Executive Director

Weston History & Culture Center; Weston (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Weston History & Culture Center in Weston, CT seeks an experienced Executive Director to lead the organization from its Coley Homestead campus. This full‑time role directs the Board and staff, grows membership, strengthens donor and sponsor relationships, and builds a volunteer network.

The ED will translate the five‑year strategic plan into action, oversee fundraising and programming for families and diverse audiences, manage operations and campus facilities, and advocate for accessibility and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive nonprofit management experience, with demonstrated leadership responsibility.
• Proven track record in fundraising — including grant writing, annual fund management, and donor cultivation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to inspire donors, volunteers, partners, and the public
• Experience developing and managing community programs or events
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead teams of staff and volunteers
• Financial acumen: budget management, reporting, and accountability
• Proficiency with standard nonprofit technology (donor databases, email platforms, basic web/social media)
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement WHCC five-year strategic plan with the Board
• Lead fundraising initiatives, cultivate donors, and secure sponsorships
• Oversee programming for families, schools, and community audiences
• Manage collections policies and museum operations
• Oversee budget and administrative operations with the Board

Skills

Fundraising

Grant writing

Communication skills

Nonprofit leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Donor databases

CRM software

Job description

About the Weston History & Culture Center

The Weston History & Culture Center (WHCC) discovers, collects, and preserves the heritage of Weston, Connecticut and brings it alive through exhibitions, educational programs, and community events — connecting our residents and future generations to the past in the context of local, regional, and world history.

Founded in 1961, WHCC is located on the 3.7-acre Coley Homestead, one of the last intact 18th-century farm complexes in Fairfield County. Our campus includes the Coley Farmhouse, the Coley Homestead Barn (featuring the 'Weston at Work' permanent exhibit and a working loom room), a carriage house, the Bunkhouse, the Smokehouse, the Daniel E. Offutt III Sculpture Garden, and the Prue Bliss Education Center — housing our archives, collections, and museum space.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a dedicated board of trustees, a growing volunteer base, and an expanding calendar of programs, events, and school partnerships that serve the full Weston community.

The Opportunity

WHCC is at an exciting inflection point. With a new five-year strategic plan underway — focused on broadening community engagement, activating the campus, diversifying revenue, and deepening our collections — we are seeking an experienced, energetic, and entrepreneurially minded Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter.

This is not a caretaker role. The incoming ED will be a true organizational leader: directing the Board and staff, growing membership, strengthening donor and sponsor relationships, expanding programming for families and diverse audiences, and building the volunteer infrastructure to sustain a growing organization. The right candidate will be as comfortable writing a grant proposal as they are welcoming a school group to the Homestead or making a sponsorship pitch to a local business.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Board to develop and implement the WHCC five-year strategic plan
• Serve as the primary public face of the organization in Weston and the broader Fairfield County community
• Identify and act on opportunities to grow WHCC's relevance, reach, and community impact
• Build and steward relationships with peer organizations, town government, schools, and community leaders
• Partner with the Membership Committee on membership management, including attracting new members, and retaining and celebrating existing WHCC members
• Partner with the Revenue Generation Committee on all fundraising initiatives including: the annual appeal, Spring appeal, major donor cultivation and solicitations, sponsorships, events
• Identify, research, write, and manage grants from public and private sources
• Identify and develop earned revenue opportunities, including venue rental, ticketed events, and program fees

Programming & Community Engagement

• Develop, coordinate, and execute a robust annual program calendar — exhibits, events, lectures, — that serves diverse audiences including families, youth, and new residents
• Lead and grow WHCC's K–12 education programs, including the annual 3rd grade Homestead visit and curriculum partnerships with Weston Public Schools
• Expand WHCC's reach to younger families and underserved community members through inclusive programming and storytelling
• Manage vendor and performer relationships for all events and programs
• Recruit, train, and retain a robust volunteer corps to support tours, events, communications, and program execution
• Establish clear role definitions, accountability structures, and recognition practices for volunteers
• Work with the Board to ensure adequate human resource capacity as programming grows

Collections, Archives & Campus

• Provide strategic oversight of WHCC's collections, archives, and CT Collections database
• Ensure collections policies (acquisitions, accessioning, de-accessioning, loans) are current and followed
• Oversee the maintenance, restoration, and long‑term stewardship of all campus buildings and grounds in coordination with the Buildings & Grounds Committee
• Ensure campus accessibility, safety, and hospitality standards are maintained year‑round

Communications & Marketing

• Create/execute a weekly enewsletter, social media presence, website content, and press releases in coordination with the Board
• Represent WHCC in local media, at public events, and in regional cultural and nonprofit networks

Governance & Administration

• Provide administrative s upport for the Board and its Committees
• Prepare and manage the annual operating budget in partnership with the Board President and Treasurer
• Ensure compliance with all applicable nonprofit requirements (IRS, CT DEEP, etc.)
• Maintain organizational records, contracts, vendor relationships, and technology systems

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive nonprofit management experience, with demonstrated leadership responsibility
• Proven track record in fundraising — including grant writing, annual fund management, and donor cultivation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to inspire donors, volunteers, partners, and the public
• Experience developing and managing community programs or events
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead teams of staff and volunteers
• Financial acumen: budget management, reporting, and accountability
• Proficiency with standard nonprofit technology (donor databases, email platforms, basic web/social media)
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in museum studies, history, nonprofit management, or related field preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a museum, historical society, archive, or cultural heritage organization
• Familiarity with the grant landscape (CT Humanities, state arts/culture funders)
• Experience with collections management systems (e.g., CT Collections database)
• Established relationships in the nonprofit, cultural, or civic communities of Fairfield County
• Demonstrated success growing organizational revenue and/or membership

Personal Attributes

• A genuine passion for history, community, and the role that cultural institutions play in civic life
• An entrepreneurial mindset — energized by growth, not just maintenance
• Collaborative leadership style: listens well, builds consensus, and earns trust
• Strong personal organization and the capacity to handle multiple tasks simultaneously while keeping the overall strategy in view.
• A sense of humor and grace under the pressures of small‑nonprofit life

WHCC offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $75,000–$90,000.

This is a full‑time position based at the Coley Homestead in Weston, Connecticut. Some evening and weekend availability is required, particularly during the spring‑fall event season.

WHCC is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a staff and volunteer community that reflects the diversity of Weston and Fairfield County.

Questions may be directed to Stacey Youell at [e-mail].

The Weston History & Culture Center is located at 104 Weston Road, Weston, CT 06883. Learn more at www.westonhistoricalsociety.org.