Senior Director of Events and Appeals Strategy

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Denver • Denver, CO

28d • $100,000 - $115,000

About The Position

Applications accepted on an ongoing basis until position is filled. Senior Director of Events and Appeals Strategy OUR PURPOSE Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver has been serving Northern Colorado since 1927. We serve tens of thousands of people each year in seven ministries: Marisol Services, Early Childhood Education, Shelter Services, Catholic Charities Housing, St. Raphael Counseling, Family, Kinship, and Senior Services; and Parish & Community Engagement. Our employees are crucial to our success in achieving our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need. Catholic Charities provides a work environment where self-motivated and mission driven individuals are recognized and rewarded. Catholic Charities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to welcoming applicants and program participants of all faiths; as well as an inclusive and welcoming environment for staff, volunteers, and program participants. PURPOSE OF POSITION: Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management Lead the long-term strategy for all events and appeals, including vision, prioritization, revenue modeling, donor journey integration, and organizational alignment. Evaluate the current portfolio and determine which events to elevate, rebrand, consolidate, or discontinue based on mission impact, revenue, effectiveness, and staff capacity. Build a multi-year roadmap for events and appeals that supports donor acquisition, cultivation, stewardship, and long-term revenue growth. Introduce innovative event formats and donor experiences that reflect best practices in philanthropy, hospitality, and mission-driven storytelling. Revenue Strategy & Sponsorship Development Establish annual and multi-year revenue goals for events and appeals; build plans to meet or exceed them. Create and manage a sponsorship strategy that engages corporations, parishes, and community partners in meaningful ways. Use analytics to monitor event profitability, donor behavior, and appeal performance; adjust strategies based on trends and KPIs. Donor Engagement & Mission Integration Design events and appeals that thoughtfully integrate Catholic identity, mission impact stories, witness testimonies, ministry partnerships, and opportunities for encounter. Partner with Philanthropic Advisors, Mission Advancement, and Corporate Development teams to align events and appeals with donor segmentation and relationship-building goals. Ensure pre-, mid-, and post-event communication plans support donor conversion, retention, and upgrades. Tactical Operations & Execution Oversee all logistics, production, timelines, vendor relationships, contract negotiation, and operational details for events and appeals. Manage run-of-show, scripts, programming, and mission moments for all events. Ensure guest experience is polished, welcoming, mission-aligned, and professionally executed. Supervise the Events Specialist and coordinate volunteer teams to support event and appeal execution. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work collaboratively with Marketing/Communications to ensure integrated branding, storytelling, and outreach for events and appeals. Partner with ministries and program leaders to ensure event content accurately reflects mission impact and ministry voices. Coordinate with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and reconciliation. Serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Mission Officer and contribute to overall Mission Advancement planning. Management & Leadership Lead and develop the Events & Appeals team; provide coaching, training, accountability, and professional development. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, hospitality, and mission alignment. Maintain accurate event and appeal data in the CRM; generate reports and dashboards as needed. OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Good steward of Agency human, financial and capital resources Strong strategic thinker who can design long-term plans while managing day-to-day execution. Creative and innovative approach to event design, donor engagement, and appeals. Solid financial acumen with ability to forecast, budget, and analyze ROI. Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills. High emotional intelligence and ability to work with donors, vendors, clergy, and community leaders. Comfortable managing multiple complex projects simultaneously. Understanding of Catholic social teaching and ability to integrate mission into events and appeals. Welcomes, includes, and supports volunteers. Performs and develops special projects as requested or assigned. Participates effectively as a team member through communication, cooperation, information sharing and problem solving. Participates in staff trainings and programs as required. Any other tasks or duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to understand and effectively manage multiple programs in a leadership role, including fundraising, marketing and communications.
• Ability to understand, apply and convey to others the values and social teachings of the Catholic Church as they relate to the mission and work of Catholic Charities, practicing Catholic strongly preferred.
• Ability to work effectively within the framework of Catholic teachings.
• Possesses strong organizational, communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Ability to apply analytical skills for assessment and evaluation responsibility.
• Ability to apply problem solving skills essential in developing solutions for unanticipated issues and challenges.
• Intermediate knowledge of computers to input information, maintain program data, create and generate reports, and create communications, including Microsoft office suite and databases.
• Ability to effectively lead and motivate staff through application of Agency values
• Knowledge of appropriate techniques and practices for the client population.
• Ability to interact effectively as a team member and independently with Agency staff and with a diverse client base.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in business, nonprofit management, communications, marketing, hospitality, or related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in event strategy, fundraising events, donor engagement, hospitality, or experiential design.
• Proven track record leading both strategy and execution, ideally within nonprofit or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience supervising staff and managing volunteers.
• Be a fully initiated Catholic in the communion of the Catholic Church and/or intentionally living out the five precepts of the Church (CCC 2041-2043).
• Refrain from public promotion or approval of, or the living out of, any conduct or lifestyle that would reflect discredit or disgrace on, or cause scandal in relationship to, the Archdiocese of Denver, or considered to be in contradiction with Catholic doctrine or morals.
• Valid driver’s license, clear driving record, and proof of insurance required.
• 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 use hands and to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the long-term strategy for all events and appeals, including vision, prioritization, revenue modeling, donor journey integration, and organizational alignment.
• Evaluate the current portfolio and determine which events to elevate, rebrand, consolidate, or discontinue based on mission impact, revenue, effectiveness, and staff capacity.
• Build a multi-year roadmap for events and appeals that supports donor acquisition, cultivation, stewardship, and long-term revenue growth.
• Introduce innovative event formats and donor experiences that reflect best practices in philanthropy, hospitality, and mission-driven storytelling.
• Establish annual and multi-year revenue goals for events and appeals; build plans to meet or exceed them.
• Create and manage a sponsorship strategy that engages corporations, parishes, and community partners in meaningful ways.
• Use analytics to monitor event profitability, donor behavior, and appeal performance; adjust strategies based on trends and KPIs.
• Design events and appeals that thoughtfully integrate Catholic identity, mission impact stories, witness testimonies, ministry partnerships, and opportunities for encounter.
• Partner with Philanthropic Advisors, Mission Advancement, and Corporate Development teams to align events and appeals with donor segmentation and relationship-building goals.
• Ensure pre-, mid-, and post-event communication plans support donor conversion, retention, and upgrades.
• Oversee all logistics, production, timelines, vendor relationships, contract negotiation, and operational details for events and appeals.
• Manage run-of-show, scripts, programming, and mission moments for all events.
• Ensure guest experience is polished, welcoming, mission-aligned, and professionally executed.
• Supervise the Events Specialist and coordinate volunteer teams to support event and appeal execution.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing/Communications to ensure integrated branding, storytelling, and outreach for events and appeals.
• Partner with ministries and program leaders to ensure event content accurately reflects mission impact and ministry voices.
• Coordinate with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and reconciliation.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Mission Officer and contribute to overall Mission Advancement planning.
• Lead and develop the Events & Appeals team; provide coaching, training, accountability, and professional development.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, hospitality, and mission alignment.
• Maintain accurate event and appeal data in the CRM; generate reports and dashboards as needed.
• Good steward of Agency human, financial and capital resources
• Strong strategic thinker who can design long-term plans while managing day-to-day execution.
• Creative and innovative approach to event design, donor engagement, and appeals.
• Solid financial acumen with ability to forecast, budget, and analyze ROI.
• Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to work with donors, vendors, clergy, and community leaders.
• Comfortable managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Understanding of Catholic social teaching and ability to integrate mission into events and appeals.
• Welcomes, includes, and supports volunteers.
• Performs and develops special projects as requested or assigned.
• Participates effectively as a team member through communication, cooperation, information sharing and problem solving.
• Participates in staff trainings and programs as required.
• Any other tasks or duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Extensive Paid Time Off (4 weeks accrual for new employees - increasing based on tenure) promoting work life balance.
• 15 Paid Holidays annually (shelters are 24/7, so if a holiday is worked, holiday pay is in included.)
• Sabbatical Leave Program: Employees who have completed seven years of continuous full-time service are eligible for a paid sabbatical leave to support rest, renewal, and professional or personal growth. Eligible staff may take 4 weeks of sabbatical leave.
• 403b Retirement Plan with Agency contribution of 4% & match up to 2% of annual compensation.
• Choice of 3 PPO Medical Plans (90% of employee's and 75% of dependent’s premiums is paid by Agency), Dental, & Vision starting the 1st day of the month following start date.
• May be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through Federal Student Loans and many more benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees