Events Activation Manager

Chinese American Service League; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Supportive work culture

Job summary

Chinese American Service League (CASL) is seeking an Events Activation Manager in Chicago to lead community engagement and event planning. This role is pivotal in strengthening ties between CASL and the community through impactful events and volunteer programs.

The ideal candidate will possess strong project management skills, a background in nonprofit event management, and a passion for community engagement. A competitive salary and benefits package is offered, enriching your capacity to drive community-focused initiatives.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in community engagement or event management.
• Demonstrated experience leading events from planning through execution.
• Experience developing partnerships and sponsorships.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of major community events.
• Develop and manage corporate sponsorship programs.
• Establish and manage CASL's volunteer program.

Skills

Project management

Community engagement

Event planning

Vendor management

Budget management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Salesforce

Asana

SharePoint

Job description

Join CASL as an Events Activation Manager and Make a Difference

Are you passionate about bringing people together and creating meaningful community experiences? Join CASL as our Events Activation Manager and help strengthen connections between CASL and the communities we serve through impactful events, volunteer engagement, and strategic partnerships.

Your Mission

As the Events Activation Manager for CASL Connect, you will lead CASL's community engagement efforts by developing and strengthening connections between the organization and the communities it serves. This role serves as a key bridge between CASL and community members, volunteers, partners, and supporters, increasing visibility and fostering engagement through strategic partnerships, volunteerism, and community-centered activations. Through this work, you will help advance CASL's mission and expand its impact across the communities we serve.

About CASL

Founded in 1978, CASL is the largest and most comprehensive community-based organization in the Midwest, with deep roots in serving Asian Americans and a commitment to welcoming all. With over 45 years of experience, CASL supports individuals and families across four essential areas: health, human services, education, and advocacy. From early learning and senior care to legal assistance, housing support, and citizenship services, CASL helps thousands of Chicago-area residents build healthy, stable, and empowered lives.

Make a Difference, and Get the Support You Deserve

Salary Range: $60,000 $70,000/year | Full Benefits Package Included

We value your expertise and commitment, and we invest in both. From competitive pay and comprehensive benefits to a culture that puts people first, you'll be supported while doing work that matters.

This role is based in Chinatown, Chicago, with a standard Monday - Friday schedule.

Scroll down for full details on salary, benefits, schedule and what it's like to be part of CASL.

What You'll Impact

As the Events Activation Manager, you will:

• Create meaningful opportunities for community members, volunteers, partners, and sponsors to engage with CASL's mission.
• Strengthen community relationships, increase organizational visibility, and support fundraising and outreach efforts through strategic activations.
• Build sustainable partnerships and engagement opportunities that expand CASL's reach and long-term impact.

Key Responsibilities:

CASL Connect Platform Management

• Lead and operate the CASL Connect platform, including ownership of the SharePoint site, centralized intake workflow, and overall system for coordinating events, partnerships, and volunteer engagement.
• Develop and manage the annual activation calendar in collaboration with Programs, Advancement, Marketing & Communications, and Operations to ensure alignment and visibility across the organization.
• Build and continuously improve execution tools and processes, including Event Kits (SOPs, templates, checklists) and agile-based coordination (WOW), to drive efficient and consistent delivery.

Event Planning & Activation

• Lead planning and execution of major community events, including the Summer Fair, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Race, Lunar New Year Parade, and CYS Block Party.
• Develop event timelines, budgets, logistics plans, staffing models, and operational requirements to support successful event delivery.
• Coordinate vendors, venues, permits, equipment, volunteers, and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless event execution.
• Manage day‑of‑event operations and resolve issues in real time to deliver a positive experience for attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and partners.

Sponsorship & Revenue Development

• Develop and manage corporate sponsorship programs in partnership with Advancement, including sponsorship packages, activation plans, and stewardship strategies to support sponsor acquisition, retention, and growth.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with corporate sponsors, community partners, and external stakeholders to advance engagement and revenue goals.
• Identify and support sponsorship and earned‑revenue opportunities associated with events and community activations, while tracking and reporting performance to leadership.

Volunteer Program

• Establish and manage CASL's volunteer program, including recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, recognition, retention, and engagement efforts.
• Ensure volunteers complete all required onboarding, compliance, confidentiality, and screening requirements while maintaining accurate volunteer records and rosters.
• Build and sustain a strong volunteer pipeline, track volunteer participation and impact, and provide regular reporting and recommendations for program growth.

Content, Measurement & Reporting

• Capture stories, photos, and activation content in partnership with the Marketing & Communications team to support social media, website, newsletter, and community engagement efforts.
• Develop and maintain KPI dashboards and performance reporting related to events, partnerships, volunteers, sponsorships, and community engagement activities.
• Deliver insights and recommendations to leadership by analyzing trends, outcomes, and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison for CASL Connect, partnering with Programs, Advancement, HR, IT, Operations, and the Culture Committee to ensure aligned planning and execution across the organization.
• Support ONE CASL initiatives by fostering collaboration, promoting consistent brand representation, and ensuring community activations reflect CASL's mission, values, and organizational identity.

What You Bring

To thrive in this role, you should have:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, community development, marketing, or a related field; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Five (5) or more years of progressive experience in community engagement, nonprofit event management, partnership development, sponsorship development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading events from planning through execution, including logistics coordination, vendor management, budgeting, staffing, and post‑event evaluation.
• Experience developing partnerships, sponsorships, volunteer programs, or community engagement initiatives.
• Experience utilizing CRM, fundraising, event management, or stakeholder relationship management platforms (e.g., Salesforce, GiveSmart, OneCause, or similar).
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Asana, SharePoint, or similar).

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent events, partnerships, and competing priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget management, expenditure tracking, and evaluation of performance against established goals.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage community members, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and coordinate cross‑functional teams, volunteers, vendors, and partners while building collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.

Bonus Points For:

• Experience working in or with AANHPI, immigrant, or other culturally specific communities
• Bilingual in Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) and English
• Experience managing live or silent auction logistics, including item procurement and mobile bidding platforms
• Experience developing sponsorship packages and driving revenue growth from a portfolio of corporate sponsors
• Familiarity with agile or scrum frameworks or genuine openness to adopting CASL's Way of Working (WOW), CASL's structured agile methodology for cross‑functional collaboration
• Experience with social media content capture and amplification during events

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift and carry event materials (up to 30 lbs).
• Extended periods of standing, walking, and outdoor activity during event setup, execution, and breakdown

Environment and Scheduling:

• Standard business hours, Monday through Friday (9:00 am 5:00 pm), with flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and additional hours needed to support events, community activations, and organizational priorities.

Compensation & Benefits:

This position offers a salary range of $60,000 - $70,000 annually, reflective of experience and qualifications.

Join CASL and unlock a comprehensive benefits package designed to support