Events and Special Projects, Grateful Giving Programs, Director

The Events and Special Projects Director will lead the planning, execution, and growth of signature fundraising and community engagement events and will be responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of events—ranging from large-scale fundraisers like the Wave Makers 5K to intimate, high-level donor dinners. The Director will also spearhead the development of a third-party fundraising program and oversee the production of the Tulane Wellness Wire newsletter to highlight patient impact and physician excellence. This position serves as a critical bridge between Tulane's clinical excellence and philanthropic community, creating meaningful touchpoints that identify and cultivate grateful patient prospects while elevating Tulane's presence in New Orleans.

Signature Event Management & Growth

• · Lead and scale multiple signature fundraising events including the Wave Makers 5K (Tulane Cancer Center), TUHVI Heart Event, and CALM mental health initiatives, building upon inaugural successes of $100k+ in revenue and 1000+ participants through strategic growth initiatives

• · Manage comprehensive event logistics and execution including race-course coordination, vendor negotiations, venue selection, participant registration, and day-of operations while utilizing third party platforms for registration management and peer-to-peer fundraising

• · Coordinate physician and patient engagement by recruiting patient hosts for intimate donor dinners, facilitating physician participation across specialties, and maintaining the high-touch nature of cultivation events while meeting ambitious fundraising targets

• · Develop year-round engagement and cultivation strategies to maintain momentum between annual events, create consistent brand experiences across all patient touchpoints, and identify grateful patient prospects for major gift opportunities ($50k-$1M+)

• · Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with community organizations (such as CALM NOLA), corporate sponsors, and civic leaders to expand event reach, raise awareness for clinical programs, and position Tulane as a leader in healthcare innovation and community wellness

Third-Party Fundraising & Community Engagement

• Research, build, and launch a comprehensive third-party fundraising framework by studying peer institution models (e.g., Wisconsin Medicine),creating application processes, toolkits, and guidelines that enable community-led events while maintaining brand protection and institutional standards

•  Serve as primary liaison for external fundraisers and community partners, providing strategic guidance, resources, and support to independent organizers while streamlining intake processes and ensuring fund allocation aligns with institutional priorities

•  Integrate patient-facing community events (such as health fairs and wellness initiatives) under the Grateful Giving umbrella to create consistent brand experiences, identify cultivation opportunities, and convert event attendees into long-term donors

•  Develop scalable peer-to-peer fundraising strategies leveraging digital platforms to empower volunteers and community advocates to raise funds and awareness for specific clinical programs while expanding Tulane's philanthropic reach

Communication & Storytelling

• Oversee production and distribution of the biannual newsletter - Tulane Wellness Wire. A forty-to-fifty-page magazine which aims to cover major health accomplishments for our Tulane physicians and their patients.

• Collaborate with clinical staff, physicians, and patients to identify compelling stories that showcase the medical excellence of our Tulane Medicine community and the patients we serve.

•  Draft and edit compelling content that showcases patient impact stories, community health outcomes, and physician-led clinical innovations.

• Facilitate marketing & brand coordination by partnering with Advancement Communications and Marketing team to ensure all event collateral, websites, and social media align with Tulane branded and Grateful Giving mission

• Develop and execute multi-channel marketing campaigns and social media strategies that create compelling visual and written content to amplify Tulane’s impact story and drive event engagement.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor's degree; 5+ years of professional experience in event management, fundraising, or community relations, preferably in a healthcare or higher education setting
• Any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES TYPICALLY NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS JOB SUCCESSFULLY:

• Proven track record of managing large-scale events with significant sponsorship and participant goals (500+ attendees, $100k+ revenue)
• Exceptional written communication skills with experience in newsletter production, storytelling, or content development
• Strong project management abilities with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
• Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including high-net-worth donors, physicians, community partners, and volunteers
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required by event schedules

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Experience with "Grateful Patient" fundraising programs in academic medical centers
• Familiarity with third-party fundraising platforms and peer-to-peer software
• Knowledge of the New Orleans philanthropic landscape
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) or similar professional credential