The Special Events team directs and manages all development events, including fundraising and benefit-fulfillment events for the Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra, and the Washington National Opera. Reporting to the Manager of Special Events Fundraising and Strategy and collaborating with both the Manager of Principal Gifts for Special Events and the Communications Team in the Development Office, this position will develop the communications, pipeline management, and event reporting tools that support year-over-year growth in contributed income raised through fundraising events at the organization. This position assists with donor acquisition and retention efforts, revenue management, and path-to-goal development for all major fundraising events (including, but not limited to, the Kennedy Center Honors, Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, National Symphony Orchestra Gala, Washington National Opera Gala, and other select annual events).
This highly collaborative individual is detail-oriented, analytical, a creative problem solver, and committed to using data-driven decision making in project management. This person must have the ability to multi-task, independently plan and organize activities to prioritize daily workloads and projects, and meet deadlines.
Duties & Responsibilities
40% Major Event Solicitation Communications Planning
Serve as project management lead to coordinate donor-centered communications for all events across the Center’s communication channels (targeted solicitation materials and proposals, digital communications/web, event chair communications, etc.). Act as the point of contact to the Communications team in Development to facilitate effective collaboration across teams (inclusive of the Marketing department) and ensure clarity of deliverables and deadlines.Work in partnership with the Communications Team to draft compelling copy for solicitation materials, email communications, website assets, print materials, and executive leadership correspondence. Ensure all materials are reviewed and approved by all stakeholders in a timely manner.Develop a comprehensive communication calendar that accounts for all solicitation, sales, and recognition materials for major events. Collaborate with the Communications team to adapt this calendar to each event and ensure materials are developed and delivered in a timely manner.Maintain and continuously evaluate template documents used for major event fundraising, including event briefings for executives, acknowledgement letters, tax receipts, confirmation letters, etc.30% Major Event Fundraising Reporting and Revenue Growth
Design and maintain detailed and accurate reports of current fundraising status of major events. Develop systems to optimize revenue tracking, including managing multi-year gifts for events and facilitating efficient and accurate post-event close out.Assess existing donor relationships as well as status of recently lapsed donors; brainstorm methods to engage, retain, and upgrade these donors.Support the Manager of Special Event Strategy and Fundraising in revenue forecasting and budget projections. Leverage Tessitura data to make these decisions data-driven, transparent, and accurate.30% Major Event Fundraising Prospect Development
Support the Principal Gifts Manager of Special Events in pipeline and prospect development for major events to achieve fundraising goals. Provide donor stewardship support for volunteer event fundraising chairs, major donors, and institutional leadership as needed, including onsite at events.Ensure consistency and accuracy in pipeline reporting. Foster ongoing communication with internal stakeholders and build productive partnerships with all relevant teams to track solicitation progress.Identify areas for prospect research to identify new event donors. Submit requests to the Prospect Development, Intelligence and Analytics team to research/screen potential donors, and qualify the results for assignment to frontline teams.
