Job Title:
Fund Development Director
Company: Pitney Meadows Community Farm
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Created: 2026-03-04
Job Type: Full Time
Job Description:
Pitney Meadows Community Farm Fund Development Director223 West Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866(518) 290-0008 Founded in 2016 with a generous land transfer from the Pitney family to the newly established non-profit, Pitney Meadows' mission is to grow food, community, and connection to the natural world right here on our conserved farm in the heart of Saratoga. At Pitney Meadows, we see a future where people and nature grow together. By caring for the land and sharing what we grow, we help create a healthier, more connected, and more resilient community. Although the farm is conserved forever, Pitney Meadows stewardship of the land is temporary, connected to the past and the future. We acknowledge the past caretakers, including the Mohawk, Mohican, and Abenaki people, and recognize that what we do on the land affects people in our neighborhood and downstream, as well as future generations of stewards. We invite people to build their own connections with the land and each other in ways that are consistent with this vision. Position Description: Pitney Meadows Community Farm is seeking an experienced, relationship-driven Development Director to lead and integrate all fundraising and corporate engagement efforts. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role drives year-over-year growth in operating revenue while supporting special initiatives and future capital priorities. The Development Director partners closely with the Fund Development Committee and Executive Director, supervises the Administrative Coordinator and any seasonal interns, and collaborates with Communications to tell a clear, compelling impact story. Ideal candidates bring major gifts experience, strong planning and execution skills, and a passion for building community through food, education, and land stewardship.Responsibilities: Planning and Revenue LeadershipPartner with the Executive Director and Fund Development Committee to create and execute annual and multi-year fundraising plans with clear deliverables, milestones, and KPIs.Provide quarterly progress reports with trends, insights, and recommended adjustments.Major Gifts and Individual GivingManage a portfolio of major donors and prospects with individualized cultivation and stewardship plans.Schedule and prepare for donor meetings, ensure timely follow-up, craft donor correspondence, and brief the Executive Director for joint meetings.Maintain and grow the major donor pipeline in partnership with the Executive Director.Campaigns, Appeals, and CommunicationsCollaborate with the Executive Director and Marketing and Communications Assistant Manager on the annual report, solicitation appeals, acknowledgements, and special campaign materials.Launch and oversee the administrative management of a new mission-aligned Membership Program that builds community and recurring revenue.Corporate Partnerships and EventsStrengthen Pitney Meadows business sponsorship program by researching prospects, developing proposals, and securing financial and in-kind support.Design and execute major donor cultivation gatherings with the Executive Director, including guest management and post-event follow-up.Support the Fire Feast and Michael J. Pitney 5K committees with planning and on-site execution to meet revenue and stewardship goals.Data, Systems, and OperationsUse Little Green Light (CRM) proficiently and oversee accurate data entry, hygiene, and reporting to support moves management and measurement.Create simple dashboards and lists that help staff and volunteers act on next steps.Staff/Volunteers/Intern ManagementProvides meaningful mentorship for Administrative Coordinator and any fund development interns.Works with the Administrative Coordinator to develop annual work plan.Offers consistent 1:1 support and performance feedback to Administrative Coordinator and completes annual performance review cycle.Supports all volunteer efforts for fund development.. Core Competencies of Leadership Team MembersDirectors are members of a leadership team at the organization and performance is measured by adherence to the following core competencies:1. Fostering a Joyful Workplace: Demonstrates the ability to create and sustain a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment that promotes employee satisfaction, motivation, and well-being.2. Public Representation and Communication: Exhibits strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively represent the organization to the public, stakeholders, and community partners, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and values.3. Program Design and Management: Skilled in designing, implementing, and managing programs that actively engage the community, address their needs, and promote inclusivity while ensuring that staff workloads are balanced to prevent burnout.4. Community Engagement and Collaboration: Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with community members and partners, ensuring their active involvement and participation in organizational initiatives.5. Leadership and Staff Development: Focuses on developing and mentoring staff, empowering them to grow within the organization, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared leadership.6. Holistic Organizational Leadership: Demonstrates a commitment to the overall health, sustainability, and success of the organization by actively participating in leadership initiatives, identifying cross-organizational solutions, and prioritizing the collective well-being over individual program objectives.Qualifications: Required8+ years of progressive fundraising experience with a proven record of results in nonprofit, education, or related settings (consulting experience welcome).Successful track record identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts of 5,000+ from individuals; experience managing annual appeals and campaigns.Ability to design and execute a multi-tiered fundraising strategy across individual, corporate, foundation, and event channels.Strong project ownership and the ability to work independently while meeting deadlines.Excellent writing, speaking, analytical, and presentation skills, with high emotional intelligence.Strong organization and attention to detail; fluency with fundraising tools and systems.Proficiency with donor databases and moves management; Little Green Light experience preferred.People management experience and program or project management skills.Exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to partner effectively with staff, board, donors, volunteers, and community stakeholders.PreferredExperience in membership management and/or event production.Familiarity with business sponsorships and membership programs.Commitment to Pitney Meadows mission of food access, education, and land stewardship.Benefits:At Pitney Meadows Community Farm, we value the well-being and engagement of our team members. As part of our commitment to supporting a healthy and thriving workforce, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage for year-round team members:Access to individual health, dental, and vision coverage at a reduced rate, ensuring that our team members have the support they need to maintain their well-being.Summer CSA Share:Enjoy the harvest of your hard work with a complimentary summer CSA share. Participation in Farm Events:Embrace the spirit of community and camaraderie by participating in farm events at no cost on your time-off. Whether it's educational workshops, community gatherings, or seasonal celebrations, we encourage our team members to be an integral part of the farm's vibrant activities.Flexible Work Environment:Recognizing the importance of work-life balance, we offer a flexible work environment that accommodates the needs of our team members.Work Environment: The position is located in Saratoga Springs, NY with in-season located on the farm in a shared office with team members, and remote work allowed in the off-season. Terms and Compensation: This role is based in Saratoga Springs, NY; during the growing season it is on-site at the farm in a shared office with team members, and remote work is permitted in the off-season.This position is a salaried role between $70,000-$80,000 BOE.Application period: To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume. Applications received without a cover letter will not be accepted. Applications will be accepted and evaluated through February 20th. Any questions regarding this position can be sent to the Brooke McConnell, Executive Director, at Pitney Meadows Community Farm (Pitney Meadows) maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, and qualifications. It is the policy of Pitney Meadows in recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting employees to select the best qualified individuals without regard to age, race, color, national origin, marital status, gender (including gender identity and transgender), religion, sexual orientation, military status, genetic information, disability, domestic violence victim status, familial status or any other characteristic protected by law. recblid b4l9hwmdlpg0041mu5l8ifzg7jeqqj