Position: Director of Events and Partnerships
Job Description
The Door was established in 1972 with the vision of creating an innovative youth development model to address the complex needs of young New Yorkers. Today, we serve up to 11,000 youth annually across our four New York City locations, including our lower Manhattan and South Bronx youth centers and two supportive housing sites on the Lower East Side. The Door’s success lies in our commitment to meeting young people where they are and providing them with the comprehensive and integrated services they need to reach their potential. At The Door, youth can access health care and education, mental health counseling and crisis intervention, legal assistance, high school equivalency and college preparation services, career development, housing support, arts, sports and recreational activities, and nutritious meals—all for free and in a diverse, caring, and supportive environment.
Broome Street Academy (BSA), a charter high school embedded at The Door, enrolls up to 330 students, and prioritizes applicants who are experiencing housing instability or have been involved in the child welfare system. The wraparound supports provided in partnership with The Door promote student success in school and in life.
Position Overview:
The Door’s Development and Communications Department is looking for an exceptionally organized and mission-driven full-time Director of Events and Partnerships to join our dynamic and growing 13-person team. This position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer and will be a key member of the Development and Communications leadership team, responsible for all fundraising, marketing, and communications functions within the organization.
The Director will successfully plan and execute all external events for The Door, including cultivation events and fundraising events for the organization. They will also oversee corporate partnerships and partnership strategy for the organization, with a focus on multi-faceted relationships and volunteer engagement while partnering closely with other department leadership and Door program staff. The Director will carry a portfolio of major event donors and corporate partners, and will supervise the Events and Partnerships Coordinator, a role responsible for supporting event execution and corporate volunteerism, in-kind donation partnerships, and the work of The Door Advisory Committee, an engaged and passionate group of professionals who dedicate time and resources to advancing The Door’s mission
The candidate must be flexible and capable of thriving in a high-energy and fast-paced environment. They must be extremely well organized, attentive to detail, and possess an upbeat, positive outlook. To succeed, the applicant must be resourceful, solution-oriented, capable of thinking and working independently, and have excellent communications and technical skills.
Candidates should have experience conceptualizing and executing a wide range of events and working with committees, corporations, and other stakeholder groups. They will work across departments to produce branded, consistent, and effective events that support The Door’s mission and goals.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee the planning, strategy, and execution of all fundraising events, high-end donor cultivation events, major program-related events, and support the execution of other events as needed. Act as the primary point person for The Door’s fall gala, which raised $1.5M in 2024 and has significant growth opportunity.
- Direct and manage all aspects of special event production, including but not limited to site identification, event format/design, committee and donor relations and management, sponsor solicitations and follow-up, auction oversight, vendor and consultant management, and development and maintenance of event budgets.
- Oversee corporate partnership strategy and management, including managing a portfolio of major corporate partners with a goal of developing meaningful, valuable, and multi-faceted relationships that benefit The Door and its programs.
- Oversee the work of the Events and Partnerships Coordinator, including a focus on coaching and strategic partnership, and mentorship for the Coordinator’s role as primary liaison for The Door’s Advisory Committee.
- Partner and collaborate effectively with the Director of Individual and Leadership Giving and other team leadership to ensure alignment with fundraising goals and cohesive donor relationship management.
- Work closely with other Door staff to advise on event requirements, coordinate client speakers/participation, manage deliverables, and make appropriate recommendations for event design.
- Partner with department leadership to develop annual strategic plans in support of all fundraising events and partnerships.
- Develop close, productive relationships with key Board and Advisory Committee members, donors, corporate supporters and Door staff, with a focus on engaging external stakeholders to leverage their personal and corporate contacts to benefit The Door.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of 5 years’ nonprofit event planning experience within a fundraising or development team.
- Bachelor's degree preferred but not required. Equivalent work experience will be considered.
- An experienced people manager who is a strong contributor within team environments and a driver of team culture.
- Experience liaising with and managing volunteer leadership, including host committees, junior boards, and advisory committees.
- Ability to handle multiple priorities, demonstrate a high degree of initiative, work independently and adhere to deadlines.
- Ability to anticipate and satisfy internal (staff) and external (donor) needs.
- Intellectual curiosity and ability to think outside of the box to efficiently solve problems.
- Polished, professional and comfortable liaising with donors and other VIPs, including strong principal management skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
- Impeccable attention to detail.
- Proficiency in MS PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and data processing.
- Experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar fundraising database.
- Enthusiastic, self-motivated, and committed to raising awareness and funds for The Door and Broome Street Academy.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week, with the option of hybrid work 1-2 days a week available. Some evening hours are required.
Compensation: $100,000-$120,000 commensurate with experience, plus a generous benefits package
COVID -19 POLICY
The Door follows the CDC and NYS recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Door requires all new hires to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a qualified exemption.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
