Development and Events Manager

About Emily’s Entourage

Emily’s Entourage (EE) speeds lifesaving research and drug development for individuals in the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis (CF) community that do not benefit from currently available mutation-targeted therapies. Founded by Emily Kramer-Golinkoff with family and friends in 2011, EE has awarded millions of dollars in research grants, launched a now-acquired CF gene therapy company, developed a patient registry and clinical trial matchmaking program to accelerate clinical trial recruitment, and led worldwide efforts to drive high-impact research and drug development. 

While the urgency of the organization is inspired by Emily’s advanced-stage disease, the work of EE gives impetus to advances that can benefit not only people with CF, but also millions of people living with genetic diseases, as well as those combating antibiotic-resistant infections for whom there are no existing treatments. 

About the Position

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, Genevieve Mack, the Development and Events Manager will play a vital and impactful support role in amplifying CF research and therapeutic development for the final 10%.  

As a Development and Events Manager, you will play a key role in planning, coordinating, and executing fundraising initiatives and events for our organization. You will be responsible for developing strategies to attract donors, sponsors, and participants for our events, while also overseeing the logistical aspects of event planning. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and a passion for supporting our mission through effective fundraising and event management.

The Development and Events Manager will join a core team of eight, composed of two co-founders, a Chief Scientific Officer, Chief of Staff, Senior Director of Operations, Director of Marketing and Communications, Development Assistant, Database Manager, and additional freelance support staff. 

Key Responsibilities 

Events Planning and Management

• Plan, coordinate, and execute a large scale (+300 person) fundraising gala, as well as parlor meetings, community events, virtual events and webinars, online auctions, virtual charity walks/runs, and donor appreciation events.
• Manage all aspects of gala event logistics including pre-event planning, day of, and post-event logistics. This includes but is not limited to: venue selection, catering, audiovisual requirements, event streaming, vendors, programming, staffing, registration, thank you notes, surveys, and compilation of event analytics.
• Plan scientific meetings and symposia, including securing venue (or digital equivalent); managing vendors, budget and logistics; creating event and program materials; managing travel, accommodations and reimbursements; coordinating with speakers; managing attendee registration and post-event follow-up.
• Collaborate with team members to develop and customize individual, community, and corporate sponsorship materials, track outreach and progress, manage sponsorship benefits, and ensure all benefits are fulfilled on time.
• Lead sourcing and communication with graphic designers (if necessary) on all event-related assets, including print and digital invitation packages, event slideshows and presentations, event signage, web assets, and social media graphics.
• Lead, oversee, and be the ‘hub’ for the event planning committees and volunteers (up to 50 individuals per event).
• Develop event budgets and track expenses to ensure events remain within budgetary constraints.
• Set benchmarks for event-related goals, compile and present data pre- and post-event, and iterate event plans accordingly.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of events and implement improvements for future events.
• Research, develop, and implement new, innovative approaches to drive the success and engagement of special events. Stay up to date with all current developments in the gala and virtual/digital event space.

Staff Management and Engagement

• Lead and mentor Development Assistant to achieve departmental objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Provide regular feedback, coaching, and performance evaluations to Development Assistant to enhance individual and collective performance.
• Set clear goals and expectations for Development Assistant, tracking progress and adjusting strategies as needed to ensure targets are met.

Donor Relations

• Support regular communication and acknowledgement process with donors and sponsors to cultivate relationships and stewardship. 
• Provide donors with updates on the impact of their contributions and demonstrate appreciation for their support.
• Manage all aspects of peer- to-peer fundraising campaigns, including creating and organizing campaign resources and web pages, communicating with donors and fundraisers, and managing all campaign data and reports.

Data Management

• Maintain accurate records of donors, sponsors, and event attendees using donor management software or CRM systems.
• Own and facilitate cross functional mailing list process for all events.
• Generate reports on fundraising performance, event attendance, and donor engagement for internal analysis and reporting purposes.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Collaborate cross functionally to ensure alignment of fundraising efforts with organizational priorities.
• Work closely with volunteers and board members to leverage their support in fundraising and event planning efforts.

Ideal Candidates

• Strong attention to detail, highly organized, motivated, and able to multitask while managing multiple priority projects at one time
• Extensive experience with virtual and in-person event planning
• Able to anticipate project needs, discern work priorities, and consistently meet deadlines
• Work with initiative, creativity, competence, and have good judgment with an attitude of “leading with ‘yes’” and "whatever is necessary" to complete the job
• Committed to excellence, quality, and style with a strong eye for branding

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in nonprofit fundraising and event planning with a proven track record of executing successful events, reaching goals, and staying on time and within budget
• Experience with virtual events and digital engagement
• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Must be technologically proficient
• Must be versatile, passionate, and able to wear many hats in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated experience of successfully managing staff, volunteers, and event planning committees
• Experience as a people manager is strongly preferred, but not required
• Able to work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends as needed
• This is a fully remote position — strong preference for someone local to the Philadelphia area.

Pay and Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried position. Salary range for this role is $70k-$80k, commensurate with experience, plus a generous PTO plan and health and retirement benefits. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Emily’s Entourage provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.

Covid Vaccine Policy: Emily’s Entourage employees are required to be fully vaccinated to attend in-person work-related activities. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with a sincerely held religious belief or disability who are not vaccinated.