The Event Specialist will support internal and external events and fundraising activities. This position is responsible for managing operations, logistics, vendor relations, event registration, volunteer coordination, promotion, and the peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising initiatives. In this role the employee must identify donor prospects, provide reports, manage data bases, and update systems. This position will represent the Institute on committees, events, and at related public relations/media activities. The incumbent will develop content and work collaboratively to ensure that events are executed professionally and yield high quality outcomes helping the Institute realize its annual goal in unrestricted private-sector revenues.

1. Manage the operational and administrative functions of Institute events (e.g., Festival of Trees (FOT), ROAR for Kids (ROAR), etc.), to include the recruitment and coordination of volunteers, logistics, vendor management, participant support, delivery coordination, event database maintenance, offline registration/donations, attendance, and the development of promotional strategies.
2. Serve as liaison to chairpersons and committees for Institute and external (i.e., 3^rd party and community) fundraising events. Represent the Institute through negotiations, contracts, planning, policies/practices, recommendations, and event analysis.
3. Maintain corresponding databases, research, analyze, and identify new ‘In-kind’ donor prospects for various events (i.e., FOT, ROAR, Baltimore Running Festival, etc.).
4. Create new fundraisers as needed using DonorDrive (an online fundraising platform.) Add and update P2P content on the fundraising platform and Philanthropy website including participant pages, event announcements, and coaching e-mails. Periodically run and distribute regular and ad-hoc reports as needed.
5. Support the Director of Special Events in the long-term planning process for future events through retrospective analysis of profitability, participation, and effective operations.
6. Research and identify publication strategies. Formulate and develop articles, correspondence, and event notices for various publications and calendars regarding events/fundraisers benefitting the Institute.
7. Collaborate with event organizers and Marketing and Public Relations department to ensure that appropriate marketing and promotional materials are approved, received, and distributed for events.
8. Develop, evaluate, and adjust rules and guidelines for Festival of Trees (FOT) product design to ensure compliance and consistency. Make decisions on requested exceptions, determine the appropriateness of designs, and provide recommendations.
9. Approve designs, price structures, and items sold at FOT. Coordinate sales and deliveries, and resolve any related complaints.

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.

• Minimum 2- 4 years of event planning, meeting and event management, or relevant related work experience is required.
• Professional experience preferably in a Development, Non-Profit, Events, Public Relations, Marketing or Advertising environment desirable.
• Experience in peer-to-peer fundraising and using Blackbaud/DonorDrive software is highly desirable.