Our Mission

We are educators and advocates. We are a multi-racial, intergenerational, LGBTQ+ organization working nationally and locally to transform K-12 educational systems and democracy in the US.

GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike.

The Challenge

GLSEN seeks an exceptional, results-oriented Director of Events & Experiences to build upon its dynamic events program and to support the organization's growing momentum. The successful candidate will be an accomplished individual with superior planning and execution skills and the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with the Deputy Executive Director for Development and management team to meet the financial needs of GLSEN's strategic vision. The department's mission is to produce never-before-seen, emotional experiences that will connect diverse target audiences across the supporter continuum to GLSEN’s timely programmatic, policy and research work around country. Each project inspires attendees to give urgently while raising national awareness of the challenges facing LGBTQ+ students today.

Primary Function

Reporting to the Deputy Executive Director for Development, the Director of Events & Experiences provides the leadership and coordination of GLSEN’s event and fundraising strategies. As the Director of Events & Experiences, you will build and lead your team's strategy, vision, and approach to successfully manage a wide portfolio of multifaceted revenue streams that include, but not limited to: GLSEN’s nationally recognized Respect Award galas in New York and LA, Pride, Donor and Constituent engagement events.

Reporting Relationships and Volunteer Support

The Director of Events & Experiences reports directly to the Deputy Executive Director for Development. The Director will be responsible building event leadership structures with external stakeholders, managing event committees made up of board members, corporate partners, celebrities, influencers and high-profile executives to achieve fundraising and audience growth goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop a strategy to generate $4+ million annually through experiential fundraising events.
• In partnership with Development leadership: solicit and close five- and six-figure event gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals.
• Develop and fulfill customized sponsorship proposals.
• Work across cross-functional internal teams (marketing, finance, major gifts/philanthropy, corporate partnerships, programs, etc.) to achieve strategic priorities.
• Create and manage fundraising timelines and work towards monthly revenue targets.
• Contract collateral designers for fundraising materials including invitations and pitch decks; vet all external-facing materials for internal approvals with department leads.
• Research new innovations in experiential fundraising.
• Develop a suite of in-person and/or virtual Speaker Series events intended to introduce new audiences to GLSENs work and educate current supporters about important issues facing LGBTQ+ students today.
• Provide guidance to staff and vendors leading in the following areas: venue, production, logistics, and catering.
• Assemble and manage detailed production timelines and budgets in a collaborative and fast-paced environment. Meet and deliver projects on or under budget.
• Provide onsite event leadership to staff, volunteers, and program participants.
• Create pre-event planning decks and post-event summaries for internal and external stakeholders as needed.
• Evaluate event performance, post-event ROI, and wrap-up reports.
• Serve as a trustworthy mentor and leader, bringing new ideas and ways to scale.
• Develop and nurture a diverse and high-quality staff that is well prepared to meet the goals of a growing organization.
• Represent the organization at external partnership events.
• Foster an environment of cohesiveness and collaboration with colleagues across all departments and serve as a collegial and participatory member of the organization's management team.
• Guide high level corporate partners through each step of the process - from prospecting to pitching to contracting, partnership launch, partnership execution, and renewal.
• Track partnership impact against our goals in collaboration with program, finance, and marketing teams to communicate back to partners and show our progress.
• Build strong professional relationships with corporate partner leadership.
• Other tasks, duties, or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

• The intellectual depth, entrepreneurial drive, maturity, self-confidence, interpersonal skills, and warmth to build and maintain relationships with people at all levels of the organization, across a diverse range of educational and social backgrounds.
• Excellent strategic, organizational and project management skills and the ability to simultaneously plan and execute multiple projects.
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing revenue targets and events for a minimum of 7 years and an understanding of the current best practices and emerging trends in the sector.
• Strong track record of managing 7-figure events.
• Excellent communication skills—both oral and written—with an ability to inspire others to support GLSEN and become fundraising agents for its mission.
• Proven analytical and strategic skills, with experience creating strategic fundraising plans and objectives, and the detail orientation and follow-through to implement those plans.
• Proven ability to build a cohesive, high-performing staff and work teams and to develop the skills and nurture the professional growth of staff members.
• Knowledge of national LGBTQ+, education, civil rights and other relevant funding communities.
• You care about LGBTQ+ youth. You care about changing and saving lives. You want to come to work (physically and virtually) and feel inspired every day and you want to inspire others. You want to change the world for all youth in our K-12 education system.
• You like to have fun. The work we do is very serious and extremely impactful, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have fun. We know how to have a good time and you should too.
• An appreciation for the mission and growth aspirations of GLSEN.
• Familiarity with Salesforce, Box, Cvent, Social Tables, Microsoft Power BI, and Fundraise Up.

This position is located in GLSEN’s New York City headquarters; position is primarily remote. For more information see GLSEN's website at www.glsen.org. To apply, please submit your resume and letter of interest to: paul.irwindudek@glsen.org, Deputy Executive Director for Development.

Compensation up to $120K negotiable DOE – Health Benefits from day one.

GLSEN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly encourage people of color, of diverse gender identities, women and non-LGBT persons to apply.