Assistant Director of Special Events

Job Description 

Position: Assistant Director of Special Events 

Responsible to: Director of Major Gifts

Location: New York, New York (Hybrid Schedule)

Background: Girls Inc. is a network of local organizations that works with schools and in communities across the United States and Canada. Through direct service and advocacy, Girls Inc. equips girls with the knowledge and skills to effect positive changes in their lives and to become leaders who will change the world. Professionally trained staff and volunteers provide mentorship, supportive spaces, and research-informed programming that address the challenges girls face and are proven to help them succeed. Together with partners and supporters, Girls Inc. is building the new generation of leaders. Join us at girlsinc.org 

Departmental Role: Strengthen the HQ organization, so it provides the most effective and efficient support and resources to Affiliates. 

Position Summary: The Assistant Director of Special Events partners with senior development leadership to drive unrestricted support by leading the planning of two flagship annual Luncheons in New York and Los Angeles, specialty events and targeted donor cultivation, and through drafting and executing 3-4 multi-channel appeals per year. They plan and oversee logistics and creative strategies around the Luncheons, project-manage a calendar of related cultivation touchpoints from intimate breakfasts to virtual webinars, and they serve as a part of the Individual Giving team to coordinate seamless ongoing prospect/donor engagement experience. As both frontline fundraiser and operations lead, they balance high-touch donor stewardship with planning and tracking, budget oversight, Salesforce reporting, and close collaboration with Marketing, the CEO’s office and internal stakeholders. Integral to the Individual Giving Team, they collaborate in all the initiatives that support donor cultivation and stewardship.

Responsibilities: 

• Serve as a key logistical, strategic, and creative leader and frontline fundraiser on the individual giving team. 
• Share the individual giving team’s collective responsibility of securing unrestricted support with a particular focus on closing gifts at the four and five-figure level, especially in relation to the annual Luncheons.
• Lead, from idea to execution, two annual Luncheon events, raising approximately $1M annually. This includes managing and guiding the volunteer host committee, supporting the co-chairs' leadership efforts, working directly with all Luncheon donors and serving as a lead and point of contact with our event consultant and project manager.
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications department to develop the marketing plan for the Luncheons, coordinate Luncheon program logistics, and handle the day-of activities.
• Working closely with the CDO, develop and manage the annual revenue and expense budgets for the events’ financial lines, oversee the Honoree selection and stewardship process, provide program recommendations to the CEO and work closely with Director of Marketing and Communications throughout event to oversee the proper handling of all people connected with the program.
• Create and execute a strong post-event cultivation strategy by identifying key prospects, providing outreach support, tracking the success of engagement efforts of stewardship by the Director of Major Gifts, Chief Development Officer, and CEO.
• Serve as the primary point-person for coordinating and executing additional cultivation events, including donor breakfasts, cocktail parties, and opportunities as they arise throughout the year.
• Collaborate with the Director of Major Gifts and Individual Giving team to ensure that Luncheon attendees and donors are properly handled as part of the larger Individual Giving prospect/donor pool. 
• Work in partnership with the Marketing & Communications staff to set the communication calendar and solicitation strategy for online and offline mass mailings and seasonal appeals aimed at securing annual fund gifts. 
• Spearhead the department’s efforts to produce collateral and segmented solicitation letters by conceptualizing content and writing appeals. 
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to guide the editing, design, approval, and mailing process.
• Monitor, analyze, and report donor giving patterns and daily interactions with donors in the CRM system, Salesforce.
• Support other Girls Inc. Events as needed.
• Work on other special assignments in support of the Individual Giving team and the Development department as deemed appropriate by the supervisor. 

Job Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred with three (3) to five (5) years of fundraising experience, including managing special events, donor relations, and donor communications.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills as demonstrated by the ability to build and nurture relationships.
• Analytical rigor and efficiency to keep complex projects on track.
• Proficient in G Suite, MS Office, and database platforms (Salesforce preferred),
• Leveraging digital tools to streamline workflows and produce accurate, actionable reports.

About Girls Inc. 

Girls Inc. Benefits: 

• 2-day hybrid work schedule out of our NYC office with one of those days being Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. 
• Vacation, Sick, & Personal Time + 11 company holidays 
• Healthcare, vision, and dental insurance 
• Gente Card (HRA benefit) provided by Girls Inc. 
• 401(k) available with up to a 5% employer match 
• Wellness Stipend 
• Fun, friendly office environment 
• Professional development opportunities 

OUR MISSION 

To inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. 

OUR VALUES 

The Girls Inc. Strategic Plan, Leveraging the Network and the Brand, reaffirmed the values that underline our work: 

• Recognize and support the strength in every girl. 
• Respect the dignity of each human being and demonstrate genuine care and concern for the well-being of others.
• Understand and appreciate diversity, embrace inclusiveness, and advance equity.
• Drive for results anchored in integrity and accountability. 
• Collaborate for impact. 

Girls Inc. Character Pillars 

• Confidence 
• Respect 
• Emotional Intelligence 
• Self -Advocacy 
• Critical Thinking 
• Kindness 

Our Workplace

We believe that in order to be most effective in generating positive and measurable outcomes for the girls we serve, we must always value what makes each of us unique. We must respect and appreciate the multitude of ideas, approaches, and perspectives that result from people of different backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and experiences coming together for a common purpose. We must not discriminate against anyone for any reason.

We also believe that our organization should mirror the girls and communities we serve, so our Girls Inc. community of management, staff, and volunteers reflects the girls and young women who participate in our programs.

Equal Opportunity Employment Opportunity & Non-Discrimination Policy

At Girls Inc., employment is based upon one’s capabilities and qualifications. It is the policy of Girls Inc. to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, military status and political belief or any other protected characteristic as protected by law. Girls Inc. prohibits and will not tolerate any such discrimination or harassment by supervisors or employees. Girls Inc. will not tolerate harassment of our employees by anyone, including vendors.

The policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and non-discrimination applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment, hiring, training, evaluation, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfer, layoff, termination, and all other privileges and conditions of employment.

Employees’ questions or concerns relating to Equal Employment Opportunity, discrimination and harassment should be referred to the Office of People and Culture. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any employee violating this policy.

As a measure of creating awareness, Girls Inc. will include the statement ‘Equal Opportunity Employer’ in all advertisements and job postings.