Assistant Director of Special Events

Position: Assistant Director of Special Events

Responsible to: Director of Major Gifts

Location: New York, New York (Hybrid Schedule)

Background: Girls Inc. is a network of local organizations that works with schools and in communities across the United States and Canada. Through direct service and advocacy, Girls Inc. equips girls with the knowledge and skills to effect positive changes in their lives and to become leaders who will change the world. Professionally trained staff and volunteers provide mentorship, supportive spaces, and research‑informed programming that address the challenges girls face and are proven to help them succeed.

Together with partners and supporters, Girls Inc. is building the new generation of leaders.

The Assistant Director of Special Events partners with senior development leadership to drive unrestricted support by leading the planning of two flagship annual luncheons in New York and Los Angeles, specialty events and targeted donor cultivation, and by drafting and executing 3–4 multi‑channel appeals per year. The role plans and oversees logistics and creative strategies around the luncheons, project‑manages a calendar of related cultivation touchpoints from intimate breakfasts to virtual webinars, and serves as part of the Individual Giving team to coordinate seamless ongoing prospect/donor engagement experience.

As both frontline fundraiser and operations lead, the person balances high‑touch donor stewardship with planning and tracking, budget oversight, Salesforce reporting, and close collaboration with Marketing, the CEO’s office, and internal stakeholders. Integral to the Individual Giving Team, they collaborate in all initiatives that support donor cultivation and stewardship.

• Serve as a key logistical, strategic, and creative leader and frontline fundraiser on the individual giving team.
• Share the individual giving team’s collective responsibility of securing unrestricted support with a particular focus on closing gifts at the four‑ and five‑figure level, especially in relation to the annual luncheons.
• Lead, from idea to execution, two annual luncheon events, raising approximately $1 million annually, including managing and guiding the volunteer host committee, supporting the co‑chairs’ leadership efforts, working directly with all luncheon donors, and serving as a lead and point of contact with our event consultant and project manager.
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications department to develop the marketing plan for the luncheons, coordinate luncheon program logistics, and handle day‑of activities.
• Develop and manage the annual revenue and expense budgets for the events’ financial lines, oversee the honoree selection and stewardship process, provide program recommendations to the CEO, and work closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications throughout the event to oversee the proper handling of all people connected with the program.
• Create and execute a strong post‑event cultivation strategy by identifying key prospects, providing outreach support, and tracking the success of engagement efforts and stewardship by the Director of Major Gifts, Chief Development Officer, and CEO.
• Serve as the primary point‑person for coordinating and executing additional cultivation events, including donor breakfasts, cocktail parties, and opportunities as they arise throughout the year.
• Collaborate with the Director of Major Gifts and Individual Giving team to ensure that luncheon attendees and donors are properly handled as part of the larger Individual Giving prospect/donor pool.
• Work in partnership with the Marketing & Communications staff to set the communication calendar and solicitation strategy for online and offline mass mailings and seasonal appeals aimed at securing annual fund gifts.
• Spearhead the department’s efforts to produce collateral and segmented solicitation letters by conceptualizing content and writing appeals.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to guide the editing, design, approval, and mailing process.
• Monitor, analyze, and report donor giving patterns and daily interactions with donors in the CRM system,…