Director of Development

Canyonlands Field Institute strives to rejuvenate the human spirit through quality, immersive outdoor experiences. We aim to create a world where the people, wildlife, and plants of the Colorado Plateau are healthy and vibrant. As we work toward this vision, we must acknowledge that people and landscape are inexorably connected. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive culture in all that we do.

Over the past 40 years Canyonlands Field Institute has build a reputation of excellent in outdoor education for youth and adults, we encourage you to join our team and help us continue to grow!

CFI is seeking a collaborative, energetic leader to be our new Development Director. Based out of Moab, Utah, this position oversees all aspects of development for CFI, including grant writing, strategic planning, donor relationship management, and fundraising initiatives. In order to offset the costs of program participation for schools and families, CFI has set the goal, that by 2034, it will receive 80% of funding from philanthropic sources.

Our new Development Director will help us get there.

This is a high impact position within a small organization. The ideal candidate for this position is a leader experienced in fundraising, donor relations, and team collaboration. Candidates must have a strong connection to, and passion for, CFI’s mission is to cultivate connection to self, community, and nature by creating inclusive educational pathways to the outdoors. The ideal candidate is an effective communicator, catalyst, and strategic thinker who is knowledgeable about fundraising best practices and processes.

• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance 75%/25% split between CFI and employee
• Simple IRA with 3% CFI match
• Vacation, sick and comp time accrual and schedule of paid holidays
• Access to pro deals for outdoor gear
• Live, work, and explore in beautiful Moab, Utah

• Lead the development of the annual fundraising and development strategy, ensuring it reflects CFI’s mission.
• Cultivate and promote CFI’s core values through development initiatives.
• Identify innovative revenue generation strategies and build a diverse funding base, including individual donors, foundations, and other sources.
• Cultivate and steward donor relationships to enhance ongoing support.
• Create innovative opportunities to engage donors and sponsors, foster long‑term relationships.
• Oversee timely and accurate donor acknowledgements and communication tracking in the donor management system.
• Lead the prospecting efforts to identify and engage potential individuals, foundations, and other funders.
• Develop and execute strategies for expanding and diversifying the donor pipeline.
• Maintain a robust database of prospects, tracking progress and outcomes using donor management systems.
• Produce regular, insightful reports on donor engagement, fundraising progress, and grants, sharing these updates with the leadership team and Board of Trustees.
• Supervise the Grant Writer, providing coaching, guidance, and support to help them succeed in their role.
• Oversee grant submissions to ensure quality and alignment with organizational goals.
• Ensure Development Division staff and volunteers are properly trained to use systems to track donations, communications, and reporting.
• Collaborate with the leadership team on budget planning and oversight.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in donor relations, fundraising strategy, and grant writing, with a track record of securing major gifts and grants.
• Minimum of 2 years supervisory experience.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences, including donors, community members, and stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, team‑building, and collaborative skills.
• Experience with Donor Management Systems (DMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, Grant Management Systems, and other fundraising software tools and databases.
• Ability to travel including staff meetings, funder visits, and conferences.
• Conditions
• Employee will be reviewed after first 60‑days conditional period.
• Agree and sign the acceptance of CFI personnel policies and procedures.
• Must pass Utah educators’ fingerprint and background check at CFI expense.