Events Manager

Careers In Nonprofits•Columbia, WA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

A mission-driven nonprofit is hiring a temporary-to-permanent Events Manager. The Events Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing a diverse portfolio of events that strengthen community engagement, support fundraising efforts, recognize volunteers and partners, and increase awareness of the organization's mission. This role manages all aspects of event planning—from concept development and budgeting to onsite execution and post-event evaluation—while creating exceptional experiences for donors, sponsors, volunteers, community partners, and attendees. Working closely with the Marketing & Communications team and cross-functional departments, the Events Manager ensures successful event execution, fosters strategic partnerships, and develops engaging opportunities that inspire community involvement and support organizational goals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
3+ years of professional experience in event planning, event management, project management, fundraising events, hospitality, or nonprofit event coordination.
Experience managing fundraising events, volunteer initiatives, conferences, or large-scale community events.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong budget management and vendor negotiation experience.
Excellent organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
Ability to lift and move event materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
Willingness to work occasional evenings, weekends, and travel locally to support events.

Nice To Haves

Experience with CRM systems, event registration platforms, volunteer management software, or donor databases is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute annual event plans, timelines, budgets, and project schedules.
Create event and sponsorship strategies that align with organizational priorities.
Identify, negotiate, and manage contracts with venues, vendors, caterers, audiovisual providers, rental companies, and event partners.
Collaborate with internal teams to determine event objectives, target audiences, and participation strategies.
Manage invitations, registration processes, RSVP tracking, and attendee communications.
Plan and oversee fundraising events, volunteer initiatives, recognition programs, trainings, meetings, conferences, and community engagement events.
Coordinate all event logistics, including venue selection, catering, audiovisual needs, transportation, signage, event materials, staffing, and day-of operations.
Develop event production materials, including agendas, run-of-show documents, presentations, speaker coordination, handouts, and promotional materials.
Travel to event locations to oversee setup, vendor management, volunteer coordination, and onsite execution.
Troubleshoot issues during events to ensure a seamless attendee experience.
Conduct post-event evaluations, debrief meetings, and recommend improvements for future events.
Partner with Marketing & Communications to promote events through digital campaigns, social media, and email communications.
Create post-event recap content and provide photos, metrics, and event highlights for marketing initiatives.
Maintain event promotional materials, branded collateral, and giveaway inventory.
Collaborate with internal presenters and leadership to develop engaging event presentations and messaging.
Track event budgets, sponsorship commitments, attendance, and performance metrics.
Maintain event calendars, planning documents, vendor agreements, and project files.
Prepare reports and analytics to measure event success and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.
Support organization-wide meetings, board events, and additional special projects as needed.