Director of Development

Who We Are

The Josh Gibson Foundation is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that honors the legacy of Negro League Baseball legend Josh Gibson through advocacy, education, and sports. Using lessons from Josh Gibson’s life, the history of Negro League Baseball, and the lived experiences of local leaders, JGF inspires youth and young adults to serve their community and pursue their dreams.

Our Challenge

Today, the Josh Gibson Foundation is at an inflection point, embarking on our most ambitious project to date—the creation, construction, and operation of the Josh Gibson Champions Club in McKees Rocks, PA. To fund this, we are launching a $20 million capital campaign, by far the largest in our history.

Job Summary

The Director of Development (DoD) will design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to successfully lead our inaugural $20 million Capital Campaign, whose purpose is to raise funds for the forthcoming Josh Gibson Champions Club in McKees Rocks, PA.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the DoD will lead all phases of the campaign, from campaign readiness to preparation to activation and eventually overseeing a small development team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Capital Campaign Leadership

Strategy & Execution: Identify and cultivate a lead-gift cohort and build a structured campaign pipeline with clear engagement strategies, timelines, naming opportunities, matching-gift opportunities, and initial ask amounts. As the campaign develops, build, supervise, and maintain a development team to handle day-to-day campaign tasks.

Case for Support: Collaborate with leadership (Board, Executive Director, and others) to draft the foundational narrative that inspires seven-figure investments.

Campaign Management: Manage the campaign calendar, its milestones, and budget.

2. Major Gifts & Donor Cultivation

Portfolio Management: Strengthen donor pipeline through qualification and cultivation of potential major donors.

The “Ask”: Conduct face-to-face solicitations and coach the Executive Director and Board members on making successful asks.

Stewardship: Design a formal “thank you” and recognition program with regular communications to current and prospective donors to convert prospects into first-time donors, and one-time donors into long-term partners.

3. Infrastructure & Operations

Systems Building: Select and implement a donor CRM (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge) to track all interactions and wealth screening data. Establish a formal gift acknowledgment process, gift acceptance processes, stewardship mechanisms and benefits, moves management, and pledge tracking/follow-up.

Annual Fund: Oversee the annual giving calendar, including direct mail, digital appeals, and social media.

Grants: Collaborate with existing JGF grant writer for foundation support.

4. Board & Community Engagement

Board Liaison: Act as the primary staff lead for the Board Development and Campaign Committees, empowering members to leverage their networks.

Development and Campaign Committees:

• Expand JGF’s informal Development Committee, who currently secures sponsorships for existing JGF programming such as our Gala.
• Supplement, integrate with, and recruit members for a Campaign Committee whose role is to serve as campaign ambassadors and peer solicitors. The Campaign Committee expands the reach, credibility, and fundraising capacity of the campaign by leveraging members’ personal influence, networks, and philanthropic leadership.
• Ensure consistent messaging and internal communication between Committees. Assess benefits/drawbacks to merging the two Committees, and present recommendation to Executive Director and the Board.

Ambassadorship: Represent the organization at community events to increase visibility and identify new funding leads.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 5–8 years in nonprofit development, with a proven record of closing major gifts ($25k ).
• Campaign History: Direct experience in a capital campaign (either as a lead or key staffer) is highly preferred.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Comfortable working in a “lean” environment where you are the primary person executing the work.
• Experience working with diverse populations
• Ethics: Deep commitment to the AFP Code of Ethical Standards.

Salary & Benefits

Annual Salary Range*: $80,000-$100,000, commensurate with experience

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Based in Pittsburgh

To Apply

Please either apply via LinkedIn or send resume and cover letter via email to hello@joshgibson.org .

*Pay range varies based on relevant skills, experience, knowledge, and education.

As an equal opportunity employer, JGF prohibits discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation/gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.