Job Title: Events Manager
Accountable To: Director of Development
Status: Full-Time
Schedule: Flexible; includes evenings and weekends, dependent on event schedule.
Job Titles Supervised: N/A
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
Since 2011, Dream Centers, a faith-based nonprofit, has provided health and hope to those rebuilding their dreams. Dream Centers programs include a Women’s Clinic where we offer medical care, professional counseling, and a suite of wrap-around services. Mary’s Home is a multi-year program where we offer trauma-informed care, life-skills training, education, job development and positive role modeling in a high-challenge, high-support program for single-mother families experiencing homelessness. And in development, is Big Dream Early Learning - a specialized program for children ages 0-6 that have experienced trauma or chronic stress.
POSITION OVERVIEW
At Dream Centers, we believe in the power of connection and celebration to inspire change. The Events Manager is a creative, detail-oriented, mission-driven professional responsible for designing, coordinating, and executing events that strengthen community and amplify impact. From fundraising galas to volunteer celebrations and Jeffersonian-style donor gatherings, this role crafts experiences that reflect our values: the Kingdom of God, relationship, intentionality, generosity, and courage.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Purpose-Driven Event Design:
- Define the “why” behind each event, ensuring it aligns with Dream Centers’ mission, vision and values.
- Curate gatherings that prioritize meaningful interaction over generic formats, such as structuring a donor dinner to spark authentic conversations or a client celebration to honor personal victories.
- Set intentional boundaries (e.g., guest lists, timing, rituals) to create a sense of belonging and focus, avoiding the dilution of purpose through over-inclusion or lack of direction.
- Create “Peak Moments” by engineering events that spark emotional elevation—like surprise partner recognition or powerful storytelling moments that leave a lasting imprint.
- Incorporate elements of elevation to leave lasting impressions on attendees.
- Plan transitions thoughtfully, turning logistical moments (e.g., event openings or closings) into opportunities for reflection or celebration that deepen impact.
2. Seamless Execution:
- Manage all logistical aspects of events, including venue selection, vendor coordination, budgeting, timelines, and on-site oversight, with a proactive eye for detail to anticipate challenges.
- Develop contingency plans for seamless adaptability, ensuring guest experience remains exceptional even under unexpected circumstances (e.g., weather shifts, vendor cancellations, etc.).
- Leverage insider strategies, such as pre-event walkthroughs and post-event debriefs, to refine processes and elevate future gatherings.
3. Community Engagement:
- Collaborate with staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners to align events with organizational goals, such as raising funds, increasing awareness, or celebrating milestones.
- Design inclusive events that reflect the depth of our clients and partners, ensuring accessibility and cultural sensitivity.
- Promote events creatively, working with the rest of the Advancement team to build anticipation and drive attendance.
4. Marketing, Communication and Impact Support:
- Become proficient in DC’s CRM platform, Virtuous, for event and participant management.
- Track event outcomes (e.g., funds raised, attendance, participant feedback) and report on their contribution to Dream Centers’ mission and goals.
- Collaborate with the Advancement team to ensure post-event follow-up builds relationships and fosters ongoing engagement.
- Collaborate with the marketing team to develop and execute promotional plans for each event (email campaigns, social media content, printed materials, etc.).
5. Program Event Support and Facilitation
- Facilitate and support with program holiday events and celebrations; working in coordination with community partners and program staff/volunteers. (Examples: Mother’s Day, Summer BBQs, Thanksgiving and Christmas banquets and shopping experiences, etc.)
- Assist with program public monthly tours (work in partnership with Program Directors) and at times, step in as lead facilitator.
- Serve as a bridge between programs, development, and marketing to ensure events reflect organizational priorities and storytelling goals.
6. Other Responsibilities as Assigned
In addition to core event duties, the Events Manager will support the broader Advancement team through tasks such as:
- Marketing Campaign Support: Collaborate on the development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns (email, social, print) to promote events, fundraisers, and key initiatives.
- Provide logistical and on-site support for outreach activities in partnership with the Community Outreach Coordinator (e.g., health fairs, volunteer days, client appreciation events).
- Conduct research on potential sponsors, in-kind donors, and vendors to support events and program needs.
- Lead or contribute to one-off Advancement projects—such as capital campaign preparations, donor stewardship initiatives, or volunteer recognition plans—as directed by the Director of Development.
- Lead and coordinate content development projects such as photo and video-shoot days in collaboration with the marketing team.
EXPECTATIONS
- Plan and execute 2–3 major events annually (250+ attendees) 10–15 smaller gatherings (between 20 and 60 attendees).
- Plan and execute bi-monthly social hours/open houses (15-40 attendees) at both programs for current and prospective partners and supporters.
- Plan and execute Volunteer Appreciation events for all Dream Centers programs (100+ attendees) twice a year in partnership with the Director of Volunteers.
- Plan and execute church-hosted partnership events (lunch and learns, organization updates, etc.).
- Participate in Advancement team strategy meetings and planning cycles, offering event-based insight and contributing to broader development efforts.
- Cultivate relationships with key vendors and service providers to ensure cost-effective and high-quality event execution.
- Collaborate with the Advancement team to secure event sponsors, in-kind donations, and partnerships that enhance event value and reduce expenses.
- Maintain organized files for each event (budgets, timelines, contact sheets, run-of-show documents, checklists, etc.) to support repeatable systems and future scalability.
- Build and refine internal toolkits/templates for consistent planning and execution.
- Support the cultivation and stewardship strategies of the Development team by identifying and elevating engagement opportunities through events.
- Provide monthly reports to the Director of Development on event performance, insights, and strategic recommendations.
- Regularly evaluate and improve Dream Centers' event portfolio based on community needs, organizational capacity, and strategic direction.
- Proactively network with other nonprofits, community agencies, faith-based groups, and local businesses to identify collaborative event opportunities, share best practices, and promote collective impact.
- Work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
- Embody Dream Centers’ Christian values and service in all interactions, creating events that reflect our faith-based identity.
