Director of Events

Position Summary

Director of Events & Philanthropy, People & Culture

The Director of Events & Philanthropy, People & Culture is a dynamic, creative, and highly organized leader who drives Madi's House's event fundraising and community engagement, while also ensuring the organization recruits, retains, and supports exceptional staff and volunteers. This is a dual-focus role with a heavy emphasis on planning, producing, and leveraging events—from intimate donor gatherings to large-scale galas and community awareness events—that fuel fundraising, deepen engagement, and amplify Madi's House's mission. The HR component ensures Madi's House has the people, culture, and compliance practices in place to thrive as a growing nonprofit.

Madi's House is the first and only free, community hangout space for young adults managing mental health struggles and/or substance use disorder in the Tri-state area. Young adults come to Madi's House to hang out after inpatient care as a bridge between organized treatment and returning to everyday life. We are a safe and judgement free space to help young adults find community and like-minded friends while filling their time with healthy programs.

Key Responsibilities

Event Leadership

• Lead the full life cycle of all Madi's House events, including annual galas, donor cultivation events, young professional mixers, awareness campaigns, and community celebrations in collaboration with the CEO.
• Create and manage a master annual events calendar, balancing fundraising, stewardship, and mission-driven programming.
• Direct logistics: venue selection, contracts, permits, vendor management, décor, catering, AV, entertainment, security, and guest experience.
• Develop event budgets and financial projections, track ROI, ticket sales, sponsorship revenue, and in-kind contributions.
• Collaborate with Marketing/Communications on promotional campaigns, social media content, and event branding as directed by CEO.
• Cultivate and assist in managing event committees, volunteer groups, and community partners.
• Organize and manage event sponsorships, auction items, and in-kind donations
• Oversee guest registration, seating, donor recognition, and post-event follow-up.
• Serve as the lead ambassador on-site, ensuring smooth execution, donor recognition, and a welcoming environment.

Philanthropy & Fundraising

• Partner with the CEO and Board Development Committee to set annual fundraising goals and strategies.
• Expand major gifts, sponsorship, and donor pipeline through event engagement.
• Build relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations, translating event participation into year-round giving.
• Coordinate with grant writer(s) or consultants to align events with broader development efforts.
• Maintain accurate donor records in CRM and track donor touchpoints connected to events.
• Produce donor stewardship reports and presentations that highlight the impact of events.

Human Resources Leadership

• Oversee full employee life cycle: recruitment, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and retention strategies.
• Ensure compliance with employment law, nonprofit best practices, and internal policies.
• Support a healthy organizational culture rooted in Madi's House's mission, inclusivity, and wellbeing.
• Coordinate staff recognition and team-building events, ensuring employees feel valued and connected.
• Partner with Finance/Operations on payroll, benefits administration, and HR documentation.
• Support volunteer engagement and recognition, ensuring alignment with HR practices.

Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and organizational growth.
• Provide updates to the CEO regarding development, events, and HR metrics.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration between operations, programming, and marketing.
• Supervise and mentor development/HR staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including responsibilities that may fall outside the traditional scope of development, HR, or event management, in order to support the overall mission and success of Madi's House.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, Hospitality/Event Management, or related field (Master's preferred).
• 7+ years of managerial experience, with emphasis on project management and fundraising events.
• Proven track record of producing large-scale events and managing event committees.
• Strong HR or people-management experience
• Excellent relationship-builder with donors, sponsors, vendors, and community partners.
• High-level organizational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively across teams and with leadership.
• Comfort with CRM systems, event management software, and digital engagement tools.
• Passion for mental health advocacy and Madi's House's mission.

Working Conditions & Expectations

• Full-time exempt role; must be willing to work nights and weekends for programming and events.
• Ability to lift event materials (up to 30 lbs) and manage event setup/breakdown.
• Local travel for donor meetings and vendor site visits.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $68,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person