Manager, Donor Events

The Manager, Donor Events will serve as the primary contact for donors and special event management within the Donor Relations team at the National Park Foundation (NPF) and for designated institutional events. The Manager oversees a portfolio of events that helps NPF meaningfully convey the impact and importance of philanthropic support on national parks. The Manager will collaborate closely with colleagues to develop, refine, and implement donor events that focus on acquiring, retaining, and inspiring greater gifts from donors. Through this work, the Manager will make a direct and lasting impact on conservation, culture, preservation, recreation, education, stewardship, and volunteerism—preserving our national parks for centuries to come.

This is an exciting time for NPF as we are in the quiet phase of a landmark campaign designed to mobilize the efforts of the 400+ park partner community in support of the National Park System. This “collective campaign” will result in more money raised for the parks, more impact in the parks, and increased capacity of park partners. This unique approach to supporting national parks will create fundraising urgency and opportunities of national significance.

WORKING AT NPF

The National Park Foundation works in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) to enrich America’s national parks through private support, safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park enthusiasts. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation is founded on a legacy that began more than a century ago, when private citizens from all walks of life took action to establish and protect our national parks.

Today, NPF carries on that tradition as the only national charitable nonprofit whose mission is to directly support more than 400 national park sites across the country. As the National Park Service’s official nonprofit partner, the National Park Foundation supports projects and programs across the system. We 

protect our natural, cultural, and historical heritage and connect people to all that the parks have to offer through our work.

For more information on the full range of programs and projects supported by the National Park Foundation, please review our website at www.nationalparks.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Manage and implement all aspects of in-person, in-park, and virtual events including site selection, budgets, vendors, catering, printing, audio-visual support, media, transportation, invitations, RSVP management, registration, seating, and décor. When appropriate, coordinate with guest speakers and entertainment. Provide day of execution of events from greeting vendors upon arrival to seeing the last guests on their way and assisting with event clean up. Schedule briefing and post-event debriefing meetings with event stakeholders including leadership staff and volunteer hosts.
• Conceptualize, design, and drive a diverse, comprehensive event strategy that aligns with NPF’s organizational priorities.
• Execute campaign cultivation events hosted by members of NPF’s Board of Directors and other leadership volunteers to inform, engage, and inspire current and prospective donors.
• Work with relationship managers and the Data and Constituent Management team within Strategic Operations to generate event invite lists. Partner with colleagues to deliver invitations to guests.
• Oversee event registration and RSVPs, including following up with attendee inquiries in a timely manner. Partner with Data and Constituent Management team to upload final event data into NXT and to develop effective protocols to maximize NXT event capabilities.
• When requested, assist relationship managers with planning enhanced park visits for identified donors. Curate custom, in-depth, in-park experiences for top-tier donors and prospects, helping donors see the impact of their support and moving them along the donor pipeline toward their future major and principal gifts.
• Manage a comprehensive event calendar to inform NPF colleagues of current and upcoming opportunities. Collaborate closely with the Donor Relations team to identify strategic offerings and to ensure effective and streamlined processes across functions. Collaborate with the Manager, Donor Relations to ensure special constituent groups (Teddy Roosevelt Society, Champions Society, 1916 Society) receive strategic engagement opportunities in a timely manner.
• Create and develop standard operating procedures for greater efficiency and effective planning. Standardize and maintain files and improve event planning templates.
• Use relevant metrics to prepare post-event analysis, assess opportunities, and make recommendations for improving engagement events from NPF and donor perspectives.
• Optimizing a collaborative approach with NPF colleagues, draft event-related correspondence in accordance with NPF brand identity, including invitations, recommended copy for relationship managers, follow-up communications, briefing materials, and talking points.
• With savvy interpersonal communication skills and appropriate political acumen, represent NPF while working closely with National Park Service colleagues to develop engagement opportunities and when communicating with NPF leadership volunteers, donors, and prospects.
• With the Senior Director, contribute to departmental budget development. Administer realistic project budgets and ensure they are prudently managed. Track all expenses and financial records relating to engagement, submit timely records to the Finance team, and incorporate expenses in metrics, analysis, and evaluation.
• Ability to attend evening and weekend events as needed. Some travel may be required. 

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES                                                                    

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Three+ years of experience in event planning, hospitality, in either corporate or a nonprofit setting, or donor relations. Prior experience in nonprofit event planning is strongly preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Ability to respond with urgency, excellence, grace, patience, fortitude, and flexibility.
• Knowledge of standard fundraising concepts, effective practices, procedures, and new approaches to system integration related to the position.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail. Manages timelines and responsibilities for several different projects at once, often resulting in making quick decisions and implementing solutions.
• Experience working with donors successfully in a large-scale national campaign or for a complex organization.
• Ability to work effectively independently, within a team environment, and with a multitude of constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and produce high-quality results within designated timeframes; ability to pivot when priorities change.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Zoom and Microsoft Office suite—particularly Teams, Word, and PowerPoint. Experience with relational databases, preferably The Raiser’s Edge or Raiser’s Edge NXT. 
• Exceptional ability to express affinity for the mission of the National Park Foundation.
• Commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

Compensation and Benefits:

The National Park Foundation offers a competitive salary and benefits program. Starting compensation for this opportunity is $70,000 and is commensurate with the level of experience of the candidate. This position is a hybrid and onsite role at NPF’s newly designed headquarters in Washington, DC and will have access to an onsite fitness facility, exciting downtown Washington, DC community and a variety of metro stations. 

FOR CONSIDERATION

For consideration, please include a resume and cover letter in your application materials. 

LOCATION

This position is a hybrid and onsite role at NPF’s newly designed headquarters in Washington, DC. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: 

The National Park Foundation offers a competitive starting salary and a robust benefits program, including a hybrid work environment.