Events Activation Manager

Join CASL as Events Activation Manager and Make a Difference

Are you passionate about bringing people together and creating meaningful community experiences? Join CASL as our Events Activation Manager and help strengthen connections between CASL and the communities we serve through impactful events, volunteer engagement, and strategic partnerships.

As the Events Activation Manager for CASL Connect, you will lead CASL's community engagement efforts by developing and strengthening connections between the organization and the communities it serves. This role serves as a key bridge between CASL and community members, volunteers, partners, and supporters, increasing visibility and fostering engagement through strategic partnerships, volunteerism, and community-centered activations. Through this work, you will help advance CASL's mission and expand its impact across the communities we serve.

Founded in 1978, CASL is the largest and most comprehensive community-based organization in the Midwest, with deep roots in serving Asian Americans and a commitment to welcoming all. With over 45 years of experience, CASL supports individuals and families across four essential areas: health, human services, education, and advocacy. From early learning and senior care to legal assistance, housing support, and citizenship services, CASL helps thousands of Chicago-area residents build healthy, stable, and empowered lives.

• Create meaningful opportunities for community members, volunteers, partners, and sponsors to engage with CASL's mission.
• Strengthen community relationships, increase organizational visibility, and support fundraising and outreach efforts through strategic activations.
• Build sustainable partnerships and engagement opportunities that expand CASL's reach and long-term impact.

• Lead and operate the CASL Connect platform, including ownership of the SharePoint site, centralized intake workflow, and overall system for coordinating events, partnerships, and volunteer engagement.
• Develop and manage the annual activation calendar in collaboration with Programs, Advancement, Marketing & Communications, and Operations to ensure alignment and visibility across the organization.
• Build and continuously improve execution tools and processes, including Event Kits (SOPs, templates, checklists) and agile-based coordination, to drive efficient and consistent delivery.
• Lead planning and execution of major community events, including the Summer Fair, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Race, Lunar New Year Parade, and CYS Block Party.
• Develop event timelines, budgets, logistics plans, staffing models, and operational requirements to support successful event delivery.
• Coordinate vendors, venues, permits, equipment, volunteers, and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless event execution.
• Manage day‑of event operations and resolve issues in real time to deliver a positive experience for attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and partners.
• Develop and manage corporate sponsorship programs in partnership with Advancement, including sponsorship packages, activation plans, and stewardship strategies to support sponsor acquisition, retention, and growth.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with corporate sponsors, community partners, and external stakeholders to advance engagement and revenue goals.
• Identify and support sponsorship and earned‑revenue opportunities associated with events and community activations, while tracking and reporting performance to leadership.
• Establish and manage CASL's volunteer program, including recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, recognition, retention, and engagement efforts.
• Ensure volunteers complete all required onboarding, compliance, confidentiality, and screening requirements while maintaining accurate volunteer records and rosters.
• Build and sustain a strong volunteer pipeline, track volunteer participation and impact, and provide regular reporting and recommendations for program growth.
• Capture stories, photos, and activation content in partnership with the Marketing & Communications team to support social media, website, newsletter, and community…