Associate Director, Market Events

acs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

generous paid time off policy

medical, dental, retirement benefits,

professional development programs

Job summary

The American Cancer Society is seeking a fundraising leader responsible for driving revenue across a $1.5M+ event portfolio through direct relationship management, corporate partnerships, and volunteer leadership engagement. The role will build donor pipelines and coordinate cross-functional efforts to advance the mission.

Responsibilities include securing revenue opportunities, managing donor and sponsor relationships, and developing event strategies that align with organizational priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three+ years of related fundraising responsibilities.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and secure revenue opportunities through corporate partnerships, major gifts, and volunteer leadership engagement.
• Build and manage relationships with donors, sponsors, and volunteer leaders to drive retention and growth.
• Develop and execute event fundraising strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
• Align event participants and partners with broader donor engagement strategies to move through the pipeline.
• Monitor performance and financial results; adjust strategies to meet revenue goals and ROI.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure coordinated execution and strong market presence.

Skills

Donor relations

Fundraising strategy

Volunteer leadership

Relationship building

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better serve our communities.

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

Responsible for driving a $1.5M+ event fundraising portfolio through direct relationship management, volunteer leadership engagement, and corporate partnership development. Leads all aspects of event fundraising within the market, while collaborating across teams to align efforts, strengthen the donor pipeline, and advance broader organizational goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Identifies, cultivates, and secures revenue opportunities through corporate partnerships, major gifts, and volunteer leadership engagement. 40%
• Builds and manages relationships with donors, sponsors, and volunteer leaders to drive retention, growth, and long-term engagement. 20%
• Develops and executes event fundraising strategies, ensuring strong performance, donor experience, and alignment with organizational priorities. 15%
• Aligns event participants and partners to broader donor engagement strategies, supporting movement through the pipeline. 10%
• Monitors performance and financial results, adjusting strategies to meet or exceed revenue goals and optimize return on investment. 10%
• Collaborates cross-functionally to ensure coordinated execution and strong market presence. 5%

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Degree Required: Bachelor's Degree
• Years of experience: Three+ years related fundraising responsibilities

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

• Demonstrated success driving revenue through donor, sponsor, and volunteer engagement.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and execute fundraising strategies within a defined market.
• Experience recruiting and leading volunteer leadership (e.g., event chairs, committees).
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze performance and adjust strategies to achieve goals.
• Strong understanding of donor pipeline development and engagement.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and contribute to broader organizational success.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Limited overnight travel to meetings and events
• Expectation to be external in market, 3 days per week average
• After hours and weekend work

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• No specific physical requirements

The starting rate is $90,000 to $100,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

BENEFITS:

• generous paid time off policy
• medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills.

Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits.

We are a proud equal opportunity employer.