Associate, Events & Operations

Chicago Education Fund•Chicago, IL

4d•$59,000 - $74,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) is an independent nonprofit organization that supports public schools by investing in talented educators and partnering with Chicago Public Schools, the City of Chicago, the local philanthropic community, principals, and aspiring principals to build and sustain strong school leadership. The Events & Operations Associate reports to the Director, People & Operations and keeps events, meetings, and follow-ups running smoothly while supporting cross-functional projects. The role partners with Development, Strategy, Finance, and senior leaders and maintains reliable data, records, and processes. The Associate supports senior-leader scheduling, travel logistics, partner meetings, organizational and donor events, event staffing, customized materials, and leadership correspondence. The role project-manages organization-wide and external event logistics, assesses and prioritizes event needs, and communicates decisions and plans to stakeholders. The role maintains Salesforce event attendance, RSVP, and follow-up records; tracks budgets, vendor invoices, and payments; handles purchase requests, receipts, and reimbursements; maintains shared trackers; performs data-quality checks; and documents data-entry processes. It also supports People & Operations projects, coordinates stakeholders across Policy, Program, Development, and Finance, and helps prepare for board meetings. The Associate contributes to organization-wide goals, represents The Fund at events and meetings, supports cross-team work, and pursues professional growth. The position is in-person, based in schools and The Fund’s downtown Chicago offices, with one work-from-home day per week when the schedule allows. Evening and weekend work is required. The Fund does not offer visa sponsorship. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through November 13, 2026.

Requirements

At least 2 years of experience in event coordination, administrative support, or operations; ideally in a nonprofit or mission-driven setting.
Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines and shifting priorities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional correspondence with senior leaders, donors, and partners.
Exceptional attention to detail in data entry, record-keeping, and budget tracking.
Proficiency with Google Workspace or Microsoft Office, including documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential information.
Collaborative, service-oriented approach to working across teams.
Willingness to learn Salesforce and other data systems.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events.
Ability to lift and move event supplies and equipment.
Authorization to work in the United States; The Fund does not offer employment through visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Salesforce or another CRM.
Experience supporting donor, funder, or board events.
Experience managing vendors, event budgets, and invoices.
Experience drafting briefing materials, acknowledgments, funder communications, or event copy.
Experience writing process guides or improving operational workflows.

Responsibilities

Support senior leaders with calendar scheduling, travel logistics, and staffing at partner meetings in collaboration with the Strategy Team Senior Associate.
Provide day-to-day administrative support for organizational and donor events.
Staff senior leaders at external events, including organizing materials and supporting event follow-up communication.
Create customized decks, one-pagers, invitations, and other materials.
Draft high-quality emails, meeting materials, and other leadership correspondence.
Project-manage end-to-end planning for organization-wide events supporting program and policy work, donor-facing events, school visits, and in-person board gatherings.
Regularly identify event and logistical needs, prioritize them, communicate decisions, and execute prioritized needs efficiently while maintaining alignment.
Lead logistics for external meetings and ensure details are planned and executed efficiently.
Enter and maintain accurate, complete event attendance, RSVP, and follow-up records in Salesforce.
Track event budgets, vendor invoices, and payments; coordinate with Finance to ensure expenses are coded, approved, and reconciled on time.
Handle purchase requests, receipts, and reimbursements for team and event spending, maintaining accurate and audit-ready records.
Keep event calendars, vendor lists, board and partner meeting logs, and other shared trackers organized and current.
Conduct regular data-quality checks and flag gaps or errors to system owners before they affect reporting.
Write and update process guides for data entry to support consistent work and handoffs.
Support People & Operations projects by tracking timelines, action items, and deliverables.
Coordinate with stakeholders across Policy, Program, Development, and Finance; keep work moving, flag risks, and follow up on open items.
Support board meeting preparation logistics, including scheduling, materials, and follow-up.
Offer ideas and support projects that advance The Fund’s goals.
Attend events and meetings to represent The Fund and strengthen relationships and reputation.
Support projects involving multiple teams and contribute to effective collaboration.
Pursue professional growth through educational opportunities and by keeping up with public education and school leadership.