Events Manager

Events Manager

Company Overview

The 5th Avenue Theatre’s mission is to nurture, advance, and celebrate all aspects of the great art form: the musical. As one of America's premier musical theater companies, The 5th is a major economic driver, playing a key role in the revitalization of downtown Seattle. We produce multiple musicals annually and proudly employ local talent, with 90%+ of our 700 artists living in Washington. Our renowned education programs serve 35,000 K-12 students annually, and our engagement programs facilitate connections between people, organizations, different cultures, and various art forms. The 5th is an invaluable treasure to Seattle, and central to America's theatrical landscape; we have originated 26 new musicals, 11 of which have gone on to Broadway and garnered 15 Tony Awards®, including two for Best Musical. 

Position: Events Manager

Department: Development

Reports to: Director of Development

FLSA Classification: Full-Time, Salary Non-Exempt

Salary: $65,000 - $75,000

Work Location: Downtown Seattle. The 5th Avenue Theatre administrative office located within Skinner Building (1326 5th Avenue, Suite 735). Remote work is an option on Mondays, and as needed with supervisor approval.

Special Consideration: This position requires frequent night and weekend hours, including attending designated 5th Avenue Theatre shows, events, and activities.

Position Summary

The Events Manager leads the strategy, planning, and execution of The 5th Avenue Theatre's donor engagement and fundraising events, creating memorable experiences that strengthen relationships and inspire philanthropic support.

Serving as the department's lead for fundraising events, this position oversees a portfolio of signature fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events throughout the season. Working closely with Development leadership, Artistic, Production, Marketing, Education & Community Engagement, and Operations teams, the Events Manager ensures every event advances fundraising goals while reflecting The 5th Avenue Theatre's commitment to exceptional hospitality and donor experience.

This role manages event strategy, budgets, timelines, and cross-department collaboration while overseeing contractors, vendors, volunteers, and internal partners. The Events Manager partners closely with the Development Operations Coordinator, who provides operational and logistical support for event execution, allowing this role to focus on fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and overall event leadership.

About the Development Team at The 5th Avenue Theatre Company

The Development Department is organized around two complementary areas of focus: External Fundraising and Development Operations.

The External Fundraising Team focuses on building meaningful relationships that inspire philanthropic support. Through major gifts, annual giving, fundraising events, stewardship, and institutional partnerships, team members connect donors, sponsors, foundations, and community partners to The 5th Avenue Theatre's mission and vision.

The Internal Development Operations Team provides the infrastructure that supports successful fundraising efforts. This team manages donor data and systems, gift processing, reporting, prospect research, campaign tracking, and operational workflows that ensure fundraising activities are accurate, strategic, and effective.

As a member of the External Fundraising Team, the Events Manager leads the Theatre's fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events, creating meaningful shared experiences that strengthen donor relationships and inspire philanthropic support. Working collaboratively across departments, this role serves as the strategic lead for donor events, bringing together fundraising goals, exceptional hospitality, and memorable experiences that deepen engagement with The 5th Avenue Theatre.

PRIMARY AEAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Signature Fundraising Events (40%)

Lead the planning, fundraising strategy, and execution of the Theatre's premier fundraising events, ensuring exceptional donor experiences while achieving revenue goals.

Primary Collaborators : All Development Team, Managing Director, Executive & Artistic Director, Artistic, Production, Marketing & Communications, Education & Community Engagement, Finance, Front of House, contracted event producers, vendors, volunteers, Gala Committee, Rising Star Project Committee.

Responsibilities:

• Lead planning, fundraising strategy, and project management for Rising Star Project Luncheon (Fall)
• Lead project manager for the annual Gala (Spring), co-lead fundraising strategy and event execution with Director of Development and external event contractors.
• Develop event strategies, timelines, budgets, and production schedules.
• Partner with Development leadership to establish fundraising goals, sponsorship strategies, auction and paddle raise planning, and donor engagement opportunities.
• Coordinate closely with Artistic, Production, Marketing, Education & Community Engagement, and Operations teams throughout event planning.
• Oversee event contractors, vendors, volunteers, and external partners.
• Ensure sponsorship benefits, donor recognition, and event deliverables are fulfilled.
• Direct event execution and serve as the primary decision-maker during fundraising events.
• Evaluate fundraising performance and recommend improvements for future events.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship Events (40%)

Develop and manage donor events that deepen relationships with current and prospective supporters while advancing fundraising goals and strengthening long-term philanthropic engagement. Lead the Theatre's donor hospitality strategy by creating meaningful experiences that cultivate, recognize, and steward donors throughout their relationship with The 5th Avenue Theatre.

