How to apply for Senior Manager of Campaigns and Events

About The Acceleration Project

The Acceleration Project (TAP) is a nonprofit that has empowered over 18,000 under-resourced small business owners across 48 states with pro bono strategic, financial, operational, and marketing support. With a validated 10:1 social return on investment, TAP offers a unique opportunity to directly fuel entrepreneurial success and economic mobility. Working here means joining a high-impact, collaborative team where every campaign and event translates into tangible opportunities for small businesses.

About the role

As Senior Manager of Campaigns and Events, you will own the strategy and execution of multi-channel fundraising campaigns and signature events—like Spring for Small Business® Benefit and Fall for Small Business®—that drive TAP's growth and visibility. Reporting to the VP of Development, you'll collaborate with senior leadership and Board members to cultivate sponsors and donors, playing a hands-on role in raising critical funds for TAP's mission. This remote role (with a preference for NYC proximity) puts you at the center of TAP's fundraising engine, directly enabling free consulting for thousands of entrepreneurs.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with the VP of Development to review campaign metrics, drafting an appeal email for an upcoming Giving Tuesday push, coordinating with vendors for the Spring for Small Business® Benefit, and joining a call with a Board member to discuss sponsor outreach. You'll balance strategic planning with hands-on execution, ensuring every campaign and event moves the needle for TAP's fundraising goals.

Who The Acceleration Project is looking for

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, campaign management, and event production, with a proven track record of hitting revenue targets.
• Deep familiarity with individual giving strategies, multi-channel campaigns (email, social, direct mail), and donor stewardship best practices.
• Strong project management skills, able to juggle multiple deadlines and stakeholders in a remote, fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to craft compelling appeals and engage senior leadership and Board members.
• Passion for small business empowerment and TAP's mission, with a willingness to travel occasionally for events (especially in the NYC metro area).

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific campaigns or events you've managed end-to-end, including dollar amounts raised and metrics (e.g., donor retention, ROI).
• Demonstrate familiarity with TAP's signature events (Spring for Small Business® Benefit, Fall for Small Business®) by referencing them in your cover letter and suggesting ideas for improvement.
• Emphasize your ability to work remotely and independently, but also note any NYC-area connections that would facilitate local event execution.
• Show how you've collaborated with senior leadership and Board members to cultivate sponsors and donors—TAP values this cross-functional partnership.
• Quantify your experience with multi-channel campaigns (email, social, direct mail) and individual giving programs, as this is central to the role.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your hands-on experience producing signature fundraising events and multi-channel campaigns, with concrete results.', 'Your ability to cultivate and steward sponsor and donor relationships, especially with high-level stakeholders like Board members.', "Your passion for TAP's mission and understanding of how fundraising directly supports under-resourced small business owners.", 'Your track record of working remotely and managing projects independently, while staying connected to a team.']

Research before applying

• Explore TAP's website, annual reports, and social media to understand their mission, impact metrics (e.g., 18,000+ businesses served, 10:1 SROI), and signature events.
• Research TAP's leadership team, especially the VP of Development, to understand their background and priorities.
• Look into TAP's past campaigns (e.g., Giving Tuesday, Spring for Small Business®) to see how they are structured and promoted.
• Investigate the small business support landscape and TAP's unique pro bono consulting model to articulate why you're excited about their approach.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk us through a campaign you led from concept to completion—what was your strategy, and what were the results?
• How would you approach planning TAP's Spring for Small Business® Benefit to maximize both revenue and donor engagement?
• Describe a time you worked with senior leadership or Board members to secure a major gift or sponsorship. What was your approach?
• How do you prioritize and manage multiple campaigns and events simultaneously in a remote work environment?
• What metrics do you use to evaluate the success of a fundraising campaign, and how do you use that data to improve future efforts?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on event logistics without highlighting fundraising results—TAP needs someone who can drive revenue, not just plan parties.
• Ignoring the remote aspect and not demonstrating ability to work independently or manage virtual collaboration.
• Using generic language about 'helping nonprofits' without connecting to TAP's specific mission of empowering under-resourced small business owners.