Philanthropy Events & Operations Manager

PHILANTHROPY EVENTS & OPERATIONS MANAGER  

Position Summary 

The Philanthropy Events & Operations Manager supports Friends by leading fundraising events for the organization and overseeing operations for the philanthropy team. As project manager for fundraising events, the Philanthropy Events & Operations Manager is responsible for the planning and execution of cultivation, stewardship and solicitation events to engage supporters of Friends. On the operational side, the Manager provides support and high-level project management for key philanthropy initiatives, working with the Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) to ensure the team has clear goals, roles and responsibilities for all major projects tied to team goals, as defined in the philanthropy annual work plan. 

About Friends of Waterfront Park  

Friends of Waterfront Park (Friends) is a 501c3 non-profit. Through a public-private partnership with the City of Seattle, Friends is leading fundraising and programming, deepening public safety investments, and ensuring long-term stewardship of Waterfront Park now and for generations to come. The organization works closely with the City of Seattle, through Seattle Center, who provides park maintenance and public safety services. This model of a nonprofit managing and ensuring the success of a park is common across major U.S. cities, including Friends of the Highline and Brooklyn Bridge Parks Conservancy in New York and Friends of the Underline in Miami.    

Over 15 years in the making, Waterfront Park project represents a grand community vision for reimagining Seattle’s waterfront in the footprint of the old viaduct, a 1950’s infrastructure; creating a new kind of civic and cultural space. Seattle is a city known for innovation and Waterfront Park represents that spirit – it is so much more than simply a park. Waterfront Park is creating 20-acres of green space, inviting locals and visitors to reconnect with the water, downtown, and each other. It will run from Belltown to Pioneer Square, and has a large urban footprint for programming, activation, and other park uses. Opening in 2025, Waterfront Park will serve as a fresh cultural anchor for downtown, offering free public programming co-curated with communities from across the region.    

Friends’ vision goes far beyond the park’s 20 acres. Alongside the City of Seattle, we envision a common space that is truly safe and welcoming to everyone; a space that is centered in equity. Friends has an opportunity and an inherent responsibility to disrupt patterns of exclusion and serve as a model for public spaces in Seattle and around the country. We have already made progress by working to establish strong community ties and trust and delivering BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community led programs at Pier 62, the first piece of the park to open to the public.  

Land Acknowledgement  

Waterfront Park is situated on the land of the Coast Salish peoples, who have resided here since time immemorial and continue to thrive. With respect and humility, we acknowledge the history of the waterfront, the dispossession of land from the Coast Salish people, and, most importantly, the strength and resilience of Native people and their culture through this history and to the present.  

Equity Commitment    

Friends recognizes and acknowledges historic and existing systemic racism embedded in our city. We are committed to becoming an anti-racist organization by prioritizing racial equity within the organization and in the public spaces we operate.  

Responsibilities

Philanthropy Events 

Two Annual Fundraisers 

• Oversee end-to-end planning and execution of Friends two annual fundraisers (one larger base-building event, Pier Party, and a fundraising dinner), developing milestones and provide ongoing project management with leads from other departments (Marketing & Communications, Community Impact & Programs, and Park Experience)
• Communicate event strategy, goals and high-level plans to staff, board, and event committee members  
• Project manage marketing of events and facilitate design process in collaboration with Marketing & Communications team
• Coordinate logistics with event vendors such as catering, A/V, artistic talent, photographer, and emcee
• Support sponsor outreach and help secure support for events and ensure delivery of sponsor benefits
• Work with Philanthropy Database Coordinator on registration forms and data collection for events
• Track event budgets, attendance, and progress toward event goals 
• Serve as main point of contact for staff, volunteers, partners and event attendees
• Collaborate with department leads to develop event program and timeline
• Recruit, train, and manage a group of staff and volunteers for pre-event and event tasks
• Oversee accurate event registration, donation, and follow-up
• Manage and problem-solve any day-of issues with attendees, vendors, or volunteers
• Ensure events are accessible through live captioning, interpretation, access to necessary spaces, and other needs as communicated by the community 

Cultivation & Stewardship Events 

• Plan and execute of 3-6 small cultivation or stewardship events each year – in 2025 this will be several donor stewardship events 
• Support group waterfront walks or tours as needed
• Serve as philanthropy lead for milestone opening events in 2025, including planning and execution of the Community Preview planned by the CIP team. 

