The Pacific Crest Trail Association welcomes Steven Freygang as its new Director of Philanthropy. With more than fifteen years of fundraising and revenue leadership in support of conservation, education, and community-based organizations, Steven brings a powerful combination of traditional development expertise and advanced technological acumen. He pairs a highly relational focus on major gift strategy, campaign execution, and board partnership with a proven ability to leverage digital fundraising systems and robust CRM analytics to drive data-informed revenue growth. His strategic, authentic, and innovative approach to building durable philanthropic programs is matched by his career-long commitment to conservation and outdoor recreation.
Most recently, Steven served as Enterprise Customer Success Manager at GoFundMe, where he advised major nonprofit organizations raising hundreds of millions of dollars annually on digital fundraising strategy, donor acquisition, and campaign performance. Throughout his career, he led development initiatives at a range of mission-driven organizations, including as the Senior Manager of Development at the Woodland Park Zoo, the Development Director and then the Executive Director at the Sammamish Rowing Association, and earlier at the University of Washington and Vital Ground Land Trust. In each role, he focused on meaningful revenue growth, relationship management, team cultivation, and the integration of philanthropy into organizational strategy.
As a frequent user of the Pacific Crest Trail, Steven’s connection to conservation and the outdoors extends well beyond his professional roles. A former backcountry ranger, expedition guide, and rowing and trail running coach, he brings firsthand experience in the landscapes the PCTA works to protect. His career has been defined by a core belief that stewarding the places and opportunities we care about is a responsibility we carry for future generations, a philosophy he now brings to the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
To learn more about the Pacific Crest Trail Association, visit pcta.org.
