Special Events Manager – LASEM

RMHSC; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Ronald McDonald House Southern California is seeking a Special Events Manager to develop and run fund‑raising events, including the signature There’s No Place Like Home Gala. You will manage sponsorships, donor portfolios, and cross‑functional collaboration to achieve revenue targets.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree with 3+ years in nonprofit fundraising or event coordination, strong communication, and precise budgeting. Some evenings/weekends are required due to event timing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three (3) years of fundraising/event coordination experience at a nonprofit.
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Experience with donor relations, sponsorships, and event logistics.
• MS Office proficiency and familiarity with fundraising software.

Responsibilities

• Assist in annual fundraising plan development with goals, strategies, and objectives.
• Provide regular reports to Development Team and Executive Director with contacts, actions, and status updates.
• Plan, execute and evaluate the There’s No Place Like Home Gala to meet revenue goals with low expenses.
• Handle event logistics including timeline, collateral, promotions, and vendor management.
• Maintain donor portfolio of sponsors and attendees; secure sponsorships and underwriting; oversee ticket sales.
• Lead year-round solicitations for auction items, in-kind donations and program ads via outreach.
• Head the gala committee with the chair, recruit members, and direct committee activities.

Skills

Excel

Communication

Presentation skills

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 3 years nonprofit fundraising/event coordination

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Classy

Job description

Job Title:Special Events Manager

Division: Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House

Reports To:Director of Development

FLSA Status: Non-exempt; 40 hours/week

Pay Range:$29-$30/hr

Prepared Date:July 2026

Position Summary

The Special Events Manager is a member of the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House (“LARMH”) Development Team responsible for developing and managing events to generate funds for the organization. Responsible for the tactical execution of events in addition to event fundraising, the Special Events Manager ensures budgeted annual event revenue is achieved while maintaining a low expense ratio. Reporting to the Director of Development, this individual maintains a donor portfolio of event sponsors and attendees, and works with other staff and volunteers to achieve all fundraising goals.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California (herein referred to as RMHCSC or the Chapter) is located in Los Angeles near several neighboring hospitals. Our mission is to provide comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California. To achieve its vision of creating a community where children and their families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm and joy, RMHCSC operates seven Ronald McDonald Houses, three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Working with the Development Team, assist in preparation and implementation of an annual fundraising plan with goals, strategies, and objectives.
• Provide regular reports to the Development Team and Executive Director for various presentations, including contacts, actions, and status updates regarding progress of LARMH special events in achieving its fundraising objectives.
• Strategically plan, execute and evaluate LARMH signature event: There’s No Place Like Home Gala, ensuring budgeted event revenue is achieved while maintaining a low expense ratio.
• Execute all event logistics to include planning timeline, collateral, event promotion and vendor management.
• Maintain donor portfolio of event sponsors and attendees, securing sponsorships and underwriting revenue for event, along with overseeing individual ticket sales.
• Lead year-round solicitation efforts for auction items, in-kind donations, and program advertising sales through proactive outreach and relationship building with businesses, donors, and community partners.
• Lead There’s No Place Like Home gala committee, partnering with event chair to secure committee members and directing all committee activities.
• Manage There’s No Place Like Home Gala website
• Work with Director of Development and RMHCSC Admin Coordinator to maintain donor and in-kind record keeping for events.
• Produce weekly reports detailing expense and revenue status as well as updates on the status of gala event.
• Partner with Development Manager to steward partnerships within the community, cultivating 3 rd Party Fundraisers to meet annual budgeted revenue goal.

General

• Participate in monthly event cohort meetings with other RMHCSC events staff, and collaborate on special events that benefit the Chapter.
• Participate in speaking engagements and community outreach as needed.
• Demonstrate ability to work with other staff, volunteers, and House guests in a collaborative and compassionate manner.

Other duties may be assigned.

Education and Work Experience

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible fund development experience at a nonprofit organization, including event coordination, OR any equivalent combination of education and relevant experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge and Skills

General knowledge and demonstrated experience with office management; knowledge of the organizations and operations of administrative programs; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with other management staff, employees, and the general public; ability to present facts and recommendations effectively in oral and written form.

Highly motivated, self-starter able to solve problems.

Strong written and oral presentation skills to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills are a must. Established experience with development, sales or sponsorship. Must be able to multi-task in a fast paced environment and be willing to work evenings/weekends as necessary.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret general business periodicals and professional journals. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, board members, families and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Strong knowledge of Excel; Ability to calculate figures and amounts. Ability to generate and critically analyze event budgets.

Computer Skills

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Experience in development software, such as Raisers Edge and Classy is strongly desirable.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

California Driver’s License is necessary for driving during occasional donor or event pick-ups.

Physical Demands

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel; talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, must be available to work irregular hours, shifts, weekends, holidays. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.