Director of Special Events

Location: New York

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION The Ali Forney Center (AFC) protects LGBTQ+ youth from homelessness and helps them build the tools needed to live independently. Founded in 2002, AFC provides housing, healthcare, and educational support to thousands of youth each year. AFC creates an affirming, supportive environment where LGBTQ+ youth can thrive.

SCHEDULE:

Monday - Friday Hours, 9am-5pm

LOCATION:

Manhattan WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY:
In Person, 1 day remote POSITION SUMMARY This position is responsible for conceptualizing and executing AFC’s special events, fundraising efforts and client events. This position will work closely with the Chief Development Officer to meet the fundraising goals of the organization with a focus on fundraising through special events and management of existing signature events and other third party events. Overall, this position is responsible for managing and growing the revenue from our signature events and building a vision of how we can continue to grow the scope and impact of our revenue generating events.

The focus of this role is taking our events to the next level. Knowledge of scaling the fundraising prowess while reducing expenses is critical. This individual will mobilize lay leadership and community to prospect leadership, co-chairs, host committee and multipliers who can bring in new sponsors and ticket buyers. This role will collaborate closely with the Directors on the team to integrate events and attendees into overall fundraising strategies.

This role will be strategy based, analyzing the revenue and expenses of our existing events and identifying ways to significantly increase revenue.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Event Vision, Strategy, and Growth Lead the vision, strategy, and execution of AFC's signature events, fundraising events, and client-centered events, ensuring each event aligns with organizational priorities, mission, and revenue goals.

Develop and implement a long-term strategy to grow event revenue, strengthen return on investment (ROI), and elevate the quality and overall experience of AFC's event portfolio.

Independently assess event performance, revenue, expenses, audience engagement, and pipeline potential to identify opportunities for optimization, cost management, and revenue growth.

Develop new event concepts, formats, and partnership opportunities that expand AFC's reach, diversify revenue opportunities, and strengthen the donor and supporter pipeline.

Establish event goals, timelines, priorities, and success measures and independently drive projects from concept through completion.

Revenue Generation and Expansion Lead revenue-generation strategies related to events, including sponsor ships, ticket sales, tables, donations, and other event-related opportunities.

Establish revenue targets and develop strategies and systems to meet or exceed established goals.

Grow and deepen revenue generated through AFC's existing signature events and identify new event opportunities that contribute to the organization's financial sustainability.

Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to integrate event donors, attendees, and sponsors into broader fundraising strategies, including cultivation, engagement, and stewardship.

Identify and pursue opportunities to develop corporate partnerships, sponsor ships, in-kind support, and other strategic revenue relationships.

Leadership Mobilization and Community Engagement Recruit, mobilize, and empower volunteer leadership, including event co-chairs, host committees, table captains, prospectors, and community ambassadors, to expand each event's reach and impact.

Build and maintain strong relationships with supporters who can connect AFC to new sponsors, donors, corporations, foundations, community partners, and prospective event participants.

Serve as a key connector between AFC and the broader community, positioning events as opportunities for meaningful engagement and long-term philanthropic support.

Represent AFC professionally and authentically with external stakeholders, community leaders, corporate partners, donors, and supporters.

Foster inclusive and culturally responsive event experiences that reflect AFC's mission and the communities it serves.

Event Production and Project Management Independently oversee all aspects of event production from concept through execution, including timelines, budgets, venues, vendors, contracts, communications, collateral, program development, guest experience, and run-of-show.

Manage event budgets with discipline, ensuring…