Strategic philanthropy counsel for transformational gifts, major gifts, planned giving, and board engagement — rooted in the Roaring Fork Valley, reaching across the nation.
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⭐ Historic Achievement
$102 million raised in a single year — the largest fundraising year in The Pittsburgh Foundation’s history.
“Transformational giving begins with a relationship built on trust, shared values, and a clear vision for impact.”
With 20+ years in philanthropy — including 16 years of executive leadership at one of the nation’s largest community foundations — Lindsay Aroesty brings proven strategy and deeply personal counsel to every engagement.
What We Do
Philanthropy services, expertly guided.
Whether you’re closing a transformational gift, launching a capital campaign, or building the culture of giving within your board, Lindsay Aroesty | Roaring Fork Philanthropy delivers customized strategy at every stage.
01
Planned Giving Strategy
Design and implement planned giving programs that build lasting pipelines of estate commitments — from donor cultivation to gift closure, including bequest societies, legacy recognition, and professional advisor engagement.
02
Major Gift Consulting
Strategic counsel on identifying, cultivating, and closing transformational gifts from six to eight figures. A proven track record of securing gifts from $10M to $40M, guiding your team through every step.
03
Board Engagement & Development
Strengthen your board’s philanthropic culture through training, coaching, and facilitation. We help board members understand their role in fundraising and serve as confident ambassadors for your mission.
04
Fundraising Systems & Strategy
Audit and redesign your fundraising infrastructure — from CRM strategy and prospect management to donor communications — building systems that consistently deliver results year over year.
05
Professional Advisor Networks
Build and activate referral relationships with estate attorneys, financial advisors, and CPAs to create a steady flow of planned and major gift referrals that expand your reach into new donor communities.
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About Lindsay
A career built on transformational giving.
Lindsay Aroesty is a nationally recognized philanthropy executive with more than 20 years of experience in the field — including 16 years of leadership at The Pittsburgh Foundation, one of the nation’s largest community foundations with $1.5 billion in assets.
As Vice President of Development & Donor Services, Lindsay led a team of 16 professionals and achieved $102 million raised in her final year — the single largest fundraising year in the Foundation’s history.
Now based in the Roaring Fork Valley, Lindsay brings that executive-level expertise to organizations ready to elevate their philanthropic impact.
CAP® — Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, 2017
Master of Public Management, Carnegie Mellon — Highest Distinction
A fundraiser, a strategist, a ski racer, a marathoner, a mother — someone who shows up fully for every person, every cause, every challenge.
🏘️ 20+ Years in Philanthropy⛳ 5 Marathons🏓 Alpine Ski Racer🏔 Roaring Fork Valley🎓 CMU — Highest Distinction
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“I’ve spent 20+ years closing transformational gifts, building programs from the ground up, and partnering with families to make their philanthropy matter. I bring that same commitment — and the credentials to back it up — to every client I work with.”
The Story
Built for the long game.
Lindsay Aroesty didn’t stumble into philanthropy — she ran toward it. After graduating cum laude from Colby College, she launched her career at The Taft School, contributing to a $150 million capital campaign while conducting 100+ annual visits with high-net-worth alumni.
In 2010, she joined The Pittsburgh Foundation and never looked back. Over 16 years she rose through four roles to become Vice President of Development & Donor Services, leading a team of 16 across $1.5 billion in assets.
Her final year was the punctuation mark on a remarkable career: $102 million raised — the single largest fundraising year in the Foundation’s history. She stewarded the 2nd and 3rd largest estate gifts ever received and built a $300M+ planned giving pipeline.
Now Lindsay has brought her talents home to the Roaring Fork Valley, launching Roaring Fork Philanthropy in 2026 to help organizations reach their own transformational moments.
$102M
Single-Year Record
$300M+
Pipeline Built
16
Years at Pittsburgh Foundation
$37.1M
Largest Gift Stewarded
16
Person Team Led
3,000
Component Funds
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Every meeting matters
📸Seated meeting
Leading High-Performing Teams
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Lindsay Aroesty
Career
A track record of progressive impact.
2026–
Roaring Fork Philanthropy, LLC — Carbondale, CO
Principal & Founder
Launched an independent philanthropy consulting practice serving nonprofits, foundations, and community organizations nationally. Specializing in planned giving strategy, major gifts, board development, and private foundation advisory.
2010–2026
The Pittsburgh Foundation — Pittsburgh, PA
Vice President, Development & Donor Services (promoted through 4 roles)
Led all development and donor services for one of the nation’s largest community foundations ($1.5B assets, 3,000 component funds). Drove $50M–$102M annually; achieved the largest single fundraising year in Foundation history. Stewarded the 2nd and 3rd largest estate gifts ever received ($37.1M and $34M). Built $300M+ planned giving pipeline. Worked directly with hundreds of donor-advised fund and private foundation families on mission development, grantmaking strategy, nonprofit vetting, and multigenerational engagement. Led the Amelia Group — a national cohort of chief philanthropy officers at the largest community foundations. Directed a custom Salesforce CRM build. Oversaw $45M community foundation integration.
2004–2010
The Taft School — Watertown, CT
Assistant Director of Development / Major Gift Officer
Contributed to a $150M capital campaign. Conducted 100+ annual visits with high-net-worth alumni nationwide. Managed a portfolio of 500+ prospects, cultivating leadership annual giving. Coached boys varsity tennis and served as a residential faculty member in an upper school boys dormitory.
Education
Always learning. Always leading.
Carnegie Mellon University
Master of Public Management (MPM), 2014
⭐ Highest Distinction — GPA 3.86
Colby College
B.A. History, Education Minor, 2003
Cum Laude
The Taft School
Secondary Education, 1999
Certifications
Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®)
American College, 2017
The gold standard in philanthropic advising
21/64 Certified Trainer
Next-Gen & Multigenerational Philanthropy, 2015
National Conference Speaker
Fundraising Strategy, Campaigns & Planned Giving
Beyond the Work
The person behind the professional.
Lindsay is the kind of person who shows up fully — for every person, every cause, every challenge. She has run five marathons and found that the same qualities that carry you through mile 22 are the ones that close a $37 million estate gift: patience, conviction, and the refusal to quit.
At the center of it all is her family — full of people she loves, places that restore her, and pursuits that remind her what it means to push past limits. That fullness is what makes her counsel so grounded.
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CAP® Designated
The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation is the gold standard in philanthropic advising — Lindsay earned hers from The American College in 2017.
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21/64 Certified Facilitator
Trained in multigenerational and next-gen philanthropy facilitation, Lindsay works directly with families to build shared values and lasting giving strategies across generations.
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Rooted in the Roaring Fork Valley
Carbondale is home — a community of grit, vision, and big-hearted people that inspires everything Lindsay does professionally and personally.
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Family First
A working mother of two, Lindsay brings the same fierce loyalty to her family that she brings to every donor relationship she’s ever built — showing up fully, every time.
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The Aroesty family — Cotopaxi, Ecuador
Ready to work together?
Whether your organization is at the beginning of a campaign or the cusp of something transformational — let’s talk.
