Smile Farms Inc. · 1 day ago
Associate Director of Special Events
Jericho, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$85K/yr - $95K/yr
5+ years expSmile Farms is a growing nonprofit dedicated to creating meaningful employment and training opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. The Associate Director of Special Events will lead and grow the organization’s major fundraising events, requiring exceptional project management and communication skills to enhance donor engagement and community relationships.
Philanthropic Fundraising Services
Hiring Manager
Morgan Hagy
Responsibilities
Manages Event Strategy, Planning & Revenue Generation
Leads all aspects of Smile Farms’ major fundraising events, ensuring early, proactive planning and strict adherence to established timelines and deadlines
Solicits sponsorships, recruits new partners, and stewards existing sponsors to deepen engagement
Cultivates and manages a personal portfolio of donors engaged through events
Works with the Director of Development and other leadership to confirm honorees early and communicate clear expectations regarding fundraising responsibilities and promotional commitments
Creates and manages comprehensive project timelines and event calendars for the Golf Outings, Growing Together Gala, cultivation events, and additional fundraising programs
Serves as the administrative and logistical lead for all events and the primary on-site point person
Sets and manages event budgets, tracks expenses and revenue throughout the planning cycle
Develops structured communication plans to ensure alignment among staff, vendors, committees, honorees, and stakeholders
Leads and organizes event committee meetings, preparing agendas, assigning tasks, and ensuring consistent follow-through
Oversees the development of all event collateral—including invitations, signage, journals, and digital promotional materials—ensuring quality and on-schedule production
Coordinates press and public relations needs with internal leadership
Develops run-of-show documents, manages rehearsals, and oversees day-of logistics
Recruits, trains, and manages event volunteers
Partners with external event management partners when appropriate
Conducts post-event evaluations and ensures Lessons Learned are captured and integrated into future planning
Works with the Director of Development to design and implement a thoughtful stewardship program to engage donors through small-scale events, personal recognition, and meaningful touchpoints
Prepares event-related reports and updates for internal leadership and the Board of Directors
Strengthens development operations by refining systems, processes, and tools that support organized, timely event planning and execution
Provides clear delegation aligned with project timelines to the Development & Outreach Coordinator
Partners with program and marketing staff to craft compelling event messaging and ensure alignment with organizational goals
Coordinates event promotion with broader communications calendars to avoid message overlap
Supports special projects and cross-team initiatives as needed
Qualification
Required
5+ years of nonprofit event management experience with a demonstrated record of producing high-quality, revenue-generating events
Proven experience soliciting and closing sponsorships
At least 1 year of supervisory experience
Bachelor's degree required
Exceptional organizational and planning skills, including the ability to build and manage complex timelines starting early in the planning cycle
Strong written and verbal communication skills; proactive communicator who keeps stakeholders aligned and informed
Demonstrated relationship-building skills with donors, honorees, board members, and community partners
Experience with CRMs (DonorPerfect preferred) and event fundraising platforms such as Qgiv
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
Familiarity with philanthropic communities across Long Island, NYC, and Westchester
Ability to manage remote and onsite staff effectively
Highly deadline-driven, solutions-oriented, and calm under pressure
Commitment to Smile Farms' mission and values
Professional integrity and strong collaborative spirit
Integrity and dedication to Smile Farms' mission
Company
Smile Farms Inc.
Smile Farms creates meaningful work opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities at local farms, urban gardens, greenhouses, and farm stands where they can grow and sell flowers, plants, and produce in their communities.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase