Associate Director of Development

Position Overview:

The Associate Director of Development will play a critical role in advancing The Tree of Life’s fundraising efforts, with a particular focus on cultivating and stewarding relationships within the Pittsburgh community. Reporting directly to the Chief Advancement Officer, this frontline fundraising position will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects in the $1,000–$25,000 range while helping to grow and strengthen the organization’s local donor pipeline.

The ideal candidate is an experienced relationship builder who is energized by community-based fundraising and thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. This individual will work closely with leadership to support annual fundraising goals, donor engagement strategies, special events, and stewardship initiatives.

This is an in-office position based in Pittsburgh, PA. The person hired for this role must be based in or within regular commuting distance of Pittsburgh and available to attend regular in-person meetings, events, and community engagements.

Key Responsibilities:

Frontline Fundraising & Donor Management

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, primarily in the $1,000–$25,000 giving range.
• Conduct regular donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings with a strong emphasis on relationship-building and long-term engagement.
• Develop personalized strategies to deepen donor involvement and increase philanthropic support over time.
• Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer on donor strategy, pipeline development, and prospect movement.
• Support the identification and cultivation of new donors within the Pittsburgh community and broader regional networks.

Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• Serve as a visible and engaged representative of The Tree of Life within the Pittsburgh community.
• Build relationships with community leaders, civic organizations, corporate partners, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Attend community events, networking opportunities, and organization-sponsored programs to strengthen local visibility and support.

Events & Donor Engagement

• Support the planning and execution of donor cultivation events, stewardship gatherings, and community engagement opportunities.
• Assist with event follow-up and donor communications to ensure meaningful engagement before and after events.
• Collaborate with internal staff and consultants to ensure donor-facing experiences reflect the organization’s mission and values.

Development Operations & Strategy

• Maintain accurate donor records and engagement activity within the organization’s CRM system.
• Track donor activity and fundraising progress and provide regular updates to the Chief Advancement Officer.
• Assist with proposal development, stewardship reporting, donor correspondence, and other advancement materials as needed.
• Contribute to broader fundraising and campaign planning efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 7–9 years of professional fundraising experience, including direct frontline fundraising responsibility.
• Demonstrated success managing donor relationships and soliciting gifts in a nonprofit, educational, cultural, or mission-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage a wide range of constituents.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.
• Experience with CRM/database management and donor tracking systems.
• Passion for The Tree of Life’s mission and commitment to community-centered relationship building.
• Access to reliable transportation and willingness to attend occasional evening and weekend events.

Preferred Skills

• Experience fundraising within the Pittsburgh philanthropic community.
• Familiarity with capital campaigns, managing an annual fund, donor stewardship strategies, and moves management.
• Experience working in a small or growing nonprofit organization.

Compensation

Salary range is $85,000–$95,000 and includes a generous benefits package.

TO APPLY

Please submit resume, cover letter, and references to jobs@thetreeoflife.org.

English- Fluent