Major Gifts Director, Pittsburgh

Spotlight PA • Pittsburgh, PA

1d • Remote

About The Position

Spotlight PA is seeking a Major Gifts Director based in the Pittsburgh area to lead individual major gift fundraising for its award-winning nonprofit newsroom. The mission of Spotlight PA is to hold powerful private and public forces to account by producing nonpartisan investigative and public-service journalism that gets results and serves the public good. Spotlight PA has the largest collaborative local journalism network of its kind in the United States, with stories regularly republished across 125+ partner newsrooms, allowing our vital reporting to reach Pennsylvanians in all corners and drive positive change. Spotlight PA is supported by foundations and thousands of individual donors who believe in the value of the work and want to sustain it. In partnership with the American Journalism Project, we are expanding our development team to increase our focus on leadership gifts from individuals giving $25,000+ annually in the Pittsburgh area. Our strong brand, grassroots donor base, compelling mission, and bold strategic plan are assets that the new Major Gifts Director will leverage to achieve success.

Requirements

• We are seeking an experienced fundraiser with a proven track record (at least 5-8 years of experience) in raising gifts of $25,000 to $100,000+ from individuals for important causes.
• Applicants should be able to demonstrate results of cultivating donors from first gifts to becoming major donors.
• Strong organizational and communication skills to track donor progress and ensure regular, individualized communications and touch points are required.
• An ability to work in a collaborative environment and as part of a positive and productive team is a must.
• Applicants should have a passion for building relationships on behalf of the organizations they serve, be goal-oriented and a self-starter, and be able to work independently.
• You must also be committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion on our team and through your work.
• Applicants should be based in the Pittsburgh area.
• You should also be willing to travel throughout Western Pa. for donor meetings and events (your travel expenses will be reimbursed).

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective donors with the capacity to give leadership gifts in different tiers, from $25,000 to $100,000+.
• Create and manage a relational fundraising strategy that identifies prospective major donors early and moves them beyond transactional support.
• Steward existing major donors through timely communications and impact reports related to their areas of interest with a goal of increasing their financial support according to their giving capacity.
• Work collaboratively with the team to identify current donors who could become leadership donors, assisted by wealth screening and other tools.
• Plan and lead small-group events and other activities in Western Pa. to engage donors in Spotlight PA’s work with a moves management mindset that results in thoughtful and successful solicitations.
• Collaborate with the team on Spotlight PA’s ambitious community newsroom expansion strategy: currently, we have newsrooms in Berks and State College, with the potential for other newsrooms or locally-based journalists.
• Create materials for major donors.
• Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on our team and through fundraising.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed