Position Summary:

The Special Events Coordinator leads the planning, execution, and evaluation of fundraising and community engagement events that support Arizona's Children Association's mission to protect children, strengthen families, and promote child well-being. This role is responsible for creating meaningful, mission-driven experiences that inspire donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and community members to invest in the safety and future of children.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, creative, relationship-oriented, and passionate about advancing child welfare initiatives.

Salary Range: $50,000.00 - $58,000.00 annually

Key Responsibilities:

Event Strategy & Planning

• Lead event planning, including material design and management of event committees, to include Board members.
• Create geographically diverse and donor inclusive events that bring awareness and funds to the organization.
• Write grants for event sponsorship.
• Establish event timelines, budgets, logistics plans, and production schedules.
• Identify new event opportunities to expand revenue and community engagement.

Fundraising and Revenue Generation

• Collaborate with the Development team to set revenue goals and sponsorship targets.
• Manage campaigns, such as Give 10 and End of Year Giving.
• Execute guidance from the Chief Development Officer and Fundraising Committee for strategy of events and campaigns.
• Track and report on event performance, ROI, and donor engagement metrics.

Vendor and Volunteer Management

• Foster positive relationships with board members and community leaders involved in events.
• Manage volunteer groups for events.
• Provide clear communication, leadership, and recognition to volunteers.

Marketing & Communications Collaboration

• Assist program staff with materials and brand flyers for events.
• Prepare regular updates and reports for executive leadership and Board members.
• Monitor industry trends and recommend innovative event strategies.

Minimum Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Communications, Marketing, Non-Profit Management, or related field (or equivalent experience.
• 2-3 years of experience planning and executing fundraising or large-scale events, preferably in a non-profit setting.
• Strong project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated success in meeting fundraising goals.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes

• Knowledge of event-based fundraising strategies, donor cultivation cycles, sponsorship development, and stewardship practices in the nonprofit sector.
• Understanding of child protection, foster care, adoption services, trauma-informed care, and relevant regulations impacting child-serving organizations.
• Knowledge of venue coordination, vendor management, catering, logistics, risk mitigation, accessibility standards, and event compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of promotional strategies, social media campaigns, media outreach, brand messaging, and community engagement.
• Must be able to organize and manage multiple events simultaneously, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met.
• Able to coordinate cross-functional teams, manage deliverables, and use project management tools to track progress.
• Skilled in using CRM systems and fundraising platforms to track donor engagement, sponsorship revenue, and event ROI.
• Able to anticipate and resolve logistical issues, manage last-minute changes, and respond professionally to unexpected challenges.
• Skilled at aligning events with the organization's child welfare mission and presenting sensitive stories ethically and respectfully.
• Able to inspire staff and volunteers, foster collaboration, and maintain morale during high-pressure event cycles.
• Able to evaluate event outcomes, donor engagement metrics, and financial performance to inform future strategies.
• Able to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours during peak event seasons.
• Able to operate common office equipment, including strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Raiser's Edge, with strong word processing skills and the ability to learn and utilize other software and electronic devices as needed.
• Must have ability to maintain confidentiality and exhibit sound judgment while providing emotional support.
• Effective written, oral and interpersonal communication skills in the English language. Spanish is a plus.

Minimum Qualification & Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age (licensing requirement).
• Possess a valid Arizona driver's license and be insurable under the agency's automobile policy.
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required by event schedules.

• Must be able to provide DPS fingerprint clearance.
• Must be able to meet training and agency compliance requirements for the position.
• An individual may qualify for this position if the individual is able to "perform safely" the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Perform safely means to perform without causing a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others that cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodations, as defined by 42 U.S.C. #1211 (b) and the Commission's regulations found at 29 C.F.R #1630.2 (r).