Primary Collaborators: Major Gifts Officer, Annual Fund Officer, Director of Development, Deputy Director of Development, Executive & Artistic Director, Managing Director, Artistic, Education & Community Engagement, Production, Marketing & Communications, Development Operations Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and execute donor cultivation and stewardship events, including the Directors Dinner, Season Preview Dinner, Opening Night receptions, Producer Club events, backstage tours, artist conversations, and other donor engagement opportunities throughout the season.
• Partner with Major Gifts, Annual Fund, and Development leadership to identify target audiences, event goals, and cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Develop engaging event experiences, including guest flow, seating strategies, hospitality, programming, and donor recognition.
• Collaborate with Executive and Artistic Leadership to create mission-driven experiences that connect donors more deeply to The 5th Avenue Theatre.
• Develop and implement an annual donor stewardship and hospitality strategy that supports donor retention, engagement, and philanthropic growth.
• Collaborate with Development staff to create personalized cultivation and stewardship opportunities for donors across all giving levels.
• Partner with the Development Operations Coordinator to coordinate registration, guest management, ticketing, benefit fulfillment, and other logistical elements of event execution.
• Ensure consistent standards of hospitality, donor recognition, and guest experience across all fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events.
• Track attendance, engagement, and follow-up opportunities in partnership with Development staff and maintain accurate event records within the CRM.
• Evaluate event participation, donor engagement, and fundraising outcomes to continuously strengthen future donor experiences and event strategies.
• Identify opportunities to expand donor engagement through creative, mission-centered events and experiences.

Event Strategy, Project Management & Collaboration (10%)

Provide strategic leadership for fundraising events through thoughtful planning, collaboration, and organizational coordination.

Primary Collaborators: Director of Development, Deputy Director of Development, Development Operations Manager, Development Operations Coordinator, Executive & Artistic Director, Managing Director, Finance, Marketing & Communications, Artistic, Production, Education & Community Engagement.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain the department's annual fundraising event calendar.
• Build comprehensive project plans, production schedules, and internal timelines for all assigned events.
• Manage event budgets and monitor expenses.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Development and internal departments throughout event planning.
• Establish event procedures, planning tools, and best practices.
• Analyze attendance, fundraising results, and engagement metrics to inform future planning.
• Support campaign and organizational priorities through strategic event planning.

Vendor, Volunteer & Event Operations Leadership (10%)

Provide leadership and oversight for the operational execution of fundraising events through effective management of contractors, vendors, volunteers, and internal partners.

Primary Collaborators: Development Operations Coordinator, Development Operations Manager, contracted event producers, caterers, rental companies, auction vendors, A/V vendors, volunteers, Front of House, Production, Facilities, Security.

Responsibilities:

• Recruit, coordinate, and supervise contractors, vendors, volunteers, and event support staff.
• Direct day-of event execution while delegating operational responsibilities to staff and event partners.
• Partner closely with the Development Operations Coordinator on registration, ticketing, guest management, benefit fulfillment, and other logistical functions.
• Develop event documentation, timelines, and post-event evaluations.
• Maintain vendor relationships and event resources.
• Support additional donor engagement and institutional events as organizational needs evolve.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Three (3) or more years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, donor events, event management, or a related field, with demonstrated success planning and executing fundraising, cultivation, or stewardship events.
• Experience leading fundraising or donor engagement events, including managing event strategy, budgets, timelines, vendors, and cross-functional planning from concept through evaluation.
• Demonstrated success creating meaningful donor, patron, or customer experiences that strengthen relationships, encourage philanthropic investment, and support organizational goals.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple events, competing priorities, and complex timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and build collaborative relationships across departments, bringing together diverse teams to successfully execute shared goals.
• Experience managing event budgets, vendor relationships, contractors, volunteers, and external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with donors, volunteers, vendors, staff, and organizational leadership.
• Experience using constituent relationship management (CRM) systems to manage event participation, donor engagement, and reporting. Experience with Tessitura or a comparable CRM platform is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate event outcomes, interpret participation and fundraising metrics, and use insights to strengthen future donor engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs, solve problems in real time, and maintain professionalism, sound judgment, and composure while managing complex events, shifting priorities, and high-profile donors, volunteers, and guests.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed to support performances, fundraising events, donor activities, and other organizational priorities.
• Passion for the performing arts and a commitment to advancing The 5th Avenue Theatre's mission through meaningful donor experiences, exceptional hospitality, and philanthropic engagement.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a performing arts, cultural, or nonprofit organization.
• Experience managing annual giving or mid-level donor portfolios.
• Experience partnering with Marketing & Communications teams to develop fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and stewardship strategies.
• Familiarity with fundraising best practices related to donor stewardship, recurring giving, donor segmentation, donor pipeline development, and annual philanthropy.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to perform administrative tasks using a computer, such as creating and reviewing documents, entering data, and communicating electronically. This may involve sitting at a workstation for extended periods and can be done using a keyboard, mouse, or assistive technology.
• Ability to communicate in person with colleagues across a multi-level facility (including offices, theater, and workshop spaces). This may involve moving between spaces with varied lighting and sound, or asking others to come to a central office location as needed.
• Ability to travel to and be present at on- and off-site special events in varied spaces, some of which may be potentially non-ADA-compliant.
• Ability to transport materials, set up and breakdown events with or without support; this may involve lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling 1025 lbs
• . This job does not require a vehicle, but it may be helpful for off-site needs.

Additional Requirements

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background and reference checks.