LEDA Special Events & Advancement Operations Officer

Organizational Overview:

Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) empowers a community of exceptional young leaders from under-resourced backgrounds by supporting their higher education and professional success in order to create a more inclusive and equitable country. LEDA believes that selective colleges are not only a gateway to opportunity, but a nexus for the development of leadership in every field. By helping talented students from under-resourced backgrounds access these institutions and providing them with the tools necessary to succeed, LEDA seeks to ensure that this country’s leadership is truly reflective of its citizenry.

Through programs spanning college access, college success, career development, and graduate school preparation, LEDA supports Scholars from high school through the launch of their careers and beyond.

Position Overview:

LEDA seeks a highly organized, entrepreneurial, and detail-oriented Special Events & Advancement Operations Manager to support the planning and execution of LEDA’s growing portfolio of fundraising, stewardship, and career development events. As a member of the Advancement team, this position will play a critical role in ensuring the seamless execution of events that deepen donor engagement, strengthen corporate partnerships, and expand opportunities for LEDA Scholars.This position will also be tasked with generating new ideas and leads to support the expansion of the events portfolio, increasing LEDA’s presence and reach in multiple new markets outside of New York.

The Special Events & Advancement Operations Manager will oversee logistics and operations for multiple donor cultivation and stewardship events annually, support execution of LEDA’s flagship Annual Celebration gala in New York City, and help coordinate logistics and sponsorship engagement for LEDA’s Career Institute, an annual conference serving approximately 100 college students.

This position is ideal for a candidate who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys balancing strategic relationship-building with operational execution, and is excited about advancing educational equity through mission-driven events and partnerships.

Key Responsibilities:

Special Events Management & Operations

• Lead planning and execution for 3–4 annual donor cultivation and stewardship receptions in New York City and other major metropolitan areas
• Manage event timelines, budgets, logistics, run-of-show documents, registration processes, and post-event follow-up
• Coordinate all vendor procurement and management, including catering, venues, AV, rentals, photography, transportation, technology, graphic design and printing
• Develop invitation lists and support guest management processes, including RSVPs and seating coordination
• Ensure events are executed at a high level with strong attention to detail, hospitality, and donor experience
• Support event-related communications and materials development, including invitations, sponsorship materials, briefing documents, signage, and presentations
• Track event revenue and expenses and assist in achieving fundraising goals associated with events collectively raising approximately $100,000 annually
• Generate ideas and leads for new events nationally with the goal of growing the events portfolio year-over-year

Annual Gala Support

• Support execution of LEDA’s annual gala in New York City serving approximately 350 guests
• Assist with sponsorship fulfillment, guest management, production logistics, auction/call-to-action preparation, vendor coordination, and onsite event execution
• Coordinate deliverables and stewardship for gala sponsors and partners

Career Institute & Student Conference Support

• Support logistics and program operations for LEDA’s annual Career Institute serving approximately 100 college students in New York City
• Coordinate travel, accommodations, scheduling, vendor management, and onsite logistics for students, volunteers, and corporate partners
• Assist with sponsor outreach, sponsorship fulfillment, and event operations related to the Career Institute
• Support coordination with corporate volunteers, speakers, and partner organizations

Sponsorships & External Engagement

• Support sponsorship procurement efforts across LEDA’s events portfolio, including identifying and cultivating prospective sponsors and multi-event partnerships
• Develop sponsorship materials, tracking systems, and fulfillment processes
• Conduct prospect research related to sponsors, vendors, honorees, and event stakeholders
• Assist in stewarding relationships with corporate and community partners participating in LEDA events, including coordinating employee volunteer engagement opportunities and related communications

Advancement Operations & Administrative Support

• Support general administrative functions of the Development team
• Process gift entry and maintain accurate donor records in the organization’s donor database
• Generate acknowledgment letters and donor stewardship materials
• Assist with event reporting, data tracking, and departmental administrative projects as needed

Qualifications:

• 2–3 years of professional experience in events management, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience managing vendors, budgets, timelines, and event logistics
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort interacting with donors, corporate partners, volunteers, and senior stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems (DonorPerfect preferred)
• Experience with sponsorship sales, fundraising events, or donor engagement strongly preferred

Compensation & Location:

• Salary: $56,000 annually
• This position is remote, with preference for candidates located in the New York metropolitan area
• Travel requirement: approximately 10–15% annually, including occasional evening and weekend work associated with events

Why Join LEDA?:

At LEDA, events are more than celebrations — they are opportunities to build community, expand access, and create meaningful connections that help Scholars thrive. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to mission-driven experiences that directly support the next generation of leaders while working alongside a passionate and collaborative team.

Apply:

To be considered for this opportunity, please send an email with a cover letter and résumé to employment@ledascholars.org with “Special Events & Advancement Operations Officer” in the subject line. LEDA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.