Special Events Manager

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Advancement Operations, the Special Events Manager supports the development and execution of DREAM’s fundraising, cultivation, and select internal events. This position plays a key role in designing and executing high-impact events that strengthen donor engagement and drive significant revenue. DREAM’s Events Team generates approximately $7M of the $21M raised annually. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented, strategic thinker and problem solver who can manage logistics, inspire internal teams, and lead project planning across departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation & management of operational systems & project plans for all Supporter Engagement events (including: fundraising events, donor stewardship & cultivation events, and select signature school events).
• Manage logistics for events, including vendor coordination, budgeting, registration, guest communication, and run-of-show.
• Partner with the Communications Team to manage event branding, invitations, digital and printed materials, and event decor.
• Support the execution of programmatic and cultivation events such as graduations, volunteer activations, and community partnerships.
• Contribute to fundraising strategies, day-of execution, and stewardship of donors, in-kind sponsors, and auction participants.
• Partner with Major Gifts teams on pre- and post-event donor engagement, including acknowledgment letters, thank-yous, and stewardship reports.
• Manage in-kind donations and auction solicitation strategies tailored to each event audience.
• Support sponsorship fulfillment, gift bags, and auction item coordination.
• Contribute to donor experience strategy, helping design memorable, mission-aligned event touchpoints.
• Serve as a Salesforce “super user” to maintain records, track performance, and generate reports.
• Work with the Director of Advancement Operations to set event budget forecasts, manage event budgets, oversee all financial reporting and data analysis, and ensure accurate tracking of event revenue.
• Contribute to building and maintaining dashboards, event calendars, and workback timelines.
• Support tracking event key performance areas, identifying items to work on for future events, and collaborating to create sound event strategies for DREAM.
• Oversee the fundraising operations management for the event pipeline with an eye towards integration with the major gifts program development.
• Drive strategy for innovating procedures and ensuring proper management of the event revenue & tracking key event data in Salesforce.
• Drive the gift management procedures, acknowledgment procedures, and database maintenance for all special event activities.
• Lead internal planning meetings across Events, Communications, and Major Gifts teams.
• Oversee day-of event logistics, team assignments, and troubleshooting.
• Ensure smooth cross-functional coordination for volunteers, vendors, and staff roles at events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3–6 years of experience planning fundraising or cultivation events in a nonprofit or mission-driven setting.
• Demonstrated success managing or supporting events that drive revenue and build donor loyalty.
• A keen sense of guest experience and engagement from initial outreach through post-event activities.
• Proven success executing revenue-driving events and building donor engagement.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in dynamic environments.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and cross-department collaboration experience.
• Proficiency in Salesforce, Google/Microsoft Suites, and tools like Asana, Cvent, Canva.
• Creative thinker with an eye for event design and guest experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for growing in the field of Special Events and contributing to a mission-driven team.
• A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the belief that all students can succeed, and a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and community.

Schedule

The Special Events Manager is part of the Advancement Team, which currently works 3 days in the office and up to 2 days remote, per week (subject to change, and with some weeks requiring more time in-person, for example for donor events). Some evening and/or weekend work, for example to prepare for and attend donor events, is required.

Benefits

• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children.
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs.
• Dental and vision plans.
• Disability benefits.
• Life insurance.
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave.
• Flexible spending account options.
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit).
• Fitness and entertainment discounts.
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP).
• A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment.
• Access to a professional development fund.
• Referral bonuses.
• All full-time Network Support employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days, and summer Fridays.

Benefits are subject to change.

Pay

DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.