Manager, Advancement Events

Lindenwood University; Saint Charles (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits

Healthcare benefits

Retirement options

Job summary

Lindenwood University seeks an experienced Manager, Advancement Events to plan and oversee alumni, donor, and constituent events on campus, regionally, and online. You will manage budgets, venues, invitations, and day-of logistics while coordinating with Advancement leadership to strengthen relationships and fundraising impact.

You will also track event outcomes, collaborate with marketing, and ensure adherence to university policies, delivering high-quality experiences that elevate Lindenwood’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a related field.
• Minimum 4 years in event planning or related nonprofit work.
• Experience planning engaging donor and alumni events.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute events supporting fundraising and engagement.
• Lead calendars for alumni and donor events including gala and reunions.
• Develop strategic event plans with budget, procurement, invitations, and post-event analysis.
• Oversee all event logistics and vendor coordination.
• Ensure data is recorded in the CRM and analyze event KPIs.
• Collaborate with campus partners to align with advancement priorities.

Skills

Event planning

Budget management

Vendor management

Project management

Evenings/weekends availability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, hospitality management or related field

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT

Job description

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s(employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs(employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, lifeinsurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break(Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free mealon Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman DiningHall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy .

JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Job Title: Manager, Advancement Events

Department: University Advancement

Evaluation Group: Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Associate Vice President, AdvancementOperations

Positions Supervised: N/A

Job Summary

The advancement events manager is responsible for the strategicplanning, promotion, implementation, and assessment of alumni,donor, and constituent events, whether on campus, local, in adifferent state, or online. This position collaborates withAdvancement leadership and colleagues and campus partners to createhigh-quality experiences that strengthen constituent relationships,increase engagement, support fundraising initiatives, and elevatethe University's reputation. This position is responsible for allevent details, including event planning, contracting andpurchasing, event communications, invitation and reservationprocesses, pre-event and day of logistics, and post-eventanalysis.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representationof the types of duties and level of responsibility that will berequired of positions given this title. This job description shallnot be construed as a declaration of the total of the specificduties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employeesmay be directed to perform job-related tasks other than thosespecifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Collaborates with advancement and unit colleagues to plan andexecute events that support the institution’s advancementpriorities, including fundraising, stewardship, and constituentengagement
• Designs and executes a comprehensive calendar of alumni anddonor events, including campaign events, homecoming events such as the annual gala, class and affinity reunions, regional engagementevents, donor events, scholarship receptions, and online events,that tell the Lindenwood story and are aligned with institutionaladvancement priorities and campaign milestones
• Develops a complete strategic plan for events, including butnot limited to budget development and adherence, procurement,invitation strategies, event design and timeline, and post-eventreporting and analysis
• Oversees all event logistics, including venue selection,invitations, catering, dcor, entertainment, transportation,registration, seating charts, attendee reports, technology andaudiovisual needs, invitations, signage, guest management, speakerremarks, setup, and teardown
• Ensures all event data is properly recorded in BlackbaudRaiser’s Edge NXT
• Researches and analyzes venues and vendors to ensurecompetitive services and pricing
• Establishes data-driven KPIs and event-specific benchmarks,leveraging analytical oversight to balance donor experience withorganizational advancement goals
• Partners closely with advancement colleagues, includingstrategic engagement, development officers, prospect research, andcommunications teams to ensure alignment of strategic priorities aswell as seamless integration between advancement functionalareas
• Ensures compliance with University policies related tocontracts, purchasing, insurance, risk management, and eventsafety
• Serves on University committees, such as the homecomingcommittee

Service Excellence

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships withfaculty, staff, colleagues, vendors and students
• Strives to provide exceptional hospitality and service for allevent participants and stakeholders
• Creates welcoming and engaging experiences that fostermeaningful connections with the University
• Provides on-site presence and support during events to ensureevent coordination and success, proactively handling arising issuesand troubleshooting emerging problems
• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassadorof the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values

Communication, Teamwork and Collaboration

• Collaborates with advancement and University colleagues,vendors, contractors, volunteers, and event venue staff to executeseamless events
• Partners with operations, IT, and other campus departments toreserve event spaces and coordinate logistical needs
• Gathers feedback and analyzes event effectiveness
• Maintains a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach whilemanaging multiple priorities and deadlines
• Works with marketing and communications colleagues to promoteLindenwood events
• Collaborates with advancement colleagues to plan events on anannual basis

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications,hospitality management or related field
• Minimum of 4 years experience working in event planning, alumnirelations, nonprofit management, hospitality, or a relatedfield
• Demonstrated success in conceptualizing, planning, andexecuting engagement, stewardship, or fundraising events fromconception to completion
• Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as event schedulesrequire
• Occasional travel to regional events may be required
• Experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar CRM orevent management software preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals fromdiverse communities and cultures
• Demonstrated commitment to designing and implementing creativeand innovative events
• Strong project management, event planning, and organizationalskills
• Excellent customer service and relationship-buildingskills
• Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis andthrough the high pressure of an event in progress
• Strong negotiation, budgeting and vendor management skills
• Problem-solving skills to quickly resolve issues as they occurduring events
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently

Work Environment

Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions.

• General office setting
• Frequent work at on-campus and off-campus events
• Varied hours, including nights and weekends, based on eventschedule and demands
• Loca and occasional regional travel may be required
• Standard Flex

Physical Abilities

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hoursdaily
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods oftime
• Ability to carry, lift and move event materials weighing up to25 points
• Ability to assist with event setup, operation, andteardown
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. TheUniversity complies with appropriate federal, state, and local lawsand provides equal employment opportunities and access toeducational programs without regard to race, color, religion,gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin,veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to allqualified applicants and employees. Lindenwood University iscommitted to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated toproviding a positive discrimination-free educational workenvironment.