About CAC
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) exists to support transformation and inspire loving action in the world through the teaching of Christian contemplative wisdom and practices. Internally, we are working to create a healthy work environment that is grounded in the values of the tradition that we represent. Our mission drives us forward, but our team is at the heart of everything we do.
About The Job Opportunity
CAC is seeking a Director of Development who is a strategic, relational, and results-oriented leader to steward and grow a development function that currently raises $10M+ annually, with a long-term vision to reach $15M by 2030.
Serving as the most senior leader of Development, this role oversees all fundraising strategy and execution across individual giving, major gifts, annual appeals, planned and legacy giving, institutional funding, and donor engagement. You will lead and develop a growing team while partnering closely with Finance, Engagement, Programs, CRM, and Executive Leadership.
This role is ideal for a strong development leader who brings deep fundraising expertise, a reverence for relationship building and alignment with our financial philosophy. We are looking for someone who understands that CAC’s donors are also participants in our work, and who can hold the nuance of generosity, transformation, and financial sustainability with integrity.
This position serves on CAC’s Leadership Team, a cross-functional group of directors and executives, and reports to the Chief Financial Officer. In this role, you will play a key part in shaping CAC’s future impact, sustainability, and culture.
Who You Are
You are an experienced development professional who blends strategic clarity with relational depth. You are energized by building sustainable fundraising systems, cultivating long-term donor relationships, and mentoring teams to grow in confidence and capacity.
You likely:
- Bring deep, fundamental nonprofit fundraising expertise, particularly in individual and family giving
- Have successfully stewarded five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts
- Are both results-oriented and values-driven, with a strong ability to articulate and operate within CAC’s Financial Philosophy
- Find meaning in CAC’s mission and have personal experience with transformation, healing, or contemplative practice
- Lead with humility, emotional intelligence, and trust-building presence
- Enjoy coaching and developing teams, especially those growing into deeper development expertise
- Thrive in cross-functional environments and proactively seek alignment across messaging, storytelling, and donor experience
- Are comfortable representing an organization publicly and serving as an ambassador to donors, partners, and community members
What You’ll Do
Strategy & Fundraising Leadership
- Develop and execute a multi-year development strategy aligned with CAC’s strategic plan, annual budget, Financial Philosophy, and long-term sustainability goals
- Set and achieve annual and multi-year fundraising goals, guiding CAC from $10M to $15M+ in development revenue over time
- Research and implement modern fundraising best practices in ways that honor CAC’s mission, values, and donor community
Major Gifts & Donor Stewardship
- Lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of CAC’s major donor community, including five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts
- Oversee and produce CAC’s annual in-person major donor retreat, partnering with the Executive Director and senior leaders
- Ensure donors experience CAC as relational, thoughtful, and deeply aligned with their values and spiritual journey
Annual & Ongoing Fundraising Operations
- Oversee all annual fund initiatives, including:
- Bi-annual Daily Meditations and podcast appeals
- Quarterly Mendicant newsletter appeals
- End-of-year campaigns
- Stewardship of CAC’s robust recurring donor community
- Lead the development and launch of CAC’s legacy and planned giving program
Data, Analytics & Systems
- Leverage donor analytics, KPIs, CRM insights, and annual donor surveys to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
- Oversee Salesforce CRM, FreeWill, and other development platforms as core tools of the function
- Use data thoughtfully to inform strategy while maintaining a human-centered donor experience
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner closely with Engagement, Publications, Content, Events & Production, Formation, and CRM teams to ensure aligned storytelling and donor communications
- Serve as a collaborative leader who proactively breaks down silos between Development, Engagement, and Programs
Leadership & People Management
You will lead and grow a development team currently consisting of a Senior Manager and a Development Coordinator, with plans to add an additional Development Manager.
As a people leader at CAC, you will:
- Set clear expectations through thoughtful job design, onboarding, and goal-setting
- Provide regular coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities
- Support team members who are growing into deeper development expertise through mentorship and skill-building
- Address performance challenges with compassion, clarity, and accountability
- Foster a healthy, high-trust team culture grounded in CAC’s Community Engagement Agreements
- Model the balance between results orientation and spiritual/values-based leadership
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
- 12+ years of experience in nonprofit development or mission-driven fundraising, with a strong emphasis on individual and family giving
- 4+ years of people management experience leading high-performing teams
- Proven experience managing $10M+ annual fundraising portfolios
- Demonstrated success cultivating and stewarding major donors and securing transformational gifts
- Exceptional storytelling, written, and verbal communication skills
- Strong systems thinking and strategic planning capability
- Alignment with CAC’s mission and values, with a personal connection to contemplative or transformational work
Strongly Preferred:
- Experience with Salesforce CRM, FreeWill, and modern development platforms
- Experience working in spiritually grounded, nonprofit, or educational organizations
- Comfort serving as a public-facing representative of an organization’s mission
Work Requirements
- Remote-friendly role; Albuquerque, NM a plus
- Occasional travel (approximately 2–4 times per year)
- Core collaborative work hours
- Ability to work at a computer for extended periods
- Ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds occasionally
- Clear English communication (spoken and written)
Ready to Apply?
Please apply for this job directly through the online application system, providing your resume and other specified details to be considered for the job opportunity. Due to the high volume of interest, we are not able to process applications or respond to inquiries unless they come through our online system.
Job Specifications, Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position scheduled to begin as soon as possible. We’re open to remote candidates, but have a preference for candidates who are located in Albuquerque, New Mexico or are open to relocation (we offer relocation assistance).
We are pleased to offer a salary range of 112,942-139,207 annually (based on experience) for this position. Compensation ranges are established based on a grade system designed to ensure competitiveness with industry standards as well as pay equity. Final compensation will be determined based on the specific qualifications of the candidate in relation to the salary grade and predetermined criteria.
Our commitment to pay transparency and fairness reflects both our values and our dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment. CAC compensation packages are one part of a generous total rewards package that also includes industry-leading flexibility, benefits, and paid leave. We offer full-time staff positions:
- Medical, dental and vision plans with options to best meet your needs
- 401(k)
- Generous PTO, including organizational-wide week-long break in the summer and winter
- Full-time employees receive 3 months of paid sabbatical leave after 7 years of service
- Paid Sick Leave
- Personal Retreat: 5 paid days off to attend one spiritual retreat a year after your first year of employment
- Professional Development Stipend
- Five free books annually in addition to all free digital downloads from CAC Library
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
We believe that diversity makes us better. The CAC welcomes and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, family medical history or genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, military service, veteran status, citizen status, political affiliation, disability status, or any other non-merit based factor. We look forward to the possibility of working together in a supportive and rewarding environment.
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