Corporate & Special Events Manager

Salary Range is $60,000-$70,000
Spanish-speaking differential available; additional $1.00 per hour for employees who demonstrate and maintain Spanish language proficiency and are willing to use this skill for Wayside Waifs' business purposes.

As Kansas City’s largest and most comprehensive no kill pet adoption campus, Wayside Waifs prepares pets and people for the bond of their lives. More than 40,000 pets and people are served annually through pet adoptions, youth education, canine training programs, and community outreach. Wayside is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity with regional and national reach. It is supported entirely by private donations and grants. To see all of the animals available for adoptions or to donate, please visit WaysideWaifs.org.

Job Summary: Lead Wayside Waifs’ special events program, while collaborating with the Donor Relations Team. Coordinate, implement, expand, and evaluate special event activities to meet goals. Identify, develop, and cultivate relationships with corporate sponsors to create meaningful engagement experiences. This position supervises one staff member. .

Principle Responsibilities:

1. Primary staff person leading logistics for Wayside Waifs’ special event fundraising program. Collaborate with Donor Relations Team to plan, implement, expand and evaluate events, including Wayside’s two signature events; the Fur Ball Gala and Strutt With Your Mutt to meet goals. This includes, but not limited to, event logistics, promotions, event creative/décor, vendor relations, printing, set up/tear down, donor correspondence, volunteer recruitment and supervision, audio/visual needs, participant check in, donation documentation, data analysis/trends, and working with event committee/chairs.
2. Identify and coordinate marketing and promotion of third party/external events, raising $125,000. (Events like: Bark at the K, Hambingo, Trees of Hope, 12 Bars of Charity, puppy parties, Cane’s Holiday Plushie Campaign, etc.)
3. Manage Wayside’s LinkedIn profile and all LinkedIn communications.
4. With support from the Volunteer Department, recruit, train, and manage Community Ambassador Volunteer Committee to represent the organization at various community events.
5. Primary relationship manager for 15 corporate donors.
6. One direct report, the Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC). The CEC manages corporate volunteer groups, the Fur Ball silent auction, and signature special event volunteers.
7. Work with Donor Relations Team on special event invoicing, fulfillment and reconciliation of donations, expenses and correspondence. Answer Donor Relations telephone line as needed. Make donor thank you calls.
8. Perform other duties as required.

1. Have a commitment to the mission of Wayside Waifs with a collaborative and curious mindset that embraces innovation and growth.
2. Must be able to work independently as well as have the ability to multi-task and collaborate with others on a team to achieve goals in a busy office environment. Due to collaboration required, position in not hybrid/remote.
3. Project management.
4. Ability to approach emotionally sensitive aspects of animal welfare with professionalism, empathy, and resilience.
5. Must be able to lift 50lbs waist height.
6. This position requires an understanding of all of Wayside Waifs’ safety policies and compliance with all safety related procedures.

1. Required Experience and Skills
   1. 2 years in special events, fund development, project management, or communications in the non-profit environment.
   2. Computer literacy with experience in Microsoft Office Products
   3. Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills
   4. Ability to take initiative, coordinate with others and follow through
   5. Ability to proactively problem solve and find creative solutions
   6. Social media and marketing expertise
   7. Strategic thinker
   8. Excellent customer/donor service skills with a commitment to creating a Culture of Philanthropy at Wayside Waifs
   9. Experience working with high-level donors and corporate executives to engage them in the fundraising process.
2. Preferred Experience
   1. 5+ years in special events, fund development or non-profit environment
   2. Donor database management: experience with Raisers’ Edge software and online event or auction management software preferred
   3. Managing and implementing large scale special events (500+ attendees/gross revenues of $350,000+)
   4. Documented history of growing special event fundraising revenue.
   5. 3+ years working with individual donors and/or corporate sponsors; including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and recognition.
3. Required Education
   1. High school degree; Bachelor’s Degree in communications, public relations, journalism, nonprofit management, preferred
   2. Bilingual(English and Spanish) preferred, but not required