Description
About the American Youth Foundation
Since 1925, the American Youth Foundation has dared people to discover and celebrate the very best in themselves and others, inspired them to explore diverse perspectives and complex challenges, and emboldened them to live courageously, engaging their full capacity. AYF runs two residential camps, Miniwanca in Michigan and Merrowvista in New Hampshire, along with leadership and community programs that reach thousands of young people each year. Our Development office is in St. Louis.
The Role
The Events and Development Manager brings AYF's community together and grows the support that keeps our programs within reach of every young person who belongs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista. You will produce the events where alumni, families, and donors experience the mission firsthand, and you will manage the Annual Fund that turns that experience into lasting support. The two halves are one craft: the people in the room are the Annual Fund's renewals, and the appeal list is the invitation list.
You will report to the Director of Development, work from our St. Louis office, and be a warm, steady presence for the hosts, volunteers, families, and donors who make up the AYF community.
What You Will Do
Events
• Produce about four cultivation dinners a year in the cities where AYF alumni and friends live, from venue and invitations through day-of and follow-up.
• Lead the Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament with its volunteer committee: sponsorships, auction, venue, volunteers, and the day itself.
• Travel to Miniwanca and Merrowvista in summer to produce the NOSTOS capstone events and parent days with the camp directors.
• Keep one engagement calendar across St. Louis and both camps, and support open houses and Regional Action Network events with our volunteer leads.
Development
• Manage the Annual Fund: renewal and lapsed-donor outreach, the appeal calendar, email and mail appeals, and the end-of-year direct mail.
• Write acknowledgement letters and stewardship communications for new, recurring, and legacy donors.
• Track results monthly and refer donors with capacity beyond the Annual Fund to the Director of Development.
• Record every event and donor interaction in the database so nothing learned in the room is lost.
Requirements
Who You Are
• Two to three years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with success renewing donors, securing sponsorships, and closing annual fund gifts.
• You have produced events end to end, including at least one led by a volunteer committee.
• Organized and calendar-driven: you can run several events at different stages at once alongside a monthly appeal rhythm.
• Warm and steady with hosts, volunteers, vendors, families, and donors, and comfortable making the ask.
• A clear, warm writer, and at home in a donor database (Bloomerang, Raiser's Edge NXT, or comparable).
• Able to travel, work some evenings and weekends around events, and spend part of each summer at camp in Michigan and New Hampshire.
• Committed to AYF's mission and to the experience of the people who come to its events.
What We Offer
• Salary of $60,000 to $65,000, depending on experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• SIMPLE-IRA retirement plan with optional 3% salary match
• Free tuition for dependents while employed with AYF
• 12 annual holidays and paid time off
Skills Required
- Two to three years of nonprofit fundraising experience
- Success renewing donors, securing sponsorships, and closing annual fund gifts
- Experience producing events end to end
- Experience leading at least one event with a volunteer committee
- Strong organizational and calendar-management skills across multiple events and appeals
- Warm, steady communication with hosts, volunteers, vendors, families, and donors
- Comfort making fundraising asks
- Clear, warm writing skills
- Experience using a donor database such as Bloomerang, Raiser's Edge NXT, or comparable software
- Ability to travel to camps in Michigan and New Hampshire
- Ability to work some evenings and weekends around events
- Commitment to AYF's mission and event participant experience
What We Do
The American Youth Foundation inspires people to unleash their best in the world through programs like camps and leadership initiatives for youth, aiming to foster personal growth and prepare young individuals for future success.
