Event Manager

Overview

About The Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Wis Dems is nationally recognized as one of the country’s highest-performing and most pivotal political organizations. During the upcoming election cycle, Wis Dems will drive massive programs to hold Republicans accountable, elect progressive candidates up and down the ballot, and work to build volunteer-led coalitions for the long term. Wis Dems’ work is grounded in inclusion, respect, and empowerment across race, gender, other dimensions of identity, and the rural/suburban/urban divide.

Our work continues year-round, collaborating with partners to build a movement that delivers meaningful change for all Wisconsinites. We seek outstanding applicants who share our values and vision to join the team, help win elections, and build a future where everyone can thrive.

As the Events Manager, you are the engine behind our fundraising success. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, you will design and execute a robust calendar of high-dollar galas, intimate receptions, and virtual fundraisers that fuel our electoral work. This is not just a logistics role; it is a relationship role. You will manage Host Committees, steward high-net-worth donors, and ensure that every event—from the invitation to the final thank-you note—is a strategic tool for revenue generation.

You will also serve as a key support partner for major organizational moments, including the State Convention.

• You think in "Net Revenue." You love a beautiful venue, but you love a low overhead and high ROI even more. You manage budgets with a hawk eye to maximize the dollars going to the field program.
• You are a "Host Whisperer." You know how to guide volunteer hosts—who are often busy and anxious—to comfortably ask their networks for money. You can be firm about goals while being gracious in your delivery.
• You sweat the small stuff. You know that a misspelled name tag or a lapsed dietary restriction can cost us a donor. Your attention to detail is impeccable.
• You stay calm in the chaos. When the microphone breaks or the speaker is late, you are the calmest person in the room, finding solutions before anyone else notices the problem.

• Accountability & Solution-Oriented: You take full ownership of your actions and commitments, holding yourself to a high standard and seeing objectives through to completion. When challenges arise, you approach them with a problem-solving mindset, focusing on solutions rather than pointing fingers.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: You succeed by working as a team, stepping up to support teammates, and sharing knowledge freely. You actively break down silos by connecting across teams, inviting different perspectives, and staying open to new ideas to achieve shared goals.
• Growth & Adaptability: You are dedicated to continuous improvement and challenge yourself to learn and adapt. You proactively seek, offer, and act on feedback with openness and can anticipate potential obstacles to take proactive steps.
• Respect & Inclusion: You build strong relationships by treating everyone with kindness, dignity, and trust. You approach interactions assuming positive intent and have the courage to address difficult topics directly and honestly while showing care for others.
• Transparent Communication: You communicate openly and honestly to build trust and alignment. You are proactive in setting clear expectations, sharing the "why" behind decisions, and providing timely updates to ensure the right people have the information they need.

• Fundraising & Host Management:
• Work with the Finance Director to build the annual events calendar and revenue projections.
• Identify, recruit, and manage volunteer Host Committees, holding them accountable to their "raise" goals.
• Coach hosts on how to make the "ask" and leverage their personal networks.

• Event Production & Logistics:
• Manage all logistics for fundraising events (virtual and in-person), including venue selection, vendor negotiation, catering, AV, and run-of-show.
• Create and manage Act Blue pages, ticketing tiers, and tracking links.
• Design invitations and…