Development Assistant for Events

At Children's Law Center, everything we do is focused on one thing - delivering better client outcomes for kids and families in DC. Our staff are empowered to open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions. We encourage intellectual curiosity, innovation, diversity, and mutual respect.

Our greatest assets are our people. We strive to attract and cultivate a vibrant, creative, and diverse community. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our ability to provide the best outcomes for our clients. Our staff drive Children's Law Center's mission with their leadership, result-orientated mindset, and commitment to cultural humility and centering the needs of our clients. We are looking for an individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, likes to be challenged, and values the opportunity to make a difference.

Children's Law Center's success depends on recruiting and retaining individuals who possess and value these attributes.

Job Summary

The Development Assistant for Events is the project manager for all development-focused events, including the annual Helping Children Soar Benefit, our Thought Leadership Event Series, Community Conversations and the Holiday Hope Drive. The Development Assistant reports to the Director of Corporate and Individual Philanthropy.

 Job Responsibilities

The Development Assistant for Events plays a key role in ensuring that we cultivate, solicit and steward donors effectively.  This individual is also the primary author of event materials and other donor-related collateral (e.g., solicitation letters, acknowledgements, web content, etc). Specifically, the development assistant will:

Benefit Event Management

• Implement the Helping Children Soar Benefit strategy as determined by the board and senior Development team.
• Manage and coordinate all aspects of the Helping Children Soar Benefit, including drafting and implementing a detailed workplan and ensuring that staff and volunteers are aware of and meet relevant deadlines.
• Coordinate with all vendors.
• Produce new and edit existing sponsorship materials and support the solicitation of gifts.
• Manage invitation mail plan.
• Oversee the compilation of the benefit pipeline and event ticket tracking.
• Coordinate with the Communications team on the production of benefit materials, including writing and copy-editing event materials.
• Coordinate staff roles and logistics for the night-of the event.
• Build and maintain a portfolio of prospects and solicit where appropriate.

 Thought Leadership/Community Conversation Event Management

• Manage the development and implementation of an annual calendar of donor engagement events featuring topical speakers, aligning event goals with overall development goals and organizational mission.
• Coordinate logistics for events, including acting as liaison to the host and speakers, coordinating with the Communications team and documenting lessons learned.
• Create donor materials for distribution at events.
• Track RSVPs, attendance, and donor notes, as well as follow-up with guests as needed. 

Holiday Hope Drive

Manage the annual Holiday Hope Drive, including drafting/editing internal and external communications.
• Manage placement of donors with children participating in Hope Drive.
• Facilitate corporate/law firm participation in Hope Drive in conjunction with Director of Corporate and Individual Philanthropy.
• Strategically identify prospective financial donors and cultivate this portfolio throughout the year.

• Manage the logistics for all Development events, including Children Can’t Wait Fund dinners, board retirement parties and other special programs. 

Other Responsibilities

• Brainstorm and lead event innovation (e.g., how to create and execute meaningful remote events). 
• Conduct annualized analysis of donor engagement event effectiveness and work with team to amend future plans accordingly.
• Coordinate with the Communications team and serve as a primary author of web and event collateral.
• Help promote Children’s Law Center’s friends-asking-friends giving platform.
• Research current and prospective donors.
• Provide general support to the Development team.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Good professional judgement and ability to maintain confidential information.
• Skilled at managing multiple assignments through clear and direct communication.
• Strong capability to work well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong ability to manage up to support senior staff and others executing key strategies.
• Project and volunteer management skills.
• Adept at working independently and as a team member.
• Ability to work efficiently, think creatively and problem-solve.
• Self-reflective, open to feedback and supervision.
• A demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice. 
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word and Excel.
• Previous event planning and/or fundraising experience (paid or voluntary) preferred.
• Prior experience with fundraising/CRM (e.g., DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge), presentation (PowerPoint) and/or graphic/design (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop) software helpful.
• Availability to work nights and weekends, as necessary, for events and time-sensitive projects.

The salary for this position is $40,000 annually plus a sign-on bonus.  Children’s Law Center offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance; employer-provided retirement contributions; flexible spending plans; and vacation, sick, holiday, family and medical leave. Children’s Law Center is a 501(c)(3) organization.  Employees with federal student loan debt can apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.   For more information, go to https://myfedloan.org/borrowers/special-programs/pslf.   

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume as one PDF file via CLC's careers page (https://childrenslawcenter.org/get-involved/careers/).  

Children’s Law Center is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. If you believe that you need accommodation to search for, or apply for, one of our positions please send an email to Jobs@ChildrensLawCenter.org. In your email, please include the accommodation you are requesting and the job title you are applying for. It may take up to three business days to receive a response to your request.

Hybrid Working Conditions

Children's Law Center is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule.  All employees are expected spend time both working remotely and working in-person from Children's Law Center's office.  Hybrid working expectations vary depending upon role and program responsibilities.

Vaccine Mandate

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has required that government employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine and all eligible booster shots or be granted medical or religious exemption from the mandate.  Due to some of our grant funding and partnerships, Children’s Law Center must follow this mandate. Prior to beginning employment at Children's Law Center, all new employees must be fully vaccinated, including all eligible booster shots, and provide proof thereof as a condition of employment unless the candidate applies and is approved for an exemption as an accommodation due to a medical condition or a religious belief.

Background Checks

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

EEO

Children’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and existing employees.   We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation. We invite you to visit us here to learn more about our company and our career opportunities (https://childrenslawcenter.org/get-involved/careers/).

DEI Statement

Children’s Law Center is dedicated to building a world that is inclusive in approach and has equal opportunities and equitable outcomes for all. Our organization is committed to developing and supporting a robustly diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist community, where all members can create and feel a sense of belonging. Through our collective deliberate efforts, we work toward racial and social justice for children and families in DC.