Vice President of Development and Special Events

ABOUT BROOKLYN ORG

Brooklyn Org is a champion for Brooklyn. We celebrate Brooklyn’s brilliance and resilience, its incomparable culture and uncompromising grit – and we demand more for our communities.

Over our 15-year history, we have reimagined the role of philanthropy and provided immeasurable support to communities and nonprofit partners that are leading transformational change for Brooklyn. With a new model for community philanthropy, we are bringing together Brooklynites, Brooklyn backers, businesses, and broader believers in equity and justice to make Brooklyn a beacon for the world.

We are a platform for galvanizing giving. We are here to ensure that ideas are met with resources, challenges are met with solutions, and inequity is met with justice.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Vice President of Development will be an experienced development professional and a creative, strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to fundraising. This individual will lead donor cultivation and stewardship efforts, executing high-impact events that enhance Brooklyn Org’s mission and presence. This role encompasses strategic direction, administration, and event development, collaborating closely with leadership and the Development team to create inspiring programs and events for the Brooklyn community. The Vice President will be responsible for donor engagement, event logistics, budgeting, vendor management, and enhancing our approach to event management technologies.

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and working closely with the CEO and executive team as a key leader in donor engagement and event execution.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Donor Cultivation and Engagement: Lead efforts in cultivating new donors and engaging current ones, ensuring thoughtful and timely follow-ups with prospective and existing donors, including Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) holders.
• Grant Management: Oversee the grant application process, supporting efforts to secure corporate and institutional support with the CDO.
• Event Leadership: Manage two major annual fundraisers (SPARK Breakfast and Changemakers Ball) with a focus on increasing attendance and fundraising outcomes annually, in collaboration with the CDO.
• Event Development: Organize and execute small and midsized donor cultivation events that align with our strategic goals and brand standards.
• Event Strategy and Operations: Provide strategic leadership for events, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, developing and monitoring event revenue and expense budgets.
• Vendor and Contract Management: Handle complex contract negotiations and vendor management, working with the finance team to review and resolve billing, payments, and invoicing.
• Policy and Compliance: Develop, implement, and refine event policies, procedures, and guidelines with support from the CDO.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with the Communications team on event promotion, including website updates, mobile app content, and print materials.
• Supervision and Mentorship: Provide leadership and mentorship to staff involved in event management functions, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment.
• Other Duties: Undertake additional responsibilities as assigned to support Brooklyn Org’s mission.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree, advanced business degree, or CMP preferred.
• Proven experience in fundraising with a strong acumen for donor engagement and event management.
• Minimum of 8 years in development, including project management, business planning, and technology integration for events; experience in nonprofit or association settings strongly preferred.
• Expertise in managing multiple large vendor contracts simultaneously.
• Supervisory and staff development experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to connect with a diverse range of constituents.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to engage with senior stakeholders and business partners.
• Strong budget management capabilities.
• Ability to creatively problem-solve, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of the nonprofit sector, including grant-making, charitable giving, and fiscal sponsorships.
• Commitment to racial equity and familiarity with Brooklyn nonprofits is a plus.
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential information.

DIVERSITY

In alignment with its Racial Justice Lens, the Organization is committed to maintaining a staff that diversifies philanthropy, including lifting up the leadership of people from communities historically underrepresented in the field and those directly affected by structural racism, centering them in decision-making. Additionally, BKO does not base any hiring decisions on an applicant’s history of involvement in the criminal justice system.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Brooklyn Org is an equal opportunity employer. The Organization does not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.