Description
ABOUT THE CORNWALL LIBRARY
Nestled in the hills of Cornwall, Connecticut, the Cornwall Library is far more than a place to borrow
books. It is the cultural and intellectual heart of a remarkable community, where literature, the arts, and
civic life converge.
“The Cornwall Library is a welcoming community resource for all, promoting life-long learning
and the free exchange of ideas.”
Founded on the belief that great libraries belong to everyone, the Cornwall Library has grown
significantly in recent years – in programming, visibility, community reach, and fundraising. What was
once a small, quietly beloved local institution has evolved into a dynamic cultural organization with an
ambitious programming calendar, thriving annual fundraising events, a healthy endowment, and a
board of engaged, skilled community leaders who are ready to invest in the library's future.
Literacy, in its broadest sense, is the heartbeat of everything the library does: from its children's
programs and community reading initiatives to its celebrated speaker series and the writers and
thinkers who call Cornwall home.
THE LIBRARY AT A GLANCE
- Location: Cornwall, Connecticut
- Thriving programming: literary,
children's, arts, nature & community
events - Signature fundraisers: Books &
Blooms, Labor Day Art Sale - Active, skilled, and committed board
of directors - Loyal patron/donor base and
philanthropic community - Deep roots and trusted presence in
Cornwall civic life
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Cornwall Library is at an intentional inflection point. With a planned leadership transition underway,
the board has taken time to think carefully about what the library needs next.
The board is looking for someone who will arrive with energy and ideas, engage deeply with the
community, and build — growing the library's fundraising, expanding its programming, and establishing
the organizational infrastructure that makes it a model small-town cultural institution.
The incoming Executive Director will have the rare privilege of shaping the role itself. With a supportive
and engaged board, a dedicated staff, a strong financial foundation, and a community that genuinely
loves its library, this is an opportunity to make an outsized impact in a place that is ready for it.
This is a full-time, exempt salaried position. The annual salary range is $75,000-85,000 annually,
commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Cornwall Library offers a competitive benefits
package including health insurance, paid time off, and retirement benefits.
THIS ROLE IS PARTICULARLY WELL-SUITED FOR:
- A leader who is excited by the prospect of building — not just maintaining — an
organization with real momentum - Someone who thrives in a close-knit community setting and understands that
relationships are the hallmark of small-town leadership - A candidate who brings genuine fundraising confidence alongside deep mission
alignment - Someone who has been doing the work of an ED without the title, and is ready to
own the full scope - A seasoned nonprofit professional currently in a leadership role — Chief of Staff,
Deputy Director, Director of Development, Program Director — who is ready and
eager to step into an executive leadership position
THE ROLE
The Executive Director is the chief executive of the Cornwall Library, responsible for translating the
board's vision into organizational reality. The ED leads externally — cultivating donors, engaging the
community, and serving as the public face of the library — while ensuring that internal operations, staff,
and programs run with excellence.
The ED reports to the Board of Directors and works in close partnership with board leadership. As the
organization matures and the board transitions from operational involvement to governance, the ED will
have increasing ownership over day-to-day leadership and decision-making.
Leadership & Vision
- Serve as the primary steward of the library's mission, ensuring vision and values are articulated
and guide the strategy and day to day leadership - Lead the development and implementation of a multi-year strategic plan in partnership with the
board - Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and genuine community service across all library
functions - Take initiative — identify opportunities, propose solutions, and act with confidence and good
judgment - Develop and sustain a motivated, high-performing staff team
Fundraising & Development
- Lead all fundraising efforts — cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors
Build a programmatic development function: move beyond periodic giving toward a strategic,
year-round donor stewardship program - Own the library's signature fundraising events, including Books & Blooms and the Labor Day
Arts Sale - Develop a legacy and planned-giving program, engaging long-time patrons and community
members - Pursue grant opportunities from foundations, government sources, and community
organizations - Provide regular, transparent financial reporting to the board and ensure fiscal stewardship of the
endowment
Community & External Relations
- Serve as the visible, energetic face of the Cornwall Library in the community and beyond
Cultivate relationships across Cornwall's full community — longtime residents and newer
arrivals - Build partnerships with local organizations, schools, civic groups, and cultural institutions
Lead communications and public relations — ensuring the library has a compelling, consistent
presence across channels - Represent the library at community events, board gatherings, and donor meetings
Programming & Operations
- Partner with the Program Committee to expand and diversify the high-quality program calendar
Ensure literary, children's, arts, nature, and community programming continues to reflect the
library's identity and ambitions - Oversee library operations, including collection management, technology, and facilities
- Identify and address organizational infrastructure gaps — systems, technology, and processes
that support a more autonomous organization - Ensure compliance with all applicable nonprofit governance, legal, and financial requirements
Board Partnership
- Work openly and collaboratively with the Board of Directors — a board that is engaged, skilled,
and committed to getting this right - Support the board's transition from operational involvement to governance: build staff capacity
so the board can govern rather than operate - Provide regular updates, candid assessments, and strategic recommendations to board
leadership - Support board development, including recruitment, onboarding, and committee effectiveness
Requirements
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The Cornwall Library is not looking for a manager. It is looking for a leader — someone with energy,
confidence, and genuine affection for the community. The right person will arrive curious, get to know
the library and the people who love it, and then build.
We recognize that great leaders come from many paths. If you are excited about this opportunity and
believe you have most — but not all — of what we've described, we encourage you to apply. The Cornwall
Library is committed to finding the right person, not the perfect resume.
Must-Have Capabilities
- People leadership - Builds trust with staff. Sets clear expectations, develops talent,
and creates a culture where people are proud to work. - Mission alignment - Genuinely excited by what libraries do and what this library is
becoming. Understands that culture, access, and community
connection are the point — not a background condition. - Fundraising confidence - Comfortable in the room with donors. Makes the ask without
hesitation. Understands that stewardship — the thank-you, the
follow-up, the relationship — is as important as the solicitation. - Community presence - Warm, energizing, and genuinely interested in people. The kind
of person who lights up a room and makes everyone feel the
library is lucky to have them. - Initiative & ownership - Identifies what needs to happen, proposes a path, and
executes. Comfortable making decisions and accountable for
outcomes. - Board partnership - Understands the board-ED relationship. Communicates openly,
accepts feedback, and helps the board do its best governance
work
Experience & Background
We are open to backgrounds across the nonprofit sector. The Cornwall Library's next ED may come
from libraries, arts and cultural organizations, education, environmental nonprofits, community
foundations, or adjacent fields. What matters most is leadership capacity, fundraising confidence, and
genuine community orientation.
- Experience managing staff and building organizational culture
- Demonstrated success in fundraising — individual giving, events, and/or grants
- Track record of external relationship-building and community engagement
- Financial management experience — comfortable reading a P&L, managing a budget, and
reporting to a board - Confident communicator with experience in marketing, program promotion, and public outreach
- Familiarity with small-to-mid-size nonprofit operations and governance
- Experience with database management and Google Workspace
