After a national search, Billings Farm and Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Frances A. McLaughlin as Executive Director.
Frances previously served as Executive Vice President at Billings Farm & Museum, where she strengthened institutional priorities by translating strategy into operational plans, staffing decisions, and measurable outcomes. She co-authored and presented multi-year operating and capital budgets, improved Board-facing communications, and advanced organizational planning tied to long-term sustainability. She also led efforts to strengthen revenue growth and contributed income through a major gifts campaign, while refining membership engagement, pricing strategy, and visitor experience initiatives. In addition, she advanced marketing and partnership development efforts and led initiatives to improve organizational systems, leadership development, and internal operational effectiveness.
Prior to joining Billings, Frances served as Executive Director of Farm & Wilderness Foundation and Farm & Wilderness Conservation, where she led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded enrollment systems, increased annual fundraising to approximately $1M, and developed new access initiatives to broaden participation. She also created and scaled new program models, strengthened leadership development across senior staff, and advanced land conservation efforts, including expansion of conserved acreage and community programming. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles in national education and philanthropy organizations, including Education Pioneers and The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, where she led large-scale strategy, operations, and multi-million-dollar grantmaking portfolios.
At Billings Farm & Museum, Frances will lead all aspects of the organization’s operations, programming, fundraising, and strategic direction. She will oversee a $6.4M operating budget, a multidisciplinary team of staff and seasonal employees, and all aspects of farm operations, museum stewardship, visitor experience, and public programming. In partnership with the Woodstock Foundation Board of Trustees, she will guide long-range planning, financial strategy, and implementation of the Interpretive Master Plan while strengthening earned and contributed revenue streams, including major gifts, annual giving, sponsorships, admissions, and retail operations.
About Billings Farm and Museum
Billings Farm & Museum, a project of the Woodstock Foundation, is a working dairy farm and living history museum that connects visitors to Vermont’s agricultural heritage through immersive exhibits, seasonal programming, and educational experiences. Established in 1983 and located in Woodstock, Vermont, Billings serves as both a cultural institution and an active farm, engaging audiences in the history, science, and practice of sustainable agriculture while contributing to the broader mission of the Woodstock Foundation and its partners.
