Assistant Director, Membership Experience & Events

The Assistant Director of Membership Experience and Events leads the day-to-day management and growth of Chapman University’s philanthropic membership support groups, including Women of Chapman and Town & Gown. The position partners with volunteer leaders, University Advancement colleagues, and campus stakeholders to grow membership, strengthen and enhance the constituent experience, and advance philanthropic support through effective group administration, fundraising, events, and communications. The Assistant Director reports to the Assistant Vice President of Constituent Engagement and is a member of the Engagement and Volunteerism team.

Responsibilities

Membership Experience and Administration

• Serve as the staff liaison for university-affiliated membership support groups and their volunteer leadership boards, committees, and members, including: Women of Chapman and Town & Gown.
• Drive group development and growth through membership recruitment and retention best practices, and fundraising and engagement focused programming.
• Collaborate with University Advancement colleagues and campus stakeholders to identify and leverage opportunities to increase support group membership among constituents and align philanthropic interests with institutional priorities.
• In partnership with the AVP, support and advise volunteer leaders in board development, succession planning, governance best practices, and alignment with group mission and university priorities.
• Provide operational oversight of membership group financial activities, partnering with Advancement Operations to manage contracts, expense requests, reconciliations, budget and revenue tracking, and financial reporting in accordance with university fiscal policies.
• Ensure membership group gifts and related financial transactions are appropriately documented and processed, partnering with Gift Administration as needed to ensure compliance with university gift acceptance policies.
• Provide comprehensive administrative and operational support for assigned membership groups, including coordinating board and committee meetings; preparing meeting materials, mailings, and member communications; maintaining membership records and data; managing membership renewals; and tracking committee priorities and action items to ensure timely follow-up and completion.
• Meet established membership and engagement goals as determined by the AVP and University Advancement leadership.

Event Management and Fundraising

• Manage an assigned portfolio of events, including support group events and programs, from planning through execution and follow-up, including budgets, venue and vendor coordination, invitations and registration, briefing materials, and on-site execution and coordination.
• Lead and support volunteer event committees, partner with chairs and members to establish priorities, coordinate planning, facilitate decision-making, and ensure successful execution.
• Develop and implement event fundraising strategies in partnership with volunteer leaders and University Advancement colleagues, including sponsorships, underwriting, in-kind gifts, and other philanthropic support, while ensuring alignment with gift administration and stewardship policies and best practices. ·
• Partner with the AVP, Prospect Management and Research, and frontline fundraisers to strategically develop invitation lists and to identify prospective event hosts and sponsors.
• Support university-wide signature events and advancement initiatives as directed by the AVP.
• Meet established event revenue and fundraising goals as determined by the AVP and University Advancement leadership.

Strategic Communications

• Partner with Strategic Marketing and Communications (SMC) to develop communications and marketing strategies for assigned support groups, creating compelling content that inspires action and drives membership, engagement, and philanthropic support.
• Execute communications and marketing strategies across digital and print channels, including email, web, social media, print mailings, and other promotional materials.
• Share timely information on membership support group events, programs, and initiatives with University Advancement colleagues and campus partners.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of three years professional experience in event planning in a nonprofit or higher education setting; experience planning and executing fundraising events strongly preferred.
• Volunteer management experience required; experience with governing boards strongly desired.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with others.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Knowledge and skill to assist in the development of collateral and other materials, with an ability to manage social media platforms.
• Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy and maintain a high level of confidentiality and customer service.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. The university achieved R2 status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a distinction held by just 10 percent of all U.S. universities.

Chapman University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status or sexual orientation in the administration of its education policies or any other policies or programs administered by the university.