Executive Director

Do you feel called to steward a beautiful mountain sanctuary and retreat center with an almost 70-year history? Are you motivated by meaningful collaborations and community-cultivating spaces? Do you feel excited by the opportunity to work with an engaged board of directors to grow a community of donors for an artist residency in a small mountain town with a big heart for the arts?

The Shadowcliff Board of Directors is seeking a visionary Executive Director who will mobilize the many assets of our community into the next chapter of our story. Top priorities for this position include:

• Leading and keeping the Shadowcliff vision, and increasing Shadowcliff’s visibility as a values-centered destination
• Ensuring financial sustainability, especially through the completion of a 5-year fundraising campaign for a new artist residency program, through deepening donor relationships, strengthening fundraising processes, and identifying new sources of revenue
• Support the General Manager in overseeing Shadowcliff’s facilities and onsite operations, and work together closely to manage an annual operating budget of $350,000
• Working with the Board of Directors to implement and update the strategic plan

Shadowcliff Values:

Healing – We create space for contemplation and healing.

Growth – We encourage spiritual, intellectual, and experiential journeys.

Community - We nurture deep and meaningful relationships, honoring our interdependence, respecting our differences.

Hospitality - We provide a range of programming, a commitment to pluralism/inclusivity and affordable accommodations.

Essential Duties:

Leading & Keeping the Shadowcliff Vision

• Be the face of Shadowcliff to an existing large, diverse, international base
• Be familiar with the history of Shadowcliff, its founders, and its stories
• Uphold the Rempel restrictive covenant that applies to Rempel Lodge, the Chapel and the Point facilities

Development and Fundraising to Ensure Financial Sustainability

• Work with the Residency Manager to build connections in the community of Grand Lake and grow the donor base to fulfill the 5-year fundraising campaign and establish a long-term sustainable fundraising strategy
• Work with the Board’s Treasurer and Finance Committee to project monthly cash flow and forecast next year’s annual budget
• Work with the Board’s Fund Development Committee to assess and expand funding strategies beyond operational revenue such as fundraising, grant writing, corporate sponsorships, and more
• Support the Board in coordinating Annual Campaign communications and tracking progress of campaigns
• Assess, maintain and/or update current fundraising systems and tools to better serve future needs
• Work with the Board Chair to elevate the culture of fundraising on the Board
• Assess and deepen current donor relationships: donor acknowledgments, engage with major donors, revisit Legacy Giving program

Executive Support of Operations

• Work with the General Manager and Board Treasurer/Finance Committee to prepare and monitor an annual operating budget of ~$350,000
• Manage and implement marketing and communications strategies with the support of staff
• Supervise and work in close partnership with the General, Residency, and Administrative Managers
• Be on-site for Volunteer Weekend and Board Retreat at the end of May, and as needed for the remainder of the June-September season
• Work with the General Manager to maintain a robust group calendar throughout the operating season (generally understood to be 15-20 groups): Maintain good relationships with returning group leaders, and actively seek out new mission-aligned groups to book at Shadowcliff
• Work with the General Manager and Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce/Grand County Economic Development to ensure Shadowcliff is visible and understood as a lodging option for individual bookings in Grand Lake

Working with the Board of Directors

• Collaborate with the Board chair on all Board activity to strengthen Board capacity
• Measure and report progress to the Board on a monthly basis by attending the monthly Board meeting (virtual), committee meetings as needed, and Board retreats (2 per year). The May retreat happens on site at Shadowcliff, coinciding with Volunteer Weekend/Memorial Day weekend, and the fall retreat happens in October or November in a location determined by the Board.
• Collaborate with the Board to maintain and adjust the strategic plan as new opportunities arise
• Cultivate relationships with stakeholders within the context of Shadowcliff’s mission, vision and values, and guidance from the strategic plan. This includes Grand County neighbors, potential new audiences, funders, donors and potential partner collaborators.

Required Qualifications:

• An individual who embraces Shadowcliff’s mission and values
• Experience in communicating/liaising with a Board of Directors in a variety of situations
• Experience supervising employees and coaching employees toward achieving organizational goals
• Strong relationship- and network-building capability
• Fundraising success with individuals, groups, organizations, and grants
• Strong communication skills: written, verbal, and public speaking
• Collaborative leadership record among individuals and organizations
• Ability to manage the financial integrity of a non-profit organization, including working in conjunction with the Treasurer and Finance Committee to prepare annual budgets, financial reports, and cash-flow projections
• Experience working in a nonprofit (preferably a small nonprofit)
• Ability to work both operationally (carrying out Shadowcliff’s mission) and strategically (shaping and planning for the future of Shadowcliff)
• Proficiency in using web-based programs and tools such as Google Drive, WordPress, Keela, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with the Colorado nonprofit industry
• Familiarity in working with professional artists, artist residency models, and/or arts organizations
• At least 3-5 years of experience in organizational leadership
• Effective in accomplishing substantial tasks with volunteers
• Appreciative of spiritual dialogue and growth
• Willing to make a long-term commitment to this leadership position (3-5 years)
• Experience in website management, email marketing and social media