Events and Outreach Coordinator

Are you looking for fun and fast-paced work for a great cause? Seattle Area Feline Rescue is seeking an organized and outgoing Events and Outreach Coordinator who is excited about engaging the community to help cats! In this position, your primary responsibilities will include planning and executing fundraising and outreach events. The biggest of these is SAFe’s annual fall Nine Lives Gala (September, 2025).

SAFe’s Events and Outreach Coordinator will work under the guidance of a fundraising events consultant to coordinate the 2025 Nine Lives Gala. Additionally, this person will work to grow our mid-sized events and create new ones, as well as collaborate with the Adoptions team on offsite adoption events. The Events & Outreach Coordinator will also work with the Development Team to help cultivate and acknowledge individual and corporate donors year-round.

Job Purpose

The Events & Outreach Coordinator raises awareness about SAFe’s programs with the public, builds positive and appreciative relationships with supporters, inspires the community to help cats and the humans who love them, and creates events that connect attendees to SAFe Rescue’s mission. In addition to coordinating with a special event consultant on the Nine Lives Gala, this person will coordinate 2-3 midsize events/year, and 1-2 smaller events each month.

Duties and responsibilities

Event Planning and Execution

• In collaboration with the team, oversee the planning and practical elements of each event and carry out pre-event preparations. (E.g. soliciting, organizing, and posting auction items; recruiting and training volunteers, creating silent auction baskets, etc.)
• Coordinate event details with venues and vendors.
• Ensure that event data is up-to-date, and enter data into the LGL and Auctria databases. (E.g. entering ticket sales and meal choices, assigning guests to tables, editing sales settings, entering and describing donated items, etc.)
• Collaborate with the Development Team to build and steward relationships with businesses to help secure event sponsorships and product donations.
• Procure donated items and service sponsorships from local businesses via email, phone, and mail.
• Coordinate volunteers and staff working the event, including setting the event night schedule.
• Work with the team to plan and execute the event components of online fundraising campaigns (e.g. live-streamed power hour events during GiveBIG), and take the lead in carrying out some aspects of these events.
• Work with the Adoption Center Manager to build our capacity for offsite adoption events and be the staff member on duty at those events.

Relationship Building

• Work with the Development Team to cultivate and thank individual supporters and business partners.
• Serve as the staff contact for the Events & Outreach Committee, recruiting committee members, planning meetings, and supporting and encouraging committee projects.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer Coordinator to recruit, train, supervise, and appreciate event and outreach volunteers.

Communications

• Coordinate marketing and guest communications for events, including both online content and mailings. (E.g. social media posts, invitation mailings, guest follow-up surveys, auction presentation slides, etc.)
• Design communications such as invitations or event materials and/or collaborate with volunteer Graphic Designers to create event materials.
• Collaborate with the Development Team to create compelling event-night messaging.
• Assist with keeping the website and social media platforms up to date.

Donor Care

• Assist the Development Team in keeping CRM up-to-date and acknowledging supporters.
• Acknowledge and cultivate crowd-funding and social media donors.
• Track and acknowledge gifts from Adoption Center visitors and strategize to increase in-person gifts.
• Collaborate on other fundraising endeavors, including corporate partnerships, grants, and merchant fundraising.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

The ideal candidate for this position will have a passion for saving cats, enjoy raising support for a good cause, and be enthusiastic about working with people. This position involves keeping track of numerous details and deadlines and requires reliability, punctuality, advanced time management, and organizational and multitasking skills.

Qualifications include:

• Ability to meet competing deadlines and track numerous tasks while maintaining a dedication to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, identify priorities, and use goals to stay organized.
• Experience with non-profit databases (familiarity with Auctria and Little Green Light preferred)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to write professionally and adapt to the Rescue’s voice.
• “Can-do” attitude and enthusiasm to build positive, encouraging relationships with stakeholders.
• Adaptability and the capacity to stay calm and troubleshoot any issues that arise while working in a fast-paced environment.
• Enthusiasm for working in collaboration with others.
• Your own reliable transportation and the ability to drive the Rescue’s cargo van.
• Comfort handling cats and maintaining sanitation protocols and/or willingness to learn.

Preferred Skills, & Experience:

• Understanding of relationship-building and principles of fundraising.
• Experience recruiting guests and donors for fundraising events.
• Experience using GSuite products, Canva, Photoshop, MailChimp, Google Adwords, WordPress, and similar software.
• Comfortable using social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok’s business features.
• Working with and managing volunteers.
• Comfortable with public speaking in-person and on camera.
• Experience managing or assisting with fundraising events (live and silent auction experience preferred)

Working conditions

• This position will have a regular Tuesday-Saturday schedule with the majority of work taking place in person during office hours in order to collaborate with the Development/Communications Team. Some evenings and work on some Sundays will be required, including on event days.
• Working with large events is fast-paced and involves managing multiple tasks and responsibilities in a sometimes distracting environment.
• Due to the nature of shelter work, employees may be exposed to deceased, fractious, or aggressive animals; hostile or irate persons; parasites, zoonotic or other diseases, unpleasant noises, odors, or sights; disinfectants and chemicals; and extreme temperatures.

Physical requirements

• Ability to operate a computer, tablet, and smartphone.
• Physical ability to lift, push, or pull 30 pounds for donated items/event supplies is optimal, but not required.
• Ability to drive the Rescue’s cargo van.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Employee Benefits

• Paid sick, holiday, and vacation time
• Health & vision insurance with employer contribution
• Employer-sponsored retirement account
• Pet supplies and some veterinary services are available to purchase at cost
• Option to purchase Colonial Life supplemental insurance policy

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday, with some evening and additional weekend hours for events

Pay: $20.00 - $21.00 per hour

About SAFe Rescue

Seattle Area Feline Rescue takes in homeless cats and kittens, gives them the care they need to recover, and finds them loving homes. Over 1,500 felines, including seniors and special needs cats, find homes here each year as people in search of new friends visit our welcoming storefront Adoption Center. An extensive network of community volunteers and foster families helps the rescue carry out its mission to save more lives. Seattle Area Feline Rescue provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal state and local laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $21.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Loan forgiveness
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Every weekend

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $21