Director of Development

FAME Overview

The Fund for Advancement of Minorities through Education (FAME) is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding educational access and opportunity for African American youth. Founded in 1993, FAME was created in response to the low number of African American students enrolled in independent schools in the Greater Pittsburgh area and the limited representation of African Americans in leadership spaces.

Today, FAME supports students and families through a portfolio of programs that includes our FAME Scholars, FAME Academy, and the FAME Teachers’ Academy. Through these efforts, FAME works to educate, empower, and embolden youth to become student ambassadors of today, leaders of tomorrow, and stewards of their communities.

Position Summary

The Director of Development is responsible for increasing contributed revenue and strengthening FAME’s overall fundraising capacity. This role leads the planning and execution of FAME’s annual development strategy, including major gifts, institutional giving, donor stewardship, grants, and fundraising planning tied to FAME’s long-term growth.

The Director of Development will play a central role in expanding FAME’s fundraising results, building a stronger donor pipeline, and creating the structure needed for future campaign efforts, including support for FAME’s new office and long-term capital planning.

This role works closely with the CEO on top-tier donor strategy, board engagement, and organizational fundraising priorities, while owning the day-to-day fundraising strategy and execution.

Principal (Essential) Duties

Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Growth

• Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive annual fundraising plan aligned with FAME’s strategic priorities and revenue goals.
• Establish fundraising goals, strategies, benchmarks, and timelines in partnership with the CEO.
• Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategy based on results, donor engagement, and organizational needs.
• Produce regular fundraising forecasts, reports, and pipeline updates for leadership.

Donor Engagement and Major Gifts

• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, corporate, and institutional donors.
• Develop donor strategies, briefing materials, proposals, and follow-up plans that strengthen donor relationships and increase giving.
• Ensure timely stewardship and donor communications that improve retention and long-term engagement.

Grants and Institutional Funding

• Lead FAME’s grants function, including strategy, prospecting, proposal development, submission, reporting coordination, and funder relationship management.
• Build and manage a strong grants pipeline aligned with FAME’s revenue needs and program priorities.
• Coordinate across departments to gather program, financial, and outcomes information needed for high-quality proposals and reports.
• Maintain grant calendars, deadlines, submissions, and follow-up with consistency and accuracy.

Growth Planning and Future Campaign Readiness

• In partnership with the CEO, help assess and prepare for future fundraising growth initiatives, including FAME’s new office and a potential capital campaign.
• Support early planning, donor strategy development, and case exploration related to future campaign opportunities.
• Surface risks, opportunities, and readiness needs as FAME evaluates future campaign work.

Development Communications and Marketing Alignment

• Supervise the Fund Development and Marketing Manager.
• Ensure development communications, donor materials, fundraising appeals, and stewardship materials support fundraising priorities.
• Work with marketing staff to align external messaging with development goals.
• Maintain clear priority that marketing supports fundraising and donor engagement needs.

Events and External Engagement

• Oversee fundraising-related events as supportive revenue-generating strategies, including annual events such as the 5K and possible golf outing.
• Ensure events are planned and evaluated in proportion to their fundraising return and strategic value.
• Represent FAME effectively in donor, funder, and community-facing settings.

Team Leadership and Development Oversight

• Provide direction, accountability, and support to development-related staff work.
• Oversee the performance of the Fund Development and Marketing Manager in carrying out administrative development functions, including gift processing, CRM entry, acknowledgment letters, and related support tasks.
• Help build a development function that is organized, responsive, and sustainable.

Secondary Duties

• Support special fundraising projects and organizational initiatives as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong fundraising, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to increase revenue and manage multiple fundraising streams.
• Strong writing skills, including donor correspondence, grant proposals, and campaign materials.
• Strong planning, organization, and project management skills.
• Ability to analyze fundraising data and translate it into action.
• Ability to work independently and within a small team.
• Professional judgment, discretion, and accountability.
• Commitment to FAME’s mission and educational equity.
• Proficiency with standard office software and donor/fundraising systems.
• Must have access to reliable transportation.
• Must have, or be willing to obtain, PA Act 33/34 and FBI Clearances.

Working Conditions/ Physical Demands

• Work some evenings and weekends, as required.
• Travel locally for donor meetings, events, and related development activity.
• Operate standard office and computer equipment.
• Work primarily in the office with professional flexibility based on organizational needs.

Salary Range & Benefits

• Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 annually
• Top Benefits
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Paid time off and paid holidays
  • SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match

This is not an all-inclusive document. Additional duties, expectations, and responsibilities may be added or changed as needed to meet organizational needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

FAME is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.