Events Manager, Development

The Events Manager will lead a strategic portfolio of donor engagement events designed to deepen relationships with supporters and advance the organization’s fundraising goals. This role will oversee 2–3 boutique cultivation and stewardship events annually for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and other key supporters, managing every aspect from concept through execution. The Events Manager will also lead fundraising strategy and execution for the organization’s Annual Dinner, with responsibility for helping achieve approximately $1.5 million in revenue through sponsor ships, table sales, and donations.

• Develop and execute a donor events strategy that supports cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising goals across the Development team, with a focus on individual donors.
• Oversee at least 2 boutique events annually for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and select supporters, including event concepting, guest strategy, logistics, budgets, vendor management, and on-site execution.
• Support stewardship and relationship‑building efforts before and after events, including personalized follow‑up, donor recognition, and tracking next steps.
• Lead fundraising planning and implementation for the Annual Dinner, partnering with senior staff, board members, and volunteers to help achieve the annual goal.
• Create and maintain detailed event timelines, project plans, revenue trackers, briefing materials, and post‑event analyses.
• Monitor event performance against fundraising and engagement goals and recommend improvements based on results and donor feedback.

• Collaborate with colleagues in Development, Communications, Finance, Initiatives, and the Executive team to ensure event messaging, donor strategy, budgeting, and execution are aligned.
• Support the development of talking points and script materials for program and leadership team members and coach speakers as needed to successfully support arc of engagement events.

• Supervise the Special Events Associate, including assigning day‑to‑day responsibilities, providing guidance on event planning and execution, and supporting professional development and performance management.

• Maintain accurate donor records and activity tracking in the CRM.
• Manage budgeting and reporting for all engagement activities within defined scope of work.

• Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent work or life experience).
• 5+ years of relevant experience in nonprofit events, development, fundraising, or donor engagement.
• Demonstrated success managing both high‑touch cultivation events and large‑scale fundraising events.
• Experience managing complex event logistics and multiple stakeholders while maintaining strong attention to detail and discretion.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft donor‑facing materials and represent the organization professionally.
• Project management and organizational excellence.
• Collaboration and cross‑functional communication.
• Adaptability and ability to keep calm under pressure.
• Relationship management and donor‑centered service.

This position reports to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule, with an in‑office presence on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

The compensation range for this position is $113,000–$115,000. This figure is one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package, which includes merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities, up to $2,000 annually for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, an employer‑funded retirement plan, and flexible time.

Vera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including those related to educational background and justice system contact, and rely on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.