The Pittsburgh Foundation

Doug Root Vice President, Communications and External Affairs

rootd@pghfdn.org

412.394.2647

Doug joined The Pittsburgh Foundation in 2014, and is responsible for all internal and external communications, marketing and branding of key programs. He oversees production of all Foundation publications, including the annual report to the community and a quarterly news publication. He also serves as the primary contact for media and chief spokesperson for the Foundation. 

Doug comes to the position with an extensive background in local philanthropy, daily newspaper journalism, magazine and book writing, as well as some government service.

Before joining The Pittsburgh Foundation, he directed communications and public affairs for The Heinz Endowments, one of the largest regionally-focused foundations in the country. Before that, he served for several years as communications director for then Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy. A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University’s journalism program, he worked for more than a decade as a writer for the Pittsburgh Press. When the newspaper closed, Doug taught nonfiction creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh, completed an Alicia Patterson Foundation fellowship and then wrote for more than a dozen national and regional magazines. He also is the author of two books, one a travel history guide to Pennsylvania.