Development Director

Ghost Ranch, a historic and mission-driven retreat and education center, is seeking a seasoned and passionate Director of Development to propel a capital campaign to completion and to expand philanthropic giving toward a sustainable future. This role bridges strategy and execution—ideal for a senior-level professional who wants to partner with a community of exceptionally loyal supporters and collaborative colleagues in a transformative environment.

Purpose

The Director of Development works with Ghost Ranch’s leadership to oversee fundraising that will support the operations, growth, and long-term sustainability of the Ranch. The Director will have reliable, enthusiastic partners in Ghost Ranch’s CEO, Board of Directors, and Campaign Cabinet. The Ranch’s committed leaders understand and act on fundraising as a top organizational priority; they are willing advocates, connectors, and champions for the Ranch’s mission. The Director will manage a team of development professionals to implement the work (currently an Annual Giving Manager, Grants Manager, and Development Associate).

Primary Responsibilities

Develop Strategy and Plans: Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan. Focus efforts to increase financial support by broadening the base of individual supporters. Ensure that decision-making is informed by data and that all initiatives have a clear plan, timeline, and measurable goals. Ensure the fundraising budget and activities align with the organization’s needs and goals.

Guide Capital Campaign: Schedule, attend, and support all capital campaign planning and Campaign Committee meetings. Conduct ongoing prospect research. Manage and maintain records of cultivation strategies, evaluations, solicitations, contact reports, and results of all contacts with campaign prospects. Maintain records regarding campaign gifts and pledges, including payment schedules and pledge reminders.

Manage Operations: Manage multiple projects and establish and manage priorities, goals, and timelines. Maximize use of Raiser’s Edge NXT to track all cultivation and solicitation activities. Create and manage the annual budget of the development department. Ensure an infrastructure that is efficient and effective. Develop a protocol for consistent factual reports for use by Ghost Ranch staff and leadership to show progress toward goals and success of cultivation/solicitation activities.

Implement Development Tactics: Employ fundraising tactics and tools to achieve Ghost Ranch’s fundraising goals and objectives. Oversee team to create and implement fundraising activities for:

• Annual fund
• Major giving
• Foundation and corporation gifts/grants
• Planned and endowment giving

Manage the Team: Motivate and manage a three-person development team. Provide guidance, training, support, and positive feedback to ensure high performance by each team member.

Engage and Steward Donors: Create and implement a stewardship plan that incorporates standard and timely acknowledgments via email, postal mail, and phone calls from staff and development committee, as appropriate. Collaborate with peers on the Leadership Team to expand usage of Ranch facilities to support development through special events, outings, or explorations with artists, historians, scientists, clergy, and scholars.

Promote Public Relations: Serve as a dynamic spokesperson for Ghost Ranch with guests and at public, community, or special events. Ensure that Ghost Ranch brand and voice are accurately reflected in all development materials.

Key Attributes

• You value and practice a hands-on approach and are willing to roll up your sleeves and work alongside your team to accomplish both short-term tasks and the long-term mission.
• You are a professional leader who works collaboratively toward a strategic vision, builds networks, creates plans, and ensures accountability for success.
• You communicate effectively in a direct yet compassionate manner to drive engagement, while listening actively and instilling trust.
• You show up every day committed to the mission, ready to tackle any challenge, and you genuinely enjoy working in a team to manage the unexpected.

Qualifications

Required:

• Five years or more in a leadership role with proven success empowering a team. Ability to build relationships across difference and foster an inclusive culture.
• Five years or more of leading fundraising for an organization and/or leading fundraising teams. Experiences should include: major donor development, cultivation, and solicitation; working collaboratively to increase funding; and forming fundraising strategies and planning.
• Proven experience in capital campaign leadership and implementation.
• Proven understanding of and experience with donor databases and systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, given the need to interact with many different stakeholders (board members, donors, staff, and guests).

Preferred:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in relevant field
• CFRE
• Professional experience with grant-writing, planned giving, and endowments

Position Details

The Director of Development reports to the CEO and serves on the Leadership Team. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with a target hiring range of $85,000-92,000, commensurate with experience.

The role will include travel, and may include weekends, holidays, and evening hours. A hybrid work arrangement will be considered with a few days per week on site in Abiquiu.