Job Listing
 🔗Executive Director

  • Full Time
  • Darien, CT
  • $70,000 - $80,000 USD / Year
  • Applications have closed
  • Job Qualifications:

    • Passion for history and education.
    • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in management, museum studies,
    history, education, or related field preferred.
    • Proven success in nonprofit leadership, preferably in a museum, historic site, or
    educational organization.
    • Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor relations, and grant writing.
    • Strong executive functioning, organizational, and communication skills.
    • Experience with collections management and exhibit curation.
    • Strategic thinker with entrepreneurial drive and self-motivation.
    • Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, Board, and diverse
    stakeholders.
    • Proficiency with digital communication platforms and social media.

    • Entrepreneurial and self-motivated
    • Strong people skills and ability to inspire others
    • Collaborative and team-oriented
    • Enthusiastic, creative, and adaptable
    • Commitment to the mission and values of the Mather Homestead Foundation

  • How to Apply:

    Please submit a cover letter and resume to the Mather Homestead Foundation Board of
    Directors at matherapplications@gmail.com by Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Please direct
    any inquiries to the same email address.

  • Job benefits: flexible hours
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: Beautiful 7-acre property with historic homestead and new education barn. Staff offices are in the loft of the barn. Archives are on the first floor of the homestead. There are no elevators.
  • Contact Name: Jennifer Foster
  • Application Email: matherapplications@gmail.com
  • Application URL: https://www.matherhomestead.org/ed-search
  • Application Phone #: 203-202-7602
  • Application Address: The Mather Homestead Foundation 19 Stephen Mather Road, Darien, CT 06820

Website The Mather Homestead Foundation

The Mather Homestead Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Mather Homestead, established in 1778 and home to seven generations of Mather descendants, as a treasured place for historical education and enjoyment. The Foundation will raise awareness of the Homestead’s unique history, dating back to the Revolutionary War, and Stephen Tyng Mather’s legacy as an important conservationist and the founder of our modern National Parks System.

The Executive Director serves as chief executive of the Mather Homestead Foundation, responsible for advancing its mission through dynamic leadership, strategic vision, and operational excellence. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED oversees all Foundation operations and positions the Mather Homestead as a premier historic and educational resource of national significance.

Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategic Planning – Collaborate with the Board to develop and execute strategic initiatives aligned with the Foundation’s mission. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven organizational culture while serving as primary Board liaison.

Operations & Staff Management Supervise staff and dozens of volunteers to ensure effective operations and exceptional visitor experiences. Oversee facilities management, preservation projects, and regulatory compliance.

Development & Fundraising Lead all fundraising activities with the Development Committee, including donor cultivation, grant writing, and stewardship. Plan and execute core fundraising events such as historical lectures, the Garen Tea, and Fall Harvest Festival. Manage donor recognition and partnership initiatives.

Program & Event Management Develop and coordinate educational programs for all ages, including house tours, lectures, reenactments, and children’s programming. Expand outreach to schools, community groups, and partner organizations. Work with educators and historians to connect the Homestead’s story to broader American history and conservation themes.

Collections & Preservation Oversee stewardship, preservation, and interpretation of the historic house, property, and collections, ensuring best practices in collections care and exhibit curation. Implement assessment recommendations to enhance collection accessibility and preservation.

Communications & Community Engagement Serve as the Foundation’s public face, representing the organization to donors, partners, media, and the broader community. Manage communications including newsletters, social media, and public relations to grow audience and impact. Build relationships with local, regional, and national partners.

Financial Management Develop and manage the annual budget with the Board Treasurer. Ensure responsible financial stewardship, reporting, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will build upon a strong organizational foundation while advancing the Mather Homestead’s mission through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and sustainable growth.