Sep 30, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 4 min read

After more than a decade helping to lead the City Mission, Dr. Sally Mounts has announced her retirement.

Mounts’ last day as City Mission’s Chief Development Officer is Sept. 30.

Mounts arrived at the City Mission – a nonprofit that for 83 years has provided shelter, outreach resources, meals and other services to help the homeless achieve independent living – in 2013 as a contracted grants writer.

“I walked in 11 years ago as a volunteer and I knew right away how much I’d like working here,” said Mounts. “It was just a really wonderful, Christ-centered place, with wonderful people.”

Dean Gartland, the City Mission’s former President/CEO, quickly noticed her energy and talent, and brought Mounts on as a Director of Development.

“Hiring Sally was the best decision I ever made for the Mission,” said Gartland. “Sally was the driving force behind City Mission from a fundraising standpoint.”

During Dr. Mounts’ tenure, the Mission’s yearly budget grew from $2.5 million to $9 million as the mission expanded from a 96-bed facility to a 174-bed facility with four distinct shelters on a beautiful campus, a medical clinic, and a career training and education center.

Leah Dietrich, City Mission’s Director of Residential Programs, called Mounts “a tireless advocate for our work and our team.”

“Sally Mounts is tenacious in her determination to move the mission forward through her tireless efforts to find funding,” said Dietrich. “Her efforts and the work of her team have led to rejuvenating buildings, building new spaces and creating a place where those most in need can call home.”

Mounts is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army and a former Veterans’ Affairs Program Director with a PhD in psychology from Yeshiva University.

Colleagues said her energy, compassion and leadership inspired those around her.

“Sally is a unique and caring person with a strong dedication and love for the Mission,” said Chris Rogers, City Mission’s Event Manager. “Her kindness and generosity show through in everything she does. I have learned so much from her.”

Mounts credits the growth of the City Mission, in large part, to the generosity of the donors throughout the region “who are incredibly generous and who have always been willing to give their neighbors a hand up.”

“If you look at cities around us, so many of them have unsheltered homeless. It’s become a national problem, but not here,” she noted.

Her legacy at the City Mission – and her name – will continue.

“Sally’s House,” the Mission’s home for their women’s next-step program bears her name, and “Sally’s Sanctuary,” the Mission’s new 50-bed women’s shelter, is scheduled to be completed in July of 2025.

Looking back at her time at City Mission, Mounts has several moments that stand out for her. She was overwhelmed when she learned Sally’s Sanctuary was going to be named after her.

“I was so moved by that. I was surprised and it was in incredible honor,” she said.

Mounts said she will miss the people most when she retires.

“They are wonderful, hard-working people who care a lot about the residents. I will miss the sense of hope and optimism I find here,” said Mounts.

Trisha Schum, who previously served as City Mission Director of Marketing and Communications and has vast experience with companies including Rubbermaid, Foodsaver, and American Greetings over her career, will take over as Director of Development.

“I know the Mission has been blessed by Sally’s service in Christ’s name, and I too have been blessed to learn from her vast knowledge and have a great foundation to continue the work for City Mission going forward,” said Schum. “She has been a mentor that I have learned so much from, and also a great example of how Christ works through people to do his great work.”

In retirement, Mounts plans to continue to volunteer with the City Mission, which she called “my spiritual home.” Mounts also will continue to serve on the Washington County Housing Authority and volunteer with the Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania. She looks forward to traveling, spending time with relatives, gardening, and reading.

“It’s time to pass the torch to someone a little younger and energetic” she said.