Signature Events Director

Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest; Minneapolis, Saint Paul (MN, MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest is seeking a Signature Events Director to plan and execute four flagship fundraising events: Brew Love, Golf Classic, Family Walk, and Celebrate Love Gala. You will manage strategy, timelines, budgets, sponsorships, and donor stewardship during a capital campaign expansion.

Reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy, the role requires strong project management, cross‑department collaboration, and the ability to recruit and lead volunteers to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Four or more years of progressively responsible event management experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication, and project management skills.
• Experience managing vendors and contracts.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive company vehicles.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of fundraising and engagement events.
• Develop detailed project plans and Gantt charts and track milestones.
• Collaborate with staff across departments including volunteer engagement, fundraising, finance, marketing.
• Recruit, train, and lead volunteer planning committees.
• Support sponsorship strategy, fulfillment, and stewardship.
• Develop budgets and monitor revenue/expenses.
• Supervise seasonal staff within budget.
• Evaluate events and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Project management

Event planning

Communication

Budgeting

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Raiser’s Edge NXT

Job description

Reports To: Vice President of Philanthropy

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 annually

Organization Overview

The Ronald McDonald House Upper Midwest provides a welcoming community of support for families with seriously ill or injured children. We keep families close to each other and close to where their child is receiving medical care. Core services include lodging, meals, and family programs. We advance this mission through meaningful engagement with donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners.

The Signature Events Director is part of a development team responsible for generating philanthropic support and strengthening our community relationships. Beyond annual support, Ronald McDonald House Upper Midwest is seeking to expand capacity at two of our sites. We will be conducting a capital campaign to address our growth objectives.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for the strategic planning, project management, and execution of the organization's portfolio of four signature fundraising and engagement events. This role produces complex, mission-driven events and is accountable for delivering exceptional experiences that achieve fundraising, sponsorship, attendance, stewardship, and engagement goals. During our capital campaign this position will also support small dinners and “cottage” meetings with key donors.

The slate of Signature Events currently includes Brew Love (engagement event of 500 attendees), Golf Classic (160 golfers), Family Walk (in collaboration with RBC Race for Kids), and the Celebrate Love Gala (400 guests).

Key Responsibilities

• Event Strategy & Production: Lead planning and execution of fundraising and engagement events.
• Project Management & Timeline Accountability: Develop and maintain detailed project plans and Gantt charts, establish milestones, monitor risks, and provide reliable status updates.
• Collaboration with staff: this position works closely with staff across many departments including volunteer engagement, community fundraising, finance, marketing, and programs.
• Committee Leadership & Volunteer Engagement: Recruit, train, and lead volunteer planning committees and event volunteers.
• Sponsorship & Donors: Support sponsorship strategy, fulfillment, and stewardship. Partner with development staff to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward event sponsors and donors.
• Financial Management: Develop budgets, monitor revenue and expenses, and prepare regular updates.
• Supervision: This position does not currently supervise permanent staff, but has a budget to support the hiring of seasonal staff.
• Measurement & Continuous Improvement: Conduct evaluations and recommend process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Four or more years of progressively responsible event management experience.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred).
• Experience managing vendors and contracts.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive company vehicles as needed.
• Traits such as integrity, trustworthiness, empathy, and self-direction are imperative for a successful experience in this role.

Core Competencies

Project Management Excellence, Leadership & Influence, Execution & Results Orientation, Strategic Communication, Adaptability & Problem Solving.

Success Indicators

Deliver events on time and within budget; maintain event timelines and project plans; achieve attendance goals and foster an environment that supports fundraising goals; provide regular reporting; implement process improvements.

Why This Role Matters

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Upper Midwest is to provide housing, meals, and programming for families with seriously ill or injured children. This position serves the mission by ensuring that fundraising events are thoughtfully planned, expertly executed, and financially successful.

Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest is an equal opportunity employer and at will employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Further, RMHC-UM takes affirmative action to ensure that employees are treated during employment without regard to any of these characteristics.