Special Events Manager

Junior-Achievement-of-Chicag; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Junior Achievement of Chicago is seeking a Special Events Manager to plan and execute fundraising events aimed at surpassing financial goals and increasing visibility. The role emphasizes relationship-building with donors, coordinating large-scale events, and leading virtual and in-person activities.

Responsibilities include logistics, data tracking, and collaboration with the area board to ensure high-quality experiences for attendees and donors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Experience with fundraising accomplishments and/or resource development preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Canva experience or familiarity with design tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement area-wide fundraising events to exceed budgeted goals.
• Solicit new participants for peer-to-peer events and train coordinators.
• Manage designated events: Golf Outing, Chicago Business Hall of Fame, Wine Tasting, Division Board events.
• Track data, provide excellent donor service, and produce timely financial reports.

Skills

Event planning

Public speaking

Multi-tasking

Detail orientation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Canva

Microsoft Office

Job description

Target Incentive Opportunity

5% of salary (contingent on meeting team performance and individual goals):

Office Location

Our company is currently working on a hybrid schedule, with time spent in the office. The office is located Downtown Chicago.

Company Summary

Junior Achievement is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing non-profit economics education organization. Junior Achievement of Chicago was established in 1940 and our office served over 433,000 students last school year. We are the passionate people dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. See the JA website at www.jachicago.org for more information.

Position Purpose

This position is focused on planning and executing a variety of fundraising events, including division board, signature, and peer-to-peer events, to support the organization’s annual financial goals. This role is key in increasing visibility, building relationships, and driving financial support. The Special Events Manager ensures each event delivers a high-quality experience that advances the organization’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and implement area-wide events, including signature fundraisers, to exceed budgeted financial goals. Manage and maintain company accounts. Assist in developing awareness pieces to promote the events.
• Solicit new participants for peer-to-peer fundraising events, train company coordinators, team captains and other participants. Develop ideas to raise new funds for the campaign.
• Designated roles in our annual fundraising events: The Golf Outing, Chicago Business Hall of Fame, Wine Tasting, and Division Board Events.
• Work with the team to create efficient tracking of data, effective customer service, accurate financial reports, program books, and timely receipts/acknowledgments for donors.
• Manage and coordinate relationships with vendors to ensure logistics and event details are handled smoothly and efficiently.
• Coordinate with the area board’s Golf Committee to carry out their specific functions, including soliciting items and donations for silent auctions.
• Assist with logistics of the area board and annual meetings, including scripts, agenda, minutes, and overall planning.
• Meet requests of donors and external customers for special events on a timely basis.
• Support the overall development team with duties including gift entry, mailings, pulling reports, and document editing.

Education/Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Experience with fundraising accomplishments and/or resource development preferred.

Skills/Ability Required

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and strong attention to detail.
• Good organizational skills and detail oriented.
• Self-starter with the ability to host virtual and online events, as well as in-person events.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience and comfort in public speaking.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Canva.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; especially in Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Digital Literacy

All JAC employees are expected to demonstrate the digital literacy needed to work effectively in a modern, technology-enabled workplace. This includes

• Ability to effectively use computers, cloud-based file storage, digital communication, and collaboration tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications like MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Excel.
• Learning and adapting to new software and technology, troubleshooting basic technology needs, and following appropriate data-security practices.
• Curiosity and an ongoing interest in learning how new and emerging technologies, including AI and automation, can be responsibly applied to improve productivity, collaboration, and effectiveness.

Other Requirements

• Candidate must have a valid Driver’s License and vehicle transportation required to meet the responsibilities of the position, as this position requires travel within our 12-county franchise.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to: sit, walk, occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, continually required to talk or hear, occasionally required to bend, lift or climb, occasionally required to lift and carry light weights (25-50 pounds). Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust or focus.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Generic EEOC Statement

Junior Achievement of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

JAC Customized DE&I Statement from policy

Junior Achievement of Chicago is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Our diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of diversity equity that encourages and enforces Respect, Teamwork, Inclusion, and Dedication to Community.