Join our team · Philanthropy & Development | Multiple positions open
This is a rare moment to join a team being built — not filled.
At Hawai'i Foodbank, we are making a deliberate, multi-year investment in expanding our commitment to Philanthropy, by building a team with the capacity to match the scale of our mission. The positions you see here are not the result of turnover — they are the result of intention. We are building new structure, new discipline, and new capacity to deepen our relationships with donors and unlock the potential that fuels our mission: nourishing our ‘Ohana today, while we work to end hunger tomorrow.
If you are a development professional who wants to be part of building something, not just maintaining it, this is that opportunity.
EVENT MANAGER | Every event you coordinate builds momentum for our mission.
As our Event Manager, you'll create meaningful experiences — from signature galas to volunteer appreciation days — that engage donors, earn advocacy, and deepen their connection to our work.
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Reports to: Director of Donor Engagement
Department: Development, Marketing, and Communications (DMC)
Location: Hawai‘i – Hybrid
Status: Full-time | Occasional evenings and weekends required
Position Summary
The Event Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing Hawaiʻi Foodbank's fundraising, stewardship, and community engagement events that advance the organization's mission to nourish our ʻohana and end hunger across Hawaiʻi.
This position leads all aspects of event planning—from concept through execution—while working collaboratively with Development, Marketing & Communications, Programs, Operations, Finance, and Executive Leadership. The Event Manager creates exceptional experiences that strengthen donor relationships, increase community awareness, and generate philanthropic support.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Event Planning & Execution
- Plan and execute fundraising, donor stewardship, volunteer, and community events.
- Develop event timelines, production schedules, budgets, and logistics plans
- Coordinate venues, catering, audiovisual, entertainment, décor, transportation, permits, and security
- Ensure events are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with Hawaiʻi Foodbank's mission and brand standards
- Develop and maintain event Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Fundraising & Donor Engagement
Support fundraising initiatives through:
- Signature galas
- Capital Campaign events
- Donor cultivation and stewardship events
- Corporate partner events
- Volunteer appreciation events
- Community food drives and awareness campaigns
- Coordinate sponsorship fulfillment, VIP experiences, auctions, donor recognition, and post-event stewardship
Vendor & Project Management
- Manage vendor relationships, contracts, budgets, and timelines
- Coordinate volunteers and cross-functional event teams
- Lead event briefings and ensure all staff understand roles and responsibilities
- Maintain organized event documentation and financial reporting
- Partner with Development, Marketing & Communications, Programs, Operations, Volunteer Services, and Finance to ensure successful event execution while promoting a collaborative, mission-focused culture
Event Evaluation
Measure event success through:
- Revenue
- Attendance
- Sponsorship performance
- Budget management
- Guest satisfaction
- Donor engagement
- Post-event evaluations and recommendations for continuous improvement
Qualifications & Experience
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Marketing Communications, Hospitality, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in professional event planning
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, accountability, and follow-through.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and database reporting tools
- Ability to drive to and from donor meetings and engagement locations
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as required
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing multiple projects, budgets, and vendor relationships
- Experience in fundraising on nonprofit events
- Passion for community impact and Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit work
- Microsoft Office Suite & CRM Experience (Raiser’s Edge NXT Preferred)
Core Competencies
- Mission-driven and service-oriented
- Event Planning and logistics
- Budget management
- Vendor negotiations
- Project Management
- Relationship-focused and donor-centered
- Volunteer coordination
- Strong communicator and storyteller
- Highly organized and proactive
- Detail-oriented with strong project management skills
- Collaborative and team-oriented
Description of Tasks
- Most tasks are covered within the essential duties and responsibilities outlined above.
- This position requires occasional evening and weekend work, local travel, and the ability to stand for extended periods during events. Must be able to lift to 20 pounds and support Hawaiʻi Foodbank during emergency response activations when needed.
Mathematical Skills:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, percentages. Ability to apply all concepts of bookkeeping and all generally accepted accounting procedures.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Equipment, Machines, Tool, Vehicles Used:
- Ability to use a computer workstation including keyboard, mouse, printer, fax and multi-line phone systems to execute tasks.
- Computer literacy with working knowledge of Microsoft office is required with emphasis on proficiency in Word and Excel.
- Computer literacy with experience working with a database system.
- Valid driver’s license and access to insured personal vehicle.
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
- Hybrid, working 4 days in office and 1 day remote after 90 days.
- Requires driving for off-site days, evening and weekend meetings and fundraisers and marketing events, as needed or assigned.
- Requires the use of computers, mobile, telephonic equipment, etc.
- The noise level ranges from quiet to moderate to loud at times.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee filling this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by management. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this job description.
Pay: From $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Please describe your project management approach for events, from planning to execution.
Education:
Experience:
- professional event planning: 3 years (Required)
Location:
- Honolulu, HI 96819 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Honolulu, HI 96819