Philanthropy Team Operations/Project Management 

• Serve as project manager for team-wide and large cross functional projects, tracking team tasks, timelines, and outcomes
• Provide high level project management for the team, ensuring use team frameworks and templates for all shared projects
• In collaboration with the CPO, ensure implementation of teamwork plan, setting check in milestones with team members for their areas of responsibility  
• Set agendas and facilitate weekly team meetings 

Collaboration, Values, and Culture 

• Collaboration
  • Collaborate as a member of the Philanthropy Team, providing thought partnership and support as needed.
  • Assist with philanthropy events and other activities as needed.
  • Work collaboratively with and learn from the entire organization, and with external partners, stakeholders, and community.
• Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEIA)
  • Contribute to an inclusive workplace culture and adhere to Friends’ Community Agreements.
  • Engage in regular conversations about race and equity through all-staff meetings, trainings.
  • Incorporate values of DEAI in all facets of this job and when collaborating across teams.
• Community
  • Incorporate the org-wide value/ethos of centering community throughout work (e.g., attend community events, seek out and listen to diverse communities and perspectives).  
  • Contribute as the Philanthropy Team incorporates principles of Community-Centric Fundraising in our work.
• Culture: Contribute to organizational culture by participating in team building activities to help build a fun, welcoming, and productive workplace. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• 2-4 years of experience with fundraising, event management, or project management 
• Bachelor’s Degree or any other work experience or credentials that demonstrate knowledge and skills.  
• A commitment to incorporating Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Justice (DEAI) in all facets of your work  
• Interest in and ability to build relationships on behalf of Friends  
• Strong communication skills and commitment to collaboration
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously  
• Ability to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner  
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally, manage up and down, and keep the project team moving to help ensure coordinated, integrated, and efficient workflow  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and online meeting tools, such as Zoom and Teams  
• Must be able to pass a background check 

Desired Qualifications 

• Lived experience and/or cultural competency with underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous, Latine, disabled, and/or LGBTQ communities, and the ability to bring this lens to conversations about anti-racism, anti-oppression and embedding equity in all aspects of work 
• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana)  
• Experience with Salesforce or another constituent relationship management (CRM) database  
• Nonprofit experience  
• Experience with print and digital marketing and communications tools  

Compensation and Benefits   

The Philanthropy Events & Operations Manager is a full-time, exempt position. The annual salary range for this position is $81,000-$89,700. Friends has created a compensation philosophy and salary framework to set compensation organization-wide. The final salary offer is dependent on how the candidate’s skills, abilities, and experience align with Friends’ salary framework: Level: Manager II, Tiers 1-3. 

Benefits include (but are not limited to): Paid time off, health and dental coverage for employees and dependents, defined contribution retirement plan with 3% match and ORCA regional transit pass (does not include Washington State Ferries).   

Working Conditions* 

This role is based in Seattle, WA. Friends has office space located at Pier 56. Typical office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 – 5 pm. 

• This position should aim for 60-80% of the work being in-person at Friends’ office. 
• The office on Pier 56 is accessible via stairs or elevator. The office is on the second/top floor.
• The office building contains a parent’s room, wellness room, kitchen, and several meeting rooms. Restrooms have braille labels.   
• Weekend and evening work required depending on season and events; staff flex their work schedule to accommodate while maintaining a healthy work/life balance.  
• Friends follows King County Public Health guidelines regarding COVID-19.  

The physical requirements of this role listed below are representative of those that may need to be met by an employee in this role:   

• Operating a computer and other office equipment. 
• Strong verbal and written communication capabilities – ability to interact with customers through phone, in-person and email communications.
• Ability to work in an open office format with a fluctuating noise level – Friends' office is an open floor plan, and teams often meet in person to collaborate. Noise levels can be low to moderate.  Music and ferry horns can often be heard from the office. However, noise cancelling headphones and other accommodations may be provided.  
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds; however, reasonable assistance with lifting or moving items can be provided. 

*Individual reasonable accommodations can be discussed upon request. 

How To Apply 

Click the Apply link to submit your application. You will be asked to upload a resume and to answer the following questions in lieu of a cover letter: 

1. How many cumulative years of experience do you have with fundraising, event management, or project management?
2. In about 3-5 sentences, tell us about one of your favorite events you organized and the key thing that made it successful.
3. In about 3-5 sentences, describe how you approach organizing projects across teams?
4. In about 3-5 sentences, describe your journey to understand anti-racism and anti-oppression. And what does it currently mean for you to embed equity into your work? 

Friends is committed to improving hiring practices to be more inclusive and anti-ableist. We have reviewed the job requirements and only include physical abilities when completely necessary. During the interview process, we email the panel questions ahead of time. We are also able to provide captioning and/or interpretation (e.g., ASL) if requested. If you need specific assistance and/or accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please let us know by emailing our People & Culture team at hiring@waterfrontparkseattle.org.     

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority will be given to applications received by Friday, April 25, 2025.

Salary : $81,000 - $89,700