Director of Campaigns and Events

Founded in 2012, The Acceleration Project (TAP)’s mission is to empower under-resourced small business owners and accelerate their success by providing high-impact and customized strategic, financial, operational, and marketing support. Small businesses are a vital engine of our economy, and TAP supports entrepreneurs who lack access to critical networks and resources. TAP has worked directly with more than 11,000 small business owners and touched the lives of more than 100,000.

Role Overview

The Director of Campaigns and Events at The Acceleration Project (TAP) sits at the center of TAP's growth and visibility and at the center of work that genuinely matters.

Reporting to the Vice President of Development, you will lead multi-channel fundraising campaigns, manage signature events, and cultivate key donor and sponsorship relationships in close collaboration with senior leadership, Board members, and cross-functional staff. Every dollar you raise, every event you produce, every donor relationship you build translates directly into opportunity for entrepreneurs who need it most. This is a full-time, primarily remote role with a flexible schedule and periodic in-person meetings and events in the Westchester/NYC area.

Key Responsibilities

Campaigns and Individual Giving

• Develop and implement an annual campaign strategy (e.g., Annual ` 1Appeal, Fall for Small Business®, Spring for Small Business® Benefit, Giving Tuesday, year-end appeal, matching gifts, etc.) that drives revenue, donor retention, and engagement.
• Set and track clear, measurable goals across donor acquisition, retention, reactivation, and overall campaign performance, using data and insights to continuously sharpen strategy and improve results.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration to plan and execute campaigns and manage strategies for current and lapsed donors, including solicitation, recognition, and stewardship.
• Draft compelling donor communications, including appeals, proposals, updates, and reports that bring TAP's mission and impact to life.
• Partner closely with the VP of Development to build and scale TAP's planned giving program, laying the foundation for deep, lasting donor relationships and legacy support.

Events and External Relations

• Own the design and execution of high-impact events, both in-person and virtual, that put TAP's work on display, elevate entrepreneur voices, and drive meaningful donor engagement and giving.
• Lead event outreach, marketing, sponsorship, and logistics, and define success metrics for attendance, revenue, and engagement.
• Partner with the VP of Development to engage leadership boards, major donors, and institutional partners through tailored outreach, briefings, proposals, and stewardship plans.
• Identify and research prospective funders, leverage networks and platforms to create warm introductions, and serve as a proud ambassador for TAP at external meetings and events.

Communications, Data, and Operations

• Oversee campaign- and event-related communications in collaboration with
• Marketing/Communications, ensuring consistent, compelling messaging across every touchpoint.
• Develop sponsorship and partnership materials that tell TAP's story and make the case for investment.
• Use CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce) and related platforms for prospect management, segmentation, tracking, and reporting.
• Build and manage budgets for campaigns and events, and deliver regular performance updates and strategic recommendations to leadership.

Why This Is an Exciting Opportunity

You won't just be executing a playbook; you'll be writing it. This role offers meaningful ownership of a broad portfolio spanning campaigns, events, and external relations, with the freedom to design, test, and iterate in a nimble, mission-driven organization that moves fast and trusts its people.

You'll see a direct, tangible line between your work and a real opportunity created for small business owners who are building something of their own. And you'll do it within a flexible, collaborative culture that genuinely values initiative, creativity, and shared impact, while gaining broad exposure across all facets of development and external affairs that will position you for continued growth into senior leadership.

If you're someone who wants your work to matter and who thrives when given the space to make it excellent, this is the role for you.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; advanced degree a plus but not required.
• 5 to 8+ years in fundraising, development, campaigns, and/or events, with a track record of driving revenue and engagement.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, sponsors, and institutional funders.
• Experience managing complex events and campaigns end-to-end, including budgets and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong strategic, analytical, and project management abilities.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Google Suite and a CRM (e.g., Salesforce); marketing automation familiarity is a plus.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset and genuine enthusiasm for TAP's mission and values.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience
• Generous PTO
• Health and dental insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan

Work Environment

TAP operates in a remote-first, hybrid work environment. Our staff predominantly work from home, with mandatory co-working days approximately four times per month in Westchester County for those in the Tri-State area. There may be additional requirements for attending in-person events and meetings. All staff are expected to attend bi-annual retreats, held up to twice a year.

How to Apply

Submit your resume and cover letter to careers@theaccelerationproject.org with the subject line: Application – Director of Campaigns and Events.

In your cover letter, please respond to the following:

• Why are you interested in this position and TAP's mission?
• What do you believe are the most important attributes of a successful fundraiser and relationship builder?
• Can you share an example of a fundraising campaign or event you have led? What were the measurable results?
• What is your experience cultivating and stewarding individual donors and/or sponsors, and how do you approach building long-term relationships?
• How do you use data and CRM tools to inform your fundraising strategy and track performance? Please include 2–3 professional references.

The deadline to apply is May 22, 2026.

TAP is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, inclusion, and expanding opportunities for historically under-resourced communities. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience
• Generous PTO
• Health and dental insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan

Fluent in English