Corporate Relations and Special Events Manager
Full Time Houston, TX, US
Corporate Relations and Special Events Manager
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Position Overview
The Corporate Relations and Special Events Manager drives revenue for Houston Humane Society through corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, and digital campaigns. This position secures and renews corporate partners, develops sponsorship opportunities, and leads fundraising efforts for both ongoing initiatives and special events including targeted digital solicitations.
This role carries a corporate sponsorship and special events revenue goal and works independently to build relationships, coordinate event fundraising, and deliver meaningful recognition and impact updates to partners. The Corporate Relations and Special Events Manager ensures that donor and corporate partners experience meaningful, well organized, mission-centered engagement with Houston Humane Society through stewardship, events, recognition, and impact reporting.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of Houston Humane Society fundraising events from concept through completion, including timelines, budgets, revenue goals, registration, vendors, volunteers, and day-of logistics.
- Set up and manage events across HHS’s fundraising and registration platforms, including event pages, ticketing, donation forms, and participant communications.
- Work closely with the Annual Fund and Foundations Relations Manager to develop digital solicitations for ongoing fundraising initiatives and events, including campaign emails and follow-up messages.
- Partner with Marketing on event promotion, fundraising materials, participant communications, and sponsor recognition.
- Plan and manage internal staff fundraising campaigns, such as HHS’s Have a Heart campaign, including setup, staff communications, donation tracking, and results reporting.
- Prepare reports to track revenue, expenses, participation, and event results. Use the findings to recommend improvements for future events.
- Meet an annual corporate revenue goal by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and renewing corporate sponsors and partners.
- Develop sponsorship opportunities and customized packages for HHS events and initiatives. Secure financial sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and other support that increases revenue or offsets expenses.
- Manage corporate relationships from initial outreach through sponsorship fulfillment and renewal, including timely follow-up and clear communication.
- Develop and implement stewardship initiatives for event supporters, including recognition, impact updates, and opportunities to stay involved with HHS.
- Partner with Volunteer department on corporate volunteer visits by, sharing a welcome package that introduces HHS’s mission and sponsorship opportunities, and following up afterward to build the relationship.
- Provide regular updates on the corporate pipeline and partnership results.
- Represent HHS at business and community events to build relationships and increase awareness of its mission.
Supervision Received
Works under the general direction of the Interim Development Director with substantial independence in planning, prioritizing, and executing responsibilities. Exercises sound judgment and discretion in carrying out development operations, data management, and reporting functions.
Supervision Exercised
May provide guidance, training, and task direction to coordinators, interns, volunteers, temporary staff, or other team members supporting development operations and donor services.
Qualifications and Skills
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in business administration, nonprofit management, communications, finance, marketing, or a related field. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
- Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in special events, fundraising, corporate relations, sponsorship sales, donor relations, or nonprofit development.
- Strong working knowledge of fundraising platforms, such as Raiser's Edge, DonorPerfect, GiveSmart, and FundraiseUp, MailChimp or Constant Contact, with the ability to set up events and campaigns, manage donor information, and pull reports.
- Demonstrated success in securing and renewing corporate support or managing external partnerships.
- Strong relationship building and customer service skills with the ability to work effectively with donors, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, and colleagues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare proposals, correspondence, reports, and stewardship materials.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities while maintaining professionalism and accuracy.
- Strong organizational and strategic thinking skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with donor database systems preferred.
- Ability to analyze progress toward goals and use data to guide strategy and decision making.
- Commitment to confidentiality, sound judgment, and professional representation of Houston Humane Society.
- Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of Houston Humane Society.
Working Conditions
- Performs work primarily in an office setting.
- Support events or fundraising activities that are outside normal business hours.
- Potential exposure to animal bites and scratches in an animal welfare environment.
- Frequent walking, standing, bending, and stooping.
Physical Demands
- Sitting for extended periods of time.
- Frequent use of a computer and standard office equipment.