Events & Marketing Manager

About Us:

Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc. (HSB), the second-oldest hospice organization in the United States, is a unique, community-based nonprofit serving children and adults impacted by life-threatening illness or grieving the loss of a loved one. Our services are provided free of charge and are made possible entirely through the generosity and support of our community, without government funding or reimbursement from commercial insurance. We make a meaningful difference in the lives of hundreds of people each year.

About the Position:

At Hospice of Santa Barbara, we believe relationships have the power to change lives. Every event we host, every sponsor we partner with, every communication we send, and every dollar we raise helps ensure that children, adults, and families in our community receive compassionate care and counseling at no cost.

We are seeking an Events & Marketing Manager who is energized by bringing people together around an important mission—someone who enjoys fundraising, building relationships, managing complex projects, and creating experiences that inspire generosity. If you are equally comfortable coordinating dozens of moving pieces while helping others connect to a cause that truly matters, this is a career opportunity for you to consider.

This is a full-time position (40-hours per week) serving as a key member of HSB’s Development team and reports to the Director of Strategic Advancement. The role is approximately 70% event planning and production, 20% marketing and communications, and 10% corporate fundraising and partnerships.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the planning and coordination of HSB’s signature fundraising and community events, including Heroes of Hospice, Light Up A Life, and The Light Shines Ahead, from early planning through event-day execution and follow-up.
• Manage the many moving pieces that make events successful—including project plans and timelines, vendors and speakers, committees, sponsorship fulfillment, auctions, event materials, and production logistics—while working closely with Development colleagues and other HSB staff who share in event preparation, donor and vendor communications, logistics, setup, and execution.
• Build relationships with corporate sponsors and community partners; identify prospects and help cultivate, solicit, steward, and recognize those who invest in HSB’s mission.
• Serve as a key liaison with HSB’s marketing and communications consultants, coordinating events and organizational communications across print, email, website, social media, public relations, and other channels.
• Work with graphic designers, printers, mail houses, photographers, and other creative and production partners, and help coordinate website content, email marketing, event webpages, and related communications tools.
• Bring strong organization, follow-through, creativity, sound judgment, and calm problem-solving to work that is fast-moving, collaborative, and deeply connected to HSB’s mission.

What You’ll Need (Job Requirements):

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a professional setting.
• 3 years or more of progressively responsible experience in fundraising and event planning/production, preferably including nonprofit fundraising events, sponsorships, corporate giving, or related development activities. Experience in marketing and communications is also desirable.
• Genuine enthusiasm for fundraising and philanthropy. Motivated by results and energized by building relationships, making the ask, and turning opportunities into financial support for HSB’s mission.
• Comfortable and tactful in soliciting sponsorships, donations, and other forms of support.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills, with exceptional attention to detail and demonstrated ability to manage multiple deadline-driven priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to use persuasive, thoughtful communication to accomplish goals and build strong relationships.
• Self-starter who takes initiative, anticipates needs, solves problems, thinks critically, asks questions when needed, and follows through reliably.
• Demonstrated comfort and aptitude with technology; able to learn new platforms quickly, troubleshoot routine issues, and work confidently across email marketing, website content management, CRM/database, digital forms, and collaboration tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with email marketing platforms, website content management systems, social media, and donor/CRM databases preferred.
• Basic graphic design skills and experience with tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite are a plus, along with a strong visual sense for event and marketing materials.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, consultants, volunteers, vendors, donors, sponsors, and community partners and to represent HSB professionally in a variety of settings.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends in connection with events and community activities.
• Commitment to the internal standard by which we uphold professionalism, further the agency’s mission, and work cooperatively and collaboratively as a team.