What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate, Events position at The Robin Hood Foundation?
Associate, Events
About Robin Hood
Founded in 1988, Robin Hood finds, fuels, and creates the most impactful and scalable solutions lifting families out of poverty in New York City. The largest poverty fighting organization in New York City, Robin Hood partners with top nonprofits in New York City and invests in legal services, housing, meals, workforce development training, education programs, and other vital services that give New Yorkers in need the tools they need to build better lives. The programs it funds are often the first of their kind and serve as demonstration models to identify what works before being replicated in other cities. Because its Board of Directors covers 100% of all administrative, fundraising, and evaluation costs, every dollar donated goes directly to organizations helping New Yorkers in need.
While Robin Hood’s primary focus is on New York, its impact extends far beyond the borders of the city. Its pioneering, metrics-based approach has become the gold standard for charities around the nation as Robin Hood works to understand and evaluate the impact of its partners to ensure that its philanthropic dollars are utilized to maximum impact. Robin Hood also supports its community partners and their leaders with financial and strategic support and management assistance that allows those organizations to maximize their impact.
Building on our 30 years of experience, Robin Hood is expanding our impact with an explicit focus on lifting families sustainably and measurably out of poverty through supporting the most effective community partners; influencing public policy; raising our thought leadership profile; importing and exporting effective ideas and strategies nationally; and building new collaborations with strategic partners. As New York City emerges from the worst of the global pandemic, we are focused on getting families back on their feet; getting kids back on track; and getting New Yorkers back to work.
Robin Hood also understands that if we are to support families living in poverty and find permanent pathways out of poverty and towards financial independence, we must become an effective partner with government, especially at the City and State levels. We do this by leveraging the expertise of those who are closest to the challenges of poverty, including community members, community-based organizations, and others with specialized skills and knowledge. We also aim to collaborate with New York City government to fund program and policy innovations that hold the promise of expanding economic opportunity in New York City – providing nimble “risk capital” for high-potential strategies. In this way, we seek to leverage our philanthropic investments by finding ways to advance the highest-impact strategies at scale.
Given its long-standing reputation among influencers and support of over 200 New York City non-profit organizations, Robin Hood has the unique ability to be a catalyzing force for households experiencing poverty, bringing distinct constituencies together to develop and spread the most effective strategies to advance economic mobility in New York City and beyond.
Reporting Relationship
This position will report to the Director of Events.
Position Overview
The Associate of Events plays a critical operational role and is an integral member of the team responsible for the largest single-night fundraiser in the world in addition to other events. These events introduce new donors to Robin Hood, engage existing supporters, and generate up to 50% of Robin Hood’s annual revenue.
The Associate reports to the Senior Manager of Events and collaborates across the Events, Marketing & Sponsorships team and the broader Development team. This role provides logistical, operational, and administrative support to ensure the successful execution of Robin Hood events. By learning core event planning and project management skills, the Associate contributes to deepening donor engagement, improving systems and processes, and supporting Robin Hood’s mission.
The Associate must demonstrate eagerness to learn, attention to detail, and the ability to support high-quality, purpose-driven events. This role offers hands-on experience with budgeting, vendor sourcing, venue contracting, project planning, and other skills foundational to event production, all while upholding Robin Hood’s high standards for excellence and donor experience.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Operationalize event team projects, including creating project plans, tracking deadlines, and ensuring accurate and timely execution.
- Manage calendars for the team, organize schedules, take meeting notes, and assist with follow-up tasks after internal and external meetings.
- Support the pre-planning, execution, and post-event follow-up for all Robin Hood events, ensuring tasks are completed on schedule.
- Assist with vendor relationships, including contracting, invoicing, and managing deliverables.
- Develop timelines with a high degree of accuracy to ensure deadlines are met.
- Coordinate with Finance, Legal, and Communications teams to align on processes and meet project requirements.
- Learn and support the fundamentals of event budgeting and contracting.
- Research event sponsors and support the pitching to brands and companies of onsite sponsorship.
- Research and source venues that align with event objectives, ensuring quality, availability, and budget considerations.
- Foster relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure a smooth flow of information and successful event execution. Be a team player across Development, providing support to colleagues and lending assistance across departments as needed.
Qualifications:
- 1-2 years of professional experience (including internships).
- Event planning experience preferred but not required.
- Eager and enthusiastic team player willing to contribute to all tasks, large or small.
- Demonstrated comfort in fast-paced environments and willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
- Strong desire to develop skills in project management, budgeting, vendor management, and public speaking.
- Superior verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- High attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in work.
- Ability to adapt to challenges, problem-solve effectively, and seek help when needed.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments, with flexibility and a supportive attitude.
- Approach tasks with flexibility, initiative, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
- Demonstrated ability to be a quick learner, anticipate needs of the team and be solutions focused.
- Embrace Robin Hood’s mission and commitment to delivering impactful donor experiences.
- Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel. Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Robin Hood is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation in all aspects of its work. As New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization, Robin Hood believes that building a diverse team is fundamental to its ability to effectively serve and strengthen organizations serving the most vulnerable communities in the city, and to influence the policies that affect them.
Robin Hood believes in the potential that diversity creates – deep and responsive relationships with its community partners; the ability to solve complex problems efficiently and effectively; and, most importantly, the ability of its diverse staff to work to its full capacity.
Robin Hood builds diversity, inclusion, and equity practices into all aspects of its work. Its practices, values, traditions, and beliefs are embedded in the inclusive culture that it creates. Operationally, its formal and informal structures support a work environment that advances the professional development of staff at all levels, allows for innovation, and grounds its work as poverty fighters.
I n its workplace, diversity equals representation. Robin Hood seeks to attract and retain a staff that reflects the communities that it serves. Racial and ethnic diversity matter to it, as does diversity among other cultural identifiers (ability, educational background, generation, gender, gender expression religion, immigration status, military status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status).
Diversity within Robin Hood's staff is enhanced by its efforts at meaningful inclusion. It ensures that team members are empowered to make decisions, offer actionable feedback, and share credit for team success. Further, Robin Hood seeks to develop its talent professionally and has created an intentional focus on mentorship and sponsorship, particularly of junior staff. Its goal is to encourage long term talent retention and engagement, while fostering a culture of innovation.
Robin Hood Guiding Principles
As an organization committed to economic mobility, our work is grounded in the following Guiding Principles :
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Proximity and humanity
- Risk-taking and innovation
Our professional community reflects myriad demographic characteristics, perspectives, and backgrounds, which includes various identities that reflect diversity in gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic status. Our colleagues have access to opportunity and advancement, as we promote fair and equitable treatment and have encouraged participation by underrepresented groups. As a team, we promote a sense of belonging, high levels of engagement, and shared respect.
- Robin Hood puts people first. Always.
- Robin Hood is unafraid to take action and create solutions.
- Robin Hood is data driven and heart led. Robin Hood works the coat check.
Salary and Benefits
Salary commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications. Robin Hood also offers a full and competitive benefits package that includes, medical, dental and vision insurance, generous retirement contributions, eligibility to participate in paid medical, family and parental leave programs, professional development, cell phone reimbursement, and full-time employees start with 20 days of Paid Time Off (prorated). Eligible for a performance bonus.
The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $72,000.
This position is located in New York City.
To Apply
Please visit our website to complete our online application. Please include a cover letter.
Robin Hood is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from diverse backgrounds and identities are encouraged to apply.
Salary : $65,000 - $72,000