Vice President of Development

Stem Coding Lab•Pittsburgh, PA

1d•$94,500

About The Position

This position blends strategy and storytelling: you will lead efforts to grow and diversify our funding base through thoughtful cultivation of corporate, individual, government and foundation relationships; manage key fundraising campaigns and events; and craft compelling narratives that connect donors to the tangible impact of our work in under-resourced communities. You will partner closely with the CEO to design and implement a comprehensive development strategy that sustains and scales STEM Coding Lab’s programs. This includes identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities, stewarding existing supporters through authentic relationship-building, and using data-driven insights to strengthen organizational growth. The Vice President of Development will also collaborate with program and operations teams to align fundraising initiatives with program impact, ensuring that every proposal, report, and donor conversation reflects both rigor and heart. This is an ideal role for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy and purpose, someone who can move seamlessly from analyzing trends to crafting stories that inspire action. The Vice President of Development will bring creativity, curiosity, and commitment to equity, helping to shape the future of computer science education access in the Pittsburgh region and across the country.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
4-8 years of experience in fundraising, development, donor relations, or related nonprofit roles, with a demonstrated record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft persuasive donor materials and translate complex program outcomes into compelling narratives.
Proven success in managing grants or corporate sponsorships, including prospect research, proposal writing, and reporting.
Strong relationship management skills, with experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors, partners, and sponsors.
Strong organizational and project management abilities, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
Experience using donor databases for tracking gifts, moves management, and pipeline reporting.
Commitment to equity and inclusion, with an understanding of how access to computer science education impacts economic mobility and opportunity.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in education, youth development, or STEM-focused nonprofits, or a strong interest in these areas.
Familiarity with local Pittsburgh philanthropic networks, including foundations, corporations, and community leaders.
Experience designing or supporting fundraising campaigns or events, including sponsorship fulfillment and donor recognition.
Comfort using AI, analytics, or digital tools to enhance fundraising effectiveness (e.g., donor segmentation, storytelling, automation).
Experience supporting board engagement in fundraising efforts (e.g., providing materials, coordinating outreach).
Demonstrated curiosity, creativity, and drive to grow professionally within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial nonprofit.

Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Planning Develops and implements an annual development plan in alignment with organizational goals, priorities, and budget targets.
Monitor fundraising performance metrics (e.g. pipeline health, conversion rates, donor retention, average gift size) and adjust tactics accordingly.
Conduct prospect research (government, individual, foundation, corporate) to identify new opportunities and map strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Maintain and manage a pipeline and coordinate donor touchpoints.
Support the CEO and board in fundraising strategy, planning, and execution (e.g. briefing materials, campaign targets, campaign structure).
Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects (e.g. mid-level and emerging major donors), cultivating relationships, making asks, and stewarding post-gift engagement.
Prepare solicitation materials, proposals, briefs, one-pagers, and donor presentations.
Coordinate donor recognition, reporting, and impact communication (annual reports, newsletters, donor updates).
Facilitate donor visits, meetings, and events, working with internal teams to craft compelling narratives, site visits, and impact storytelling.
Oversee stewardship plans to ensure donors feel seen, informed, and valued over the long term.
Grant Management & Institutional Funding Lead or coordinate the full grant life cycle: research, LOIs, proposal drafting, budgeting, submission, compliance, reporting, and evaluation.
Track all grant deadlines, deliverables, and reporting schedules, and ensure alignment between program impact and grant requirements.
Events, Campaigns & Sponsorships Plan, execute, and evaluate fundraising events and campaigns (e.g. gala, community fundraisers, awareness events, giving days).
Oversee campaign logistics (invitations, event staffing, vendor coordination, marketing, follow-up).
Work cross-functionally (communications, operations, programs) to integrate mission messaging, branding, and impact stories into event and campaign content.
Development Operations & Data Management Maintain integrity, accuracy, and segmentation of the donor database (CRM).
Generate regular donor performance and pipeline reports; support data-driven decision making.
Work with finance/operations teams to coordinate gift processing, reconcile donations, and align on financial reporting.
Develop and document internal processes, workflows, and systems to scale fundraising operations (e.g. move-management protocols, templates, standard operating procedures).
Internal Collaboration, Leadership & Capacity Building Partner closely with program, operations, and finance teams to align fundraising goals with programmatic impact, storytelling, and operational capacity.
Train, mentor, and engage volunteers, board members, and staff in fundraising best practices (e.g. role in solicitation, donor engagement, event support).
Provide support and input for organizational planning, participating in strategic meetings, cross-functional initiatives, and annual planning.
Oversee the development and manage the financial resources of the department supported by the Vice President of Operations
Train and support the Manager of Business Development as your direct report.
Identify and implement efficiencies within the development department.