Development & Special Events Manager

The Development & Special Events Manager is a fund development professional serving as the primary revenue driver for the Wilson Center’s signature fundraising events. Reporting to the Development Director, this position is responsible for achieving revenue goals of special events and supporting overall revenue goals of the department. Responsibilities Special Event Revenue Generation

• Signature Event Ownership: Lead and manage the revenue strategy, budget, timelines, and coordination for major fundraising events including The Big Event, the Golf Classic, and the Literary Luncheon
• Attendee and Sponsor Development and Management : Identify, solicit, and steward corporate and individual sponsors and guests to meet or exceed event-based revenue targets, ensure accurate headcounts, respond to needs, send invoices, and manage and track payments. Produce income projection reports to inform leadership of goals and potential areas of opportunity
• Auction & Giving Management: Oversee the strategy for live auctions, silent auctions, raffles, and in-event appeals to maximize philanthropic returns
• Event Communications: Lead event-related communications among staff and volunteer committees, ensuring stakeholders are aligned with fundraising goals, opportunities, needs, and timelines.
• Teamwork: Effectively manage timelines and schedules for event-related teams including staff, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors. This will involve closely working with Venue Rentals Manager overseeing operational logistics for the event

Development Departmental Support

• Donor Stewardship: Responsible for maintaining accurate donor records in spreadsheets, Tessitura, and/or other tracking systems. Sends invoices and tracks payments, participation, and responses.
• Acknowledgment Strategy: Oversees the timely and personalized acknowledgment of all contributions, coordinating with the staff and/or volunteers for execution.
• Community Philanthropy: Manages incoming and outgoing in-kind support to cultivate a community of philanthropy including donation requests, attendance at partner events, etc.
• Pipeline Generation: Network with outside organizations, research, mine, and engage with potential leads and identify those ready for their next level of participation.

Marketing & Brand Collaboration

• Fundraising Marketing Support: With guidance from leadership team, create and design print and digital materials that drive revenue and stewardship goals.
• Promotion Strategy: Assist in developing digital campaigns to elevate the profile of the Wilson Center’s fundraising initiatives.
• Brand Consistency: Ensure all development and event-related communications reflect the professional standards of the organization.

NOTE: This job description is intended to provide a general overview and clear understanding of the position’s primary responsibilities and expectations. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. In recognition of the collaborative and evolving nature of our work, additional responsibilities and projects may be assigned as needed to support the mission and operations of the organization.

Qualifications

Experience: 4+ years of professional experience in development or special events, with a proven track record in revenue generation

Skills:

• Strong planning and project management abilities with a focus on philanthropic outcomes required
• Proficiency with donor databases/CRM (Tessitura preferred), MS Office Suite, and digital marketing tools required
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills
• Ability to engage professionally with donors, board members, and volunteers
• Teamwork and solution-focused mindset with the willingness and ability to work toward continuous improvement of systems and processes
• Ability to work cooperatively and calmly under pressure ensuring positive experience for guests and fellow team members
• Willingness to learn and demonstrated ability to embrace and adopt emerging best practices
• Track record as a team member who successfully navigates the roles of contributor or leader as the challenge requires

Availability: Willingness and flexibility to work evenings and weekends

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Wilson Center is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, military service, sexual orientation, or marital status. The successful candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of this role, with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential abilities include the capacity to walk, sit, stand, lift, read, write, see, hear, and communicate effectively.