Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager

Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager

The Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager plays a key role in advancing the mission and philanthropic priorities of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, this position is responsible for managing the Annual Fund, fundraising events, donor stewardship and advancement operations. The Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager works collaboratively with the Advancement team, school leadership, volunteers, parents, alumnae/alumni, grandparents and donors to strengthen engagement, foster a culture of philanthropy, and support the school's fundraising and community-building goals.

This role leads the planning and execution of key fundraising and stewardship events while ensuring strong operational support for advancement initiatives, donor stewardship, reporting, and database management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the planning and execution of Sacred Heart's Annual Fund program, including solicitation strategies, volunteer engagement, stewardship, and donor recognition.
• Coordinate and manage the day-to-day implementation of Annual Fund initiatives and appeals.
• Support donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities across all constituent groups.
• Assist with prospect research, donor pipeline development, and donor engagement strategies.
• Prepare donor briefings, cultivation materials and stewardship communications.
• Partner with the Advancement Assistant to ensure gift acknowledgements are prepared, signed and delivered in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with the advancement team to identify opportunities to increase donor participation and philanthropic support.
• Support campaign initiatives and other fundraising priorities as assigned.

• Manage all aspects of planning and execution for the Academy's fundraising and community engagement events, including:
• Annual Gala
• Golf Outing
• Booster Club Social
• Raffle Program
• Develop event timelines, budgets, sponsorship plans, volunteer structures, and post-event evaluations.
• Manage volunteer committees and school leadership to maximize engagement, participation, and fundraising outcomes.
• Collaborate with leaders across the Sacred Heart community to plan and execute stewardship and community-building events.
• Ensure all events reflect the mission, values, and Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.

• Maintain accurate constituent, donor, and event records within Raiser's Edge, ensuring data integrity and timely updates.
• Serve as a primary manager of event and fundraising data, constituent records, and engagement tracking.
• Support advancement operations through reporting, analysis, and administrative coordination.
• Partner with the Advancement Assistant to prepare monthly advancement reports and supporting materials for Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and Fundraising Committee meetings.
• Generate reports, constituent lists, and dashboards to support fundraising, stewardship, volunteer engagement, and strategic planning.
• Track fundraising performance, participation rates, event outcomes, and engagement metrics.
• Review and coordinate donor acknowledgment and recognition processes.
• Assist with gift processing, budget tracking, event reconciliation, and other advancement office operations as needed.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy, gratitude, hospitality, and community engagement throughout the Sacred Heart community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three to five years of experience in advancement, fundraising, nonprofit administration, event management, communications, or a related field.
• Organizational, project management, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge preferred.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.