Event Manager

Summary

Are you passionate about the field of education? Excited by the idea of helping to inspire civic participation at this critical moment for American democracy? Looking for an entrepreneurial fundraising role that allows you to be creative, hands-on, and part of recruiting the next generation of engaged supporters? The Gilder Lehrman Institute’s Development team is looking for you!

We are currently seeking an Event Manager, reporting to the Director of Development, to lead and continue to evolve our dynamic calendar of events. The right candidate will have exceptional project management, collaboration, and communication skills, and take pride in impeccable attention to detail. The Institute’s key events, held in New York City, include:

The Annual Gala, our largest fundraising event of the year (held in May), which draws approximately 300 people including leaders from the business, civic, and philanthropic sectors, as well as leading scholars and historians. Our 2023 honorees were Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Valerie Rockefeller, and Debbie and Craig Stapleton.

Book Prize ceremonies (e.g., the Frederick Douglass Book Prize and the Lincoln Prize), which serve as donor cultivation activities by providing access to renowned historians engaging in dialogue about their award-winning scholarship on pivotal topics.

The National History Teacher of the Year celebration, honoring an exceptional American history K–12 teacher and celebrating the profound impact that educators have in the life and civic engagement of their students. Past award presenters include the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor, Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, First Lady Laura Bush, former US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Hamilton events, which bring together current and potential donors to learn about our Hamilton Education Program over a lunch followed by attendance at a matinee. At the matinee, they join more than 1,000 students from Title I–eligible schools across New York City who experience the Broadway production and a cast Q&A, complementing their participation in our unique EduHam curriculum as part of their history class.

Additionally, throughout the year the Institute hosts smaller cultivation events, such as private cocktail receptions and dinners, that help broaden awareness of our work among potential investors.

The Event Manager will be joining the Institute at a dynamic time, as we approach our 30th anniversary (in 2024) and continue to enhance and expand our nonpartisan K–12 and public programming in response to the urgent needs of the moment.

This role will be based in New York City, and currently requires working in person at least one day per week in GLI’s midtown office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Commitment to GLI’s mission and enthusiasm for communicating the mission to external audiences
• At least two years of prior fundraising experience preferred, though candidates with other compelling experience related to the role and/or GLI’s mission will be considered
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and manage overlapping projects while remaining focused on quality in a fast-paced and goal-oriented environment
• Ability to “think on your feet,” provide direction and assistance, anticipating problems and developing solutions
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively as well as operate independently
• Team-oriented with a desire to participate in creating a strong team culture
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications
• Familiarity with Salesforce a plus
• Must be able to manage events after traditional business hours

Duties

• Managing the production of events through the use of strong project plans and workflow tools to set, assign, track, and advance critical tasks from event kickoff to completion
• For the annual gala, collaborating with and helping to manage an external consultant that supports select aspects of event planning, invitations and guest outreach, and other logistics
• Collaborating with the Development Director and Institute President to create run-of-show outlines that elevate the voice of the students and teachers we serve and the historians they learn from
• Recruiting and, as relevant, scripting and preparing teachers and students that are part of event programs
• Developing and leading thoughtful, strategic meeting agendas with the Development Director, President, and other collaborators to efficiently advance event planning goals
• Working with the Marketing team to plan and ensure execution of an overall communications plan for each event; working with this team, and with outside vendors, to create compelling video and print assets to support event goals
• Managing event invitations and RSVP tracking, working with the Director of Development on guest lists, and liaising with our IT and Marketing teams and external designers and mail houses as relevant
• Evaluating and securing event space and related vendors; working with venues, a/v teams, and others to ensure a seamless attendee experience for each event
• Serving as the day-of-event point person for venues, vendors, Gilder Lehrman staff, and other event participants; recruiting and preparing GLI staff volunteers for each event
• Managing budgets, tracking event expenses, and working with the Finance team to ensure payments are processed on time
• Streamlining and strengthening event workflow by proactively seeking opportunities to create/refine systems that support effective management and memorialize best practices for future event cycles