs and provide recommendations for improvement.

Community Fundraising and Engagement

  • Build and maintain relationships with community partners, sponsors, and supporters; coordinate and support event committees to ensure strong engagement, clear communication, and successful event execution.
  • Lead efforts to grow third-party fundraising and peer-to-peer campaigns.
  • Collaborate with the Development team to identify new opportunities to engage local businesses, schools, and service groups.
  • Support fundraising campaigns through outreach, donor follow-up, and storytelling (e.g., collecting family quotes and testimonials).

Volunteer & Sponsor Management

  • Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers for events.
  • Support sponsorship acquisition through relationship-building, outreach, and recognition.

Administrative Support

  • Monitor event budgets, track expenses, and ensure cost-effective planning.
  • Work closely with the Development and Marketing teams to ensure event promotions align with organizational messaging.
  • Assist in donor acknowledgment and data entry related to events and campaigns.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • 2-3 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and event planning, or community engagement.
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines.
  • Willingness to work evenings and weekends for events and occasional travel.
  • Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and assist with event setup and breakdown.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office required; knowledge of donor databases or event software a plus.

Personal Attributes:

  • Passionate about Special Love’s mission to serve children with cancer and their families.
  • Collaborative team player with a positive attitude and a proactive mindset.
  • Empathetic, resourceful, and able to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Education and/or Experience:

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • 2-3 years of professional experience in fundraising, event planning program management, or community outreach with a health/nonprofit organization.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $55,000 to $65,000. Special Love offers a generous benefits package, including PTO, 100% employer paid health insurance for the employee, 403(b) plan with employer match, and the ability to telework 2 days a week after a probationary period. To apply, please send in a cover letter and resume to Kelly Weist at kweist@specialove.org

Non-Discrimination

Special Love is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to create an environment that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable where all are treated with respect and dignity.