Executive Director

Organization:

The Center for Spirituality in Nature is a national 501c3 non-profit organization that provides opportunities for deepening spirituality through nature and for nurturing loving relationships with Earth. Through spiritual re-awakening, re-grounding, and re-orientation, we mindfully participate in the healing of the Earth community of which we are called to be a loving part.

Founded in 2014, the Center for Spirituality in Nature offers a ground-breaking framework for individual and social change based on personal and communal spiritual relationship with the natural world. For over a decade, the Center has developed rich in-person and digital programming and a powerful workshop methodology for its application, nourishing deepened spiritual engagement and renewed love for Earth, and equipping our community to live more mindfully, healthily, and conscientiously. We welcome all who come from within, and outside of, traditional faith communities.

We are leading an exciting transformation in our communities and across the nation, for an expansive re-examination and re-imagining of our deep relationship with Earth and with the Divine Spirit that animates it. Through mindfulness, meditation, attentiveness and exploration, we come to know this ecological community, delight in it, listen to its wisdom, and participate in its healing. We live in a time of extraordinary ecological and environmental challenge, especially the climate crisis. As we form sacred communities together, in which humans see themselves as loving participants within a rich web of creation, we absorb the wisdom needed to heal our human selves and renew our broken relationship with Earth. Together, we hold grief, loss, responsibility as well as resilience and hope.

The Role:

The Center for Spirituality in Nature (Center) seeks a passionate, strategic Executive Director (ED) who embodies innovative and collaborative leadership and a commitment to deepening spirituality through nature and for nurturing loving relationships with Earth.

The ideal candidate has a passion for our mission and the skills to implement that vision, in particular the ability to develop and sustain a comprehensive development strategy that will sustain the Center’s mission and operations while expanding our reach. The Executive Director will be responsible for managing all functions of the organization, including strategic planning, fundraising, staff management, and general operations. This is a terrific opportunity for a highly motivated individual to help co-create, vision, and lead a unique non-profit organization at the intersection of spirituality and ecology.

The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors and will lead a skilled, experienced, and highly independent team composed of a Program Director (30hr/week), Strategic Communications Director (30hrs/week) and contracted Bookkeeper, Senior Spiritual Program Leader, Communications Associate, and Founder. The Executive Director will provide direct supervision to the Program Director, Strategic Communications Director and contractors as appropriate. The Executive Director will be responsible for raising, managing, and growing the organization’s budget, which will be approximately $250,000 for 2025.

The incoming Executive Director will be joining at a critical moment, as we seek to refine our strategic direction, expand our donor base and foundation funding, increase program-generated revenues, and deepen our partnerships with like-minded organizations across the country. The ED will play a leadership role in engaging and mobilizing a volunteer Board of Directors in setting annual goals and identifying major donors to help meet the financial needs of the organization and to successfully implement our programs nationwide.

The Center for Spirituality and Nature itself is at an exciting place of growth and transition. Over the last ten years, the Center has been expanding national programming and increasing brand awareness with the communities we seek to serve and partner with. At the same time, after a decade of leadership, the Center’s founder and current Executive Director, is transitioning to a part-time program role at the end of 2024. In her new role as “Founder,” she is committed to the mission of the Center and to supporting the incoming Executive Director, alongside the Board of Directors, to ensure that this transition is as seamless as possible.

We are seeking an Executive Director who is passionate about the mission of the Center, has the skill set to further develop and grow the organization, while also bringing the vision and leadership required to lead our organization forward.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership and Staff Management (20%)
  • Advance the Center’s goals by providing effective and passionate leadership in strategic planning, fundraising, and supporting the needs of the staff.
  • Provide day-to-day leadership, providing supervision to the Program Director, Strategic Communications Director, and other staff/contracts as appropriate.
  • While maintaining a collaborative management model, manage the staff, and create structures for supervision and evaluation. This includes the responsibility of hiring future contract and/or additional staff members as appropriate.
  • Develop and articulate a strategic annual plan that integrates fundraising, financial management, communications, programs, operations, and administration.
  • Serve as the lead advocate and spokesperson for the Center, effectively communicating its value and impact to diverse audiences through written and visual materials.
  • Take the lead in representing the Center to the press, partners, program participants, and the community.
  • Work in conjunction with the Founder/out-going Executive Director to effectively implement and execute this leadership transition.
• Fundraising (60%)
  • Develop and implement a multi-faceted fundraising strategy to support and expand the Center’s operations, programs, and educational initiatives in collaboration with the Board’s Fundraising Committee.
  • Sustain and strengthen foundation giving, including strategic collaborations with partner nonprofit orgs.
  • Prospect, develop, and maintain relationships with private foundations.
  • Identify, write, manage, and submit grant proposals and grant reports to maintain and grow the organization.
  • Greatly expand, maintain, and cultivate our network of individual donors, in particular high-level donors.
  • Work in partnership with program staff to increase program revenue streams
• Financial Management (10%)
  • Develop, review, and maintain the annual operating budget
  • Direct the management of Center finances, including careful tracking of income and expenses, making investment decisions, check-writing, deposits, payments, receipts, etc. with assistance from the Center’s contract accountant.
  • Update Board regularly on financial management, fundraising, and operations.
• Operations and Board Relations: (10%)
  • Work closely with the Board of Directors to develop and implement the Center’s strategic direction and bolster fundraising efforts.
  • Assist the Board in governance, scheduling, governance, tracking Board terms and policies
  • Provide regular updates and reports to the Board on the Center’s activities and performance.
  • Support the Board in fulfilling its governance and other responsibilities.
  • Oversee the general operations and administration of the Center, including compliance, insurance, etc.

Required Skills and Experience

• Deep commitment to the Center’s mission, passionate and knowledgeable about spirituality, nature, and the intersections between them.
• Bachelor’s degree required, theological or related advanced degree preferred. Significant work experience may be substituted.
• 5-8 years in environmental, religious, or otherwise related non-profit, congregational, or governmental field.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated, successful development experience, including with private foundations, individual donors, corporate/congregational giving, and fee for service related income.
• Proven self-starter and detail-oriented.
• Experience in operation, financial, and staff management.
• Experience building and empowering a decentralized staff.
• Exceptional organizational and administrative skills, attention to detail, and experience meeting established goals within tight timeframes.
• Experience working and collaborating with a volunteer-driven Board of Directors.
• Experience in developing and managing program evaluations to demonstrate impact in coordination with staff, funders, and faith communities
• Experience in managing existing and fostering new collaborative partnerships. Knowledge of existing partnerships in the field is preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with internal and external individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, religious traditions, and political beliefs.
• Ability to work thoughtfully and compassionately with the Center team.

Salary and Benefits:

This role is initially a part-time 30-hour a week position with the intention of expanding to a full-time position as additional resources and capacity are identified. The salary range for this position is between $60,000 - $75,000 based on experience.

The Center for Spirituality and Nature offers a virtual work environment and flexible work schedule. The compensation package for this position includes 20 days of PTO, and an additional 5 floating paid holidays per year. The ED will also be eligible for a $4,000 stipend to be used for either health insurance or retirement funds. As the Center continues to grow in capacity, we are committed to pursuing expansive and comprehensive benefit packages that support the Center’s staff and their holistic wellbeing.