At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) we believe that every child deserves to have a mentor in their corner to ignite and defend their potential. That's why we are committed to promoting the healthy development of children through the nurturing of continuing, one-to-one friendships with caring responsible adults, supported by trained professional staff. We are supported in our mission by generous donors and who believe in what we do and donate to fund our operations year after year. 

Role Summary 

The Development Officer for Events, is a frontline fundraiser responsible for driving revenue and donor engagement across BBBSEM’s events portfolio. In this role, you will be the primary force behind the fundraising success of 3-4 of our major annual fundraising events, while also contributing to and supporting fundraising strategy for 5-7 smaller or mid-sized events each year. 

This position is 70% fundraising and 30% event execution, with a strong emphasis on donor solicitation, committee leadership, corporate engagement, and building a culture of fundraising across the events team. You will cultivate and steward donors, lead volunteer committees, secure sponsorships, and partner with colleagues to ensure that events not only run smoothly—but meaningfully grow revenue and expand our donor network. 

Working in tandem with our event coordinators & the events team director, you will play a key role in ensuring our events generate the philanthropic support needed to sustain and grow our programs. 

Key Responsibilities 

Fundraising & Donor Engagement (Primary – 70%) 

• Own and execute fundraising strategies for assigned major events with clear revenue, donor acquisition, and donor upgrade goals. Track goals, progress, and donor pipeline. 
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, corporate partners, and prospects connected to events; manage a portfolio incorporating both individuals and corporations. 
• Lead and inspire event committees, composed of donors, corporate partners, and community leaders; train and coach members to confidently solicit gifts and sponsorships. 
• Secure new, renewed, and increased funding from individuals and companies through events, direct outreach, digital campaigns, and proposals. 
• Develop and qualify new prospective donor relationships, working to broaden the annual fund donor base through event-driven engagement.  
• Collaborate closely with the Annual Fund and Individual Giving teams to align event-based fundraising with broader organizational revenue strategies. 
• Partner with the Community Engagement team to maximize philanthropic outcomes from corporate partnerships. 
• Provide regular reporting and analysis to leadership on revenue progress, donor pipeline development, and committee performance.  

Event Execution & Strategy (Secondary – 30%) 

• Maintain ownership of the planning and execution of 2–3 fundraising events annually, ensuring fundraising goals are central to all planning decisions. 
• Support the events team on ~5 smaller or mid-sized events by providing leadership on fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and committee activation. 
• Collaborate with staff and vendors on event logistics as needed, such as volunteer recruitment, auction item procurement, and marketing collateral development—maintaining a clear focus on revenue outcomes. 
• Help establish and reinforce a fundraising-centered culture within the events team, supporting junior staff and modeling best practices in donor outreach. 
• Design high-touch donor experiences for event programs, VIP gatherings, and sponsor cultivation moments. 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant fundraising or development experience, including direct solicitation of donors and/or sponsors. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and video conferencing tools. 
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed and travel within Eastern Massachusetts for meetings and events. 
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; able to tailor messaging to different audiences. 
• Demonstrated success and comfort making asks, closing gifts, and managing a donor or corporate portfolio. 

Desired Qualifications 

• 7+ years of relevant experience in the non-profit sector, with a proven track record of leading volunteer committees, boards, or councils in a fundraising context. 
• Knowledge of fundraising landscapes in Eastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard 
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a collaborative spirit. 
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. 
• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM systems 
• Proven ability to motivate and inspire a wide variety of volunteers, donors, and corporate partners to drive revenue.