Cotie Bailey

Cotie Bailey serves as Senior Philanthropy Officer for the Southeast Region at American Farmland Trust, where she works with donors and partners to advance AFT’s mission of protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and helping farmers and ranchers thrive. Before joining AFT, Cotie spent nearly a decade with The Nature Conservancy, most recently serving as the lead fundraiser for Mississippi. Earlier in her career, she fundraised at her alma mater, Millsaps College. Throughout her career, she has built meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers, and community leaders to support conservation and agricultural initiatives. A Mississippi native, Cotie comes from a multi-generational farming family and has a deep appreciation for the people, land, and traditions that sustain agricultural communities. She understands firsthand the importance of keeping farmland in agriculture for future generations and is passionate about connecting people with opportunities to create lasting impact through conservation and agriculture. Cotie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Millsaps College.