Collaboration  Creativity

Integrity Results

Rob DeOrio brings 29 years of experience working for and with nonprofit organizations, helping them build capacity, grow fundraising, sustain operations, and raise more than $180 million. Rob began his fundraising career in 1990 with A.L. Brourman Associates serving the American Ireland Fund, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, and Life'sWork. Subsequently he served as the director of development and planned giving at the Senator John Heinz History Center for 14 years where he was actively involved in two major capital campaigns and an endowment campaign, was a successful grants writer and event planner, and had an expanded role in business operations and financial oversight. In 2006, Rob rejoined A.L. Brourman Associates as senior consultant, institutional advancement, and was elevated to vice president in 2009 and chief operating officer in 2011. In 2013 he founded DeOrio Strategies Group.

Rob has conducted and implemented a variety of fundraising, organizational development, capacity-building, and philanthropic programs for clients including development assessments and audits, feasibility studies, capital campaigns, strategic plans, planned giving programs, special events, board development and training, annual and major gift programs, governance and gift acceptance policies and procedures, budget analysis, and grants writing. During his career he has served organizations as diverse in size and scope as the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (Scottsdale, AZ; Spring Green, WI), Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Crossroads Foundation, Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County, Woodlands Foundation, The Children's Institute, Another Choice Adoption Agency (Charlotte, NC), Somerset Hospital Foundation, Senator John Heinz History Center, Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation, Mendelssohn Choir, Community Foundation of Fayette County, Johnstown Area Heritage Association, Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, CASA for Kids, Oglebay Institute, and Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, among others.

Rob also has experience in capital, operating, and special project budget development; working with government leaders at the local, state, and federal levels in a public/private partnership; and securing, overseeing, and implementing local, state, and federal funds. Rob has worked with clients to apply for and secure funds from prestigious private and public sources both locally and nationally including the Kresge Foundation, Ford Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, Hearst Foundations, World Monuments Fund, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Historical Publications & Records Commission, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Museum & Library Services, and many others.

Rob is a former board member of the Giving Institute, a select group of 50 firms from around the world, which promotes the ethical evolution of professional fundraising and annually publishes Giving USA, the country's definitive statistical guide to philanthropy. He is also a former grants reviewer for the Institute of Museum & Library Services. His community activities include the Homeless Children's Education Fund, where he is a trustee and past chairman of the board; a former member of the board of directors and treasurer of the Mifflin Township Historical Society; and the National Federation of Collegiate Club Sports Leagues (CollClubSports), where he serves as an advisor and volunteer.

During his two consecutive terms as board chair of the Homeless Children's Education Fund, Rob successfully oversaw a strategic focus to strengthen the overall capacity and engagement of the board. Fundraising also grew during that time, with organizational net assets increasing by nearly 70% to more than $2 million. In the last year of his tenure as board chair, the board completed a strategic planning process and, most recently in the capacity of Past Chair and Governance Committee Chair, Rob led a review of all board committees, charters and bylaws to ensure that the board continues to evolve in step with the organization, providing effective leadership and governance.

Rob is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Duquesne University. He resides in the Pittsburgh area with his wife, Dorene, and two daughters.