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.

The organization provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, alienage or citizenship status, disability condition, marital status or any other protected characteristic as established by law. In addition, the organization affirmatively seeks to advance the principles of equal employment opportunity as it applies to all policies and procedures related to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.