Stewardship and Events Specialist

Van Andel Institute (VAI), a world-class biomedical research institute, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is dedicated to improving human health. We are pioneers in the fight against cancer, Parkinson's, and other diseases. We are committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and educators.

Stewardship & Events Specialist

100% to Research, Discovery & Hope®

VAI is currently seeking to hire a full-time Stewardship and Events Specialist.

As a key member of VAI’s Philanthropy Team, the experienced Stewardship and Events Specialist will be responsible for assisting with developing, planning, and organizing all fundraising events. Under the direction of the Director of Events and Corporate Giving, this person will work as an integral part of an energetic team and be dedicated to a specific and impactful portfolio of events at the merger of Philanthropy and Science. These events present opportunities for participants to learn from Institute scientists and gain insight into the cutting-edge discoveries and work being done at the institute.

Your Key Responsibilities in this role will include the following:

• Solicit in-kind donations for silent auctions and manage the process related to silent auctions for fundraising purposes within the Philanthropy department
• Manage an established portfolio of Van Andel Institute donors
• Own the VAI Public Lecture Series
• Assist with creating, planning, and organizing all fundraising and stewardship events.
• Create personalized stewardship plans and monthly action items for the entire philanthropy events team.
• Maintain an active awareness of philanthropy and donor relations goals and objectives and how they relate to event and stewardship activities.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

What you will like most about working in the Philanthropy Department:

• Your work will make a difference in the future of human health and science education!
• You will be surrounded by driven, hard-working professionals.
• You will be encouraged to take risks and fail.
• New opportunities and challenges are always arising.
• The institute and department offer several fun team-building events that create a community.
• The opportunity to learn new perspectives and share yours in a diverse, collaborative environment.

You should possess the following characteristics/traits:

• Excels at working in a fast-paced environment, meeting concurrent deadlines, and effectively managing time and priorities.
• Must be proactive, self-motivated, and organized, and demonstrate strong attention to detail with an ability to think critically and problem solve.
• Ability to multi-task with a high degree of focus on quality control and confidential information.
• Ability to collaborate and work well in a team setting with people at all levels.
• Strong sense of initiative and the ability to complete projects with minimal supervision.
• High level of customer service and responsiveness, with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Advanced reasoning abilities to effectively understand and research needs and solutions for special projects and unique requests.
• Basic project management skills, including creating an implementation/roll-out plan, identifying and tracking milestones, and tracking and managing deliverables.

To be a successful member of our team, we will measure the following areas:

• Professionalism
• Relationship building
• Strong technical skills
• Accuracy and Attention to Detail
• Collaborative Team Player
• Customer Satisfaction
• Timeliness

The skills you will be required to have in this role:

• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field degree preferred with a minimum of two to three years of experience in fundraising, marketing, public/community relations, or event planning.
• Preference for corporate stewardship exposure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with other members of the Philanthropy team, volunteers, and the general public
• Excellent organizational skills to meet deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite (PowerPoint, Word and Excel) skills
• Ability to work in a flexible environment with rapidly changing priorities and a variety of projects simultaneously, including work outside of the normal work day, including weekends.

Compensation and Benefits

All full-time employees of Van Andel Institute are eligible for benefits, effective Day One! The salary you can expect in this Stewardship and Events Specialist role is based on your experience and skills.

How to Apply
If you are a person who has demonstrated success in these areas, we would love to have a conversation with you! Please apply online now.

In addition to your resume, provide a cover letter outlining why you are interested in this role and how this position aligns with your goals.

If you have any difficulty uploading your application or any questions, please email Megan Doerr at [email protected].  

About Van Andel Institute

Established in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1996 by the Van Andel family, VAI is now home to nearly 500 scientists, educators and support staff, who work with national and international collaborators to foster discovery. The Institute’s scientists study the origins of cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases and translate their findings into breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies. Our educators develop inquiry-based approaches for K–12 education to help students and teachers prepare the next generation of problem-solvers, while our Graduate School offers a rigorous, research-intensive Ph.D. program in molecular and cellular biology.

VAI is committed to achieving excellence through increasing diversity. We actively encourage applications from women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.  

Van Andel Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer.   

As Van Andel Institute is a drug free employer, all prospective new employees undergo a urinalysis/drug test as part of our pre-employment process.  This is a 7-panel drug screen and it includes testing for Marijuana, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opiates, PCP, Barbiturates, and Benzodiazepines. 

About Grand Rapids, MI  

Van Andel Institute is in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan in the center of the Medical Mile.  A remarkable combination of a cosmopolitan atmosphere and small-town warmth, Grand Rapids is known for its philanthropic and sustainability-driven community. It’s fun affordable and family-friendly.  

Located on the banks of the Grand River, Grand Rapids offers all the big-city excitement you'd expect from a million-resident metropolis, featuring hundreds of restaurants and nightspots, theaters, museums, sports and concerts. The safe and clean downtown is surrounded by an eclectic mix of walkable neighborhoods and natural areas. The downtown area is safe and clean with an eclectic mix of walkable neighborhoods and natural areas.