Assistant Director, Endurance & Community Events

NMSS National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Warwick (RI); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health benefits

401k with match

Job summary

National MS Society in the Northeast Region seeks an Assistant Director to support Walk MS and Bike MS fundraising goals across CT‑RI. You will coach fundraisers, collaborate with AVPs, and help ensure excellent event-day experiences while expanding engagement through additional Society channels.

The role requires in-person meetings and events, with up to 50% travel and remote work when feasible, in Providence, RI or Hartford, CT areas.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in fundraising, donor relations, or development support within a nonprofit or similar environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in donor database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with fundraising platforms is a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship strategies, and event coordination.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Campaign Leadership & Execution: Supports the strategic planning, and oversees execution, logistics, and optimization of assigned fundraising campaigns within the market.
• Revenue Accountability: Drive revenue for events from inception through completion and adjust strategies to hit portfolio goals.
• Strategic Adaptation & Alignment: Translate national strategies into local plans aligned with market dynamics.
• Donor & Volunteer Engagement: Cultivate, solicit, and steward mid-level fundraising teams, sponsors, and key volunteers.
• Performance Management & Data Analysis: Analyze data trends and donor profiles; use CRM for reporting and campaigns.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with AVP and teams to ensure integrated efforts and data privacy compliance.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Communication

Project management

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

WHO WE ARE:

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. To fulfill this mission, the Society funds cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education, collaborates with MS organizations around the world, and provides programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward. We partner with volunteers to accomplish our work. Staff members engage volunteers through effective and timely communications, facilitating meaningful opportunities, and continually seeking and providing feedback for reciprocal growth and learning.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director plays a key role in achieving both Walk MS and Bike MS revenue goals in our Connecticut-Rhode Island Chapter. They will be responsible for supporting (7) Walk MS events raising nearly $800,000 and (1) Bike MS event raising approx. $400,000. This position helps lead, inspire and coach our fundraisers, donors and corporate partners to achieve our goals. They will work closely with AVPs from both campaigns as well as the local Director of Community Events and Chapter Executive Director. They are key to deepening the engagement of our constituents not just through Walk MS but identifying opportunities to engage through other means of the Society as well. Understanding recruitment and fundraising is essential as well as acquisition strategies to engage new people into our movement. While relationship management is the primary focus for this role, this role will lead the event production for some of these events, as well as lead volunteer recruitment. The Assistant Director will help ensure we deliver an exceptional experience including attending all of the events, packing event supplies and ensuring a seamless event-day experience occurs.

Location Requirement:

This is a market-based role supporting our Northeast Region -- Connecticut - Rhode Island Chapter. The position requires regular, in-person attendance at meetings, constituent interactions, and events as well as travel as required and necessary up to approximately 50% of the work time. During the remaining time, work is primarily conducted remotely from either a home office or a National MS Society workspace (Society workspace not provided in all geographies). Preferred location(s): Candidates must be based in: Providence, RI or Hartford, CT; New Haven, CT.

Compensation | Benefits:

The estimated hiring compensation range for this role is $60,000-$65,000. Final offers will be based on the candidate's geographic location, consider career experience and may vary from this range due to these and other factors. You will have the opportunity for a highly competitive, comprehensive benefit package that the Society provides to employees. Your benefits include:

• Considerable Paid Time Off Plan Paid Holidays 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Society match Commuter Benefit Plan Comprehensive Health & Welfare benefits including: Medical Dental Vision Flex Spending Accounts Life Insurance Disability Coverage Spring Health Membership offering free therapy and professional coaching, as well as additional voluntary benefit offerings.

Not to mention, you will join an incredible mission focused team of people!

Main Responsibilities:

• Campaign Leadership & Execution: Supports the strategic planning, and oversees execution, logistics, and optimization of assigned fundraising campaigns within the market. Ensure campaigns are executed with excellence, innovation, mission-focused, and alignment to organization standards.
• Revenue Accountability: Serve as a revenue driver for events within portfolio, owning performance from inception through to completion Monitor financial performance and proactively adjust strategies to ensure individual portfolio goal attainment.
• Strategic Adaptation & Alignment: Translate national campaign strategies into actionable local plans tailored to market dynamics. Ensure local execution aligns with broader regional priorities and contributes to shared growth objectives.
• Donor & Volunteer Engagement: Cultivate, solicit, and steward mid-level fundraising teams, sponsors, and key volunteer leaders. Build and maintain strong relationships to drive engagement, retention, and long‑term support.
• Performance Management & Data Analysis: Analyzes data trends and creates donor profiles to assist with donor development, stewardship, direct communications and fundraising strategy. Leverages Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to maintain research data and donor records, execute mailing or e‑mail campaigns, and create reports.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Support the Assistant Vice President and Regional Vice President with reports on campaign progress, identification of growth opportunities, and opportunities to drive continuous improvement. Collaborate with internal teams to ensure seamless integration of campaign efforts across departments. Maintains confidentiality and complies with data privacy regulations and policies.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience in fundraising, donor relations, or development support within a nonprofit or similar environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling donor communications and reports.
• Proficiency in donor database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with fundraising platforms is a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship strategies, and event coordination.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.

We’re committed to supporting the growth of every employee through a structured and transparent approach to career development. We use Talent Portraits to define clear expectations, development opportunities, and advancement paths — whether you’re growing as a people leader or deepening your expertise as an individual contributor. Each role is thoughtfully placed within one of these pathways (Leadership or Partner) to help you understand how it fits into our broader organization and your potential career journey. This position is classified as Partner - Professional.

The National MS Society is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strive to create a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We need you and your unique talents and perspectives to help us write the last chapter on MS.