Assistant Director - Events, Donor Relations (DFCI)

Dana; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston is seeking a seasoned events professional to lead donor relations events. You will manage a portfolio of recognition, stewardship, and cultivation events and partner with leadership to advance fundraising goals.

The role emphasizes strategic planning, budgeting, vendor coordination, and creating compelling event materials, with frequent collaboration across Dana-Farber leadership and philanthropic staff. Evening/weekend work and local travel are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of professional experience.
• Philanthropy experience; direct work with donors preferred.
• Experience planning or collaborating with event planners for philanthropy events.
• Ability to plan strategically for stewarding, cultivating, and recognizing major donors via events.
• Strong attention to detail and editing of materials.
• Excellent organizational skills and process improvement ability.
• Comfort working with Dana-Farber constituencies and high-level leadership.
• Positive, can-do attitude aligned with fundraising goals.

Responsibilities

• Participate in strategic planning related to new event concepts and present to leadership.
• Manage a portfolio of large recognition, stewardship, and cultivation events.
• Supervise event goals, catering, A/V, materials, volunteers, and donor gifts.
• Lead all event planning meetings and drive discussions to goals.
• Coordinate briefing materials for senior leadership and staff.
• Work with vendors to obtain best prices and services.
• Prepare and monitor budgets; create evaluation and reports.
• Develop project management tools to aid event planning.
• Build relationships with Business Units and implement targeted programming.
• Collaborate with leadership to meet fundraising goals; support division-wide objectives.

Skills

Strategic planning

Budget management

Donor relations

Event planning

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Customer service mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Posted on January 07, 2020

About

This position will serve a key role in managing events led by Donor Relations and works closely with the Associate Director and Director of events on strategic initiatives. The position will manage a portfolio of recognition, stewardship, and cultivation events, and participate in the overall event strategic planning process.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the strategic planning process related to new event concepts, and clearly and effectively present these concepts to leadership.
• Manage a portfolio of large, high-profile recognition, stewardship, and cultivation events:
• Supervision of event goals, catering, A/V needs, printed materials, volunteer management, event programming (when applicable), and donor gifts.
• Lead all event planning meetings and drive discussions to meet event goals.
• Coordinate briefing materials for the President, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, faculty, and Philanthropy staff.
• Work with vendors to obtain best prices and services.
• Prepare and monitor budgets for all events in portfolio.
• Prepare event evaluation, follow-up materials, and management reports as required.
• Create and oversee implementation of various project management tools to aid in the successful planning of all events.
• Build strong relationships with assigned Business Units and implement targeted programming to ultimately serve as a strategic event partner.
• Work closely with leadership to ensure all unit and Division fundraising goals are accomplished through the execution of each event.
• Responsible for assisting the entire Division with reaching financial goals.
• Seek to constantly improve upon event capabilities and processes.
• Reports to the Associate Director, Events, Donor Relations.
• Works collaboratively with Philanthropy staff, as well as members of Dana-Farber’s senior leadership and other departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with a minimum of 5 years of professional experience.
• Philanthropy experience required; direct work with donors and frontline fundraising preferred.
• Experience either planning events directly or collaborating with event planners to plan Philanthropy events required.
• Strong ability to plan strategically as it relates to stewarding, cultivating, and recognizing major donors and prospects through events.
• Sharp attention to detail and ability to review and edit materials (briefings, event printed materials).
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to assess and correct processes and procedures.
• Effective in working with wide audiences, including highest level of Dana-Farber constituencies.
• Strong sense of customer service.
• Positive, can-do attitude; willing to do what it takes to meet the goals of the Division of Philanthropy.

Working conditions

Office in typical office setting. No patient contact. Local travel required. Evening and weekend work required. Some use of a vehicle for business purposes may be required.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute brings together world renowned clinicians, innovative researchers and dedicated professionals, allies in the common mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. Combining extremely talented people with the best technologies in a genuinely positive environment, we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all ages; we conduct research that advances treatment; we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers; we reach out to underserved members of our community; and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Embody Dana-Farber’s Core Values: Impact; Excellence; Compassion & Respect; and Discovery every day. Add value to the Dana-Farber community by seeking opportunities to collaborate across the Institute. Foster an ethical, positive, results-oriented culture founded on open communication.

DFCI Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other groups as protected by law.