Associate Director of Fundraising Events

Core Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end planning and execution of the annual gala and other fundraising events.
• Translate fundraising strategies into clear event timelines, work plans, and deliverables.
• Ensure events reflect Bridges’ mission, values, and commitment to community and accessibility.
• Supervise and support the Manager of Events, providing guidance and performance feedback.
• Cook up and coordinate closely with the CEO, Development, Finance, Administration, and Program teams to align event efforts.
• Serve as a central point of contact to ensure smooth communication and collaboration.
• Oversee sponsorship fulfillment plans and timelines.
• Cook up and coordinate event-related marketing and communications activities.
• Support post-event stewardship, follow-up, and reporting efforts.
• Oversee event vendors, venues, consultants, and production partners.
• Manage contracts, timelines, and deliverables in coordination with Administration and Finance.
• Support run-of-show development and on-site execution.
• Develop and manage event budgets in partnership with the Director of Development and Finance.
• Track expenses and support accurate financial reporting.
• Document processes and lessons learned to strengthen future events.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 8–10 years of experience in fundraising events, development, or event management.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supervising staff and managing complex projects.
• Comfort working with CRM systems such as Salesforce.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Bridges mission.

Required Skills

• Ability to build and sustain relationships with donors, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, and external representation skills.
• Ability to influence and drive work forward through collaboration rather than direct authority.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.