Job Description

Event Specialist

Join Our Mission!

The Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota (CCFESD) is seeking a passionate and mission-driven Event Specialist to join our dynamic team! This is an incredible opportunity to combine your organizational expertise with meaningful work that directly supports the ministries of the Diocese of Sioux Falls and its 122 parishes.

As our Event Specialist, you'll be at the heart of our annual portfolio of charity events—ensuring operational excellence, fostering donor relationships, and creating meaningful connections between our Foundation, beneficiaries, donors, and volunteers. If you're energized by the idea of managing events with spiritual intentionality and love building community through service, we want to hear from you!

About the Role

The Event Specialist is responsible for the volunteer management, event marketing, and donor stewardship activities of the Foundation's event portfolio. You'll serve as a key liaison ensuring that every touchpoint—from parish marketing and volunteer recruitment to post-event thank-you notes—is handled with excellence and spiritual intentionality. This role ensures events run smoothly while fostering a spirit of fellowship and evangelization.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Volunteer Recruitment & Management

• Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers for all Foundation events
• Develop and maintain volunteer job descriptions, training materials, and recognition programs
• Serve as primary point of contact for volunteer communications and logistics
• Coordinate post-event thank-you processes, including facilitating thank-you notes from seminarians and priests

Marketing & Communications

• Develop and execute event marketing campaigns
• Prepare and distribute event marketing including parish bulletin announcements, mailings, community calendars, social posts, and radio/TV ads
• Prepare and distribute pre-event emails (logistics, attire, weather) to attendees
• Develop and distribute infographics, testimonials, and social media collaborations to highlight the impact on beneficiary ministries
• Update and print event programs, posters, postcards, registration forms, tickets, and on-site signage
• Maintain relationships with print/media vendors/donors and seek quotes for print products

Donor Stewardship & Development Support

• In collaboration with the Director, serve as lead staff for donor, sponsor, and participant renewal calls
• Assist with new sponsorship leads
• Manage requests for "Christmas at the Cathedral" ticket donations, including display pieces, certificates, and spreadsheet tracking
• Coordinate the "Post-Event Thank You" process

Event Logistics & On-Site Execution

• Assist with on-site registration at events
• Oversee the mailing of physical tickets for Christmas at the Cathedral
• Oversee the recruitment and management of food vendors for Taste the Goodness
• Attend all events to manage event signage and general troubleshooting
• Create and collect responses for event surveys to drive continuous improvement

Event Portfolio Support

Support the planning and execution of major annual fundraising events including:

• The Gift of Hope Concert (for the benefit of The Lourdes Center)
• The Bishop's Charity Fishing Tournaments (at Big Stone Lake and Lake Oahe for the benefit of Seminarian Education)
• The Bishop Charity Golf Classic (in Sioux Falls for the benefit of Broom Tree Retreat Center)
• Taste the Goodness (in Sioux Falls for various beneficiary ministries)
• The Bishop's Hunt (for the benefit of Seminarian Education)
• Notre Dame Football Experience Raffle (for the benefit of Seminarian Education)
• Christmas at the Cathedral (for the benefit of various ministries)

What We're Looking For:

Essential Qualifications:

Primary:

• Baptized and Confirmed Catholic with willingness and ability to effectively make known the Catholic Church's teachings through the varied activities expected of this position
• Willingness and ability to act as an outstanding personal witness to the Catholic faith by living both one's professional and personal life in accordance with the doctrines and moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, as embodied in the various documents of the Roman Catholic Church, including, without limitation, the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for working with volunteers, donors, vendors, and beneficiaries
• Detail-oriented approach with commitment to excellence in execution

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Understanding of nonprofit fundraising events and volunteer management best practices
• Exceptional communication, writing, and proofreading skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word)
• Knowledge of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Knowledge of Canva and/or Adobe Suite
• Ability to manage multiple moving parts across 7 distinct events with varying logistics
• Strategic thinking and ability to self-monitor project timelines
• High energy, positive, "can-do" attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail
• High degree of initiative and ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Understanding that this work is a ministry

Education:

• High school diploma; post-secondary education or equivalent experience preferable

Experience:

• Volunteer coordination experience
• Event coordination experience
• Experience working with non-profit organizations preferred

Other Requirements:

• Good understanding of the geographical layout of Eastern South Dakota
• Ability to work extended hours prior to and during events, including weekends and evenings
• Some travel and overnights for out-of-town events required

Why Join CCFESD?

At CCFESD, you'll be part of a vibrant philanthropic community dedicated to promoting Christian stewardship and supporting meaningful ministries across Eastern South Dakota. This work is more than a job—it's a ministry where you'll help donors grow in their understanding of everything as a gift from God and respond in gratitude by generously sharing their gifts with others. You'll have the unique opportunity to witness the direct impact of your work on seminarian education, retreat centers, and vital Catholic ministries throughout our diocese.

Ready to Make a Difference?

We're excited to meet passionate individuals who want to use their talents in service of our Catholic community!

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to:

Twila Roman at troman@sfcatholic.org

The Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota fully respects and encourages others to respect the Bishop of Sioux Falls as the visible head and source of unity in the particular Church entrusted to his pastoral care.