Special Events Manager Jobs in Ridgewood, NJ (NOW HIRING)

DREAM seeks a Special Events Manager (posted as the Fundraising Events Manager) to join its Advancement team. Reporting to the Director of Special Events, this role is responsible for supporting the planning, coordination, and execution of DREAM’s fundraising and donor engagement events while serving as the operational project manager for the Advancement department.

Working closely with the Director of Special Events, Advancement Operations Manager, Database Manager, Advancement leadership, and cross-functional partners, this role manages event logistics, departmental operations, project management, volunteer engagement, and donor stewardship activities that support DREAM’s fundraising priorities.

As an operational lead for Advancement events and departmental initiatives, this role translates strategic event plans into seamless execution, exceptional donor experiences, and effective cross-functional collaboration.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly organized, collaborative, and solutions-oriented professional who enjoys managing complex projects, building strong relationships, and creating exceptional experiences that strengthen donor engagement and organizational impact.

• Partner with the Director of Special Events to execute DREAM's annual portfolio of fundraising, cultivation, stewardship, and donor engagement events.
• Develop and manage detailed event project plans, timelines, and operational checklists to ensure successful event execution.
• Oversee event logistics, including venue coordination, vendor management, production schedules, staffing plans, décor, guest experience, and day-of operations, partnering with the Advancement Operations Coordinator on event registration, guest communications, and administrative event support.
• Partner with the Communications team to coordinate event branding, invitations, collateral, programs, signage, and promotional materials.
• Coordinate sponsorship fulfillment, volunteer engagement, and cross-functional planning with internal stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with vendors, consultants, and external partners supporting Advancement events.
• Support the Director of Special Events during fundraising events by overseeing day-of operational execution and resolving operational issues as they arise.
• Conduct post-event evaluations and recommend operational improvements to strengthen future events.

• Support the planning and execution of volunteer, cultivation, and stewardship experiences in partnership with the Director of Special Events, Advancement Operations Manager, and frontline fundraisers.
• Coordinate event logistics and operational support for donor engagement activities to ensure a seamless participant experience.
• Support stewardship fulfillment, donor recognition, and in-kind donor engagement following fundraising events.

• Partner with the Database Manager to support accurate event revenue tracking, reconciliation, and the timely recording of event attendee, sponsorship, and donor data.
• Monitor event-related key performance indicators and leverage dashboards and reporting to evaluate event performance and inform future planning.
• Support gift acknowledgment, stewardship, and post-event data management in collaboration with the Database Manager and frontline fundraisers.
• Identify opportunities to improve event operations, workflows, and reporting in partnership with the Director of Special Events and Database Manager.

• Coordinate cross-functional projects and operational workstreams, maintaining project plans, timelines, and stakeholder communication to ensure successful execution of Advancement priorities.
• Support the planning and execution of departmental operational priorities, partnering with the Advancement Operations Coordinator to maintain shared resources and operational documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve Advancement operations through effective project management, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• The Special Events Manager is part of the Advancement Team, which currently works 3 days in the office and up to 2 days remote, per week (subject to change, and with some weeks requiring more time in-person, for example for donor events).
• Some evening and/or weekend work, for example to prepare for and attend donor events, is required.

• Flexible Medical Health Plans,  subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave; 
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment;
• Access to a professional development fund;
• Referral bonuses;
• All full-time Network Support employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays;
• Benefits are subject to change.

• DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $80,000 to $95,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.