Director, Advancement

Maryland Nonprofits; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) is seeking a Director of Advancement to lead fundraising, donor relations, and communications initiatives in a hybrid DC-area setting. You will partner with the Executive Team to grow individual giving and manage donor engagement programs.

The role emphasizes fundraising strategy, multi-channel campaigns, and collaboration with senior leadership to maximize revenue and community impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in fundraising or related field.
• Proven success in major gifts, grants, and sponsorships.
• Strong ability to cultivate and steward individual donors.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategies to grow individual giving and major gifts.
• Oversee donor communications, events, and engagement activities.
• Lead and manage the Development & Communications team.
• Coordinate with Executive Team and CFO on institutional giving and dashboards.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Communication strategy

Team leadership

Project management

Budget & forecasting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

CRM software

Donor database

Job description

District Alliance for Safe Housing

Status: Full-time, exempt employee

Salary: $115,000–$130,000

Reports to: President & CEO

Supervises: Manager, Development Operations

Location: Hybrid (in-person and remote), Washington, DC

About The District Alliance For Safe Housing

Founded in 2006, DASH is DC’s largest provider of safe housing and trauma-informed services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Through housing programs like Cornerstone, Empowerment Project, Right to Dream, and survivor funds, DASH eliminates barriers to safe housing, supporting survivors—individuals, families, and youth aged 18–24—in rebuilding their lives. Learn more at www.dashdc.org.

Position Overview

The Director, Advancement plays a key role in developing and implementing the strategic direction and execution of all fundraising and communications activities. As a partner to the Executive Team, the Director has a particular focus on cultivating, stewarding, and growing DASH’s portfolio of individual donors with an annual fundraising target of approximately $175,000 and an expectation to grow individual giving over time. The Director also supports DASH’s broader fundraising and advocacy efforts and works with the President & CEO and Deputy Chief & CFO on institutional giving, which represents approximately 7% of annual revenue. The role combines fundraising, relationship management, and strong project management to ensure fundraising initiatives, communications, and donor engagement are coordinated across the organization and advance DASH’s priorities and community presence.

Specific Areas Of Responsibility Include

Development and Fundraising (50%)

• Partners with the Executive Team, including the Deputy Chief & CFO, to align fundraising initiatives with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability goals.
• Coordinates with and provides oversight of outsourced fundraising partners (grant writers, digital fundraising, and communications consultants).
• Identifies, cultivates, and stewards individual donors, major gift prospects, sponsors, and funding partners.
• Supports donor-focused events, including tours and presentations.
• Helps develop strategies to grow individual giving, including annual appeals, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Supports board engagement related to fundraising, including preparation of materials, dashboards, and meeting briefings.
• Analyzes donor data to identify trends and opportunities for growth, providing recommendations to the leadership team.

Communication, Partnerships, and Advocacy (20%)

• Works with and provides oversight to communications consultants and vendors.
• Coordinates and supports execution of DASH communications in support of fund development initiatives, across internal staff and designated external communications support, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, messaging, and timelines.
• Supports the development and implementation of DASH’s communications strategy to enhance brand visibility and public engagement.
• Manages relationships with external partners, including donors, funders, media, businesses, and community leaders, in coordination with the Executive Team.
• Oversees creation of marketing and communications materials, including annual reports, newsletters, press releases, and digital content.
• Maintains DASH’s website and social media presence, ensuring consistent, engaging messaging.

Leadership and Team Management (20%)

• Supervises and supports the Development & Communications department.
• Attracts, develops, coaches, and retains high-performance team members.
• Identifies departmental training needs and consults with People & Culture to find or develop appropriate training resources.

Organizational Collaboration and Internal Customer Service (10%)

• Contributes to the development of organizational strategies, ensuring that development goals align with DASH’s broader mission and vision.
• Models DASH’s standard of understanding, sensitivity, and responsiveness to cultural differences in the organization’s service and employee population.
• Maintains complete survivor and/or employee confidentiality in all matters. Exhibits the highest standards of ethics and personal integrity.
• Masters, communicates, and models DASH values.

Experience, Skills And Qualities

While we understand that no single candidate can possess every qualification listed below, the following are priority areas:

• 5+ years of related experience, or a combination of professional experience and a degree.
• Proven success in fundraising, including major gifts, grants, and corporate sponsorships.
• Strong experience in building and maintaining relationships with individual donors, enhancing donor engagement and increasing contributions.
• Strong understanding of marketing and communication principles, with experience managing multi-channel campaigns.
• Demonstrated abilities in team management, development, and strategic planning.
• Expertise in project management methodologies, policies, and tools.
• Familiarity with budget development and forecasting as well as data collection and analysis.

Other

• Must be located in the DC region and able to work in-person 2–3 days/week.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S., complete a background check, and provide COVID-19 vaccination or exemption documentation.

Compensation & Benefits

DASH offers a competitive salary in the range of $115,000–$130,000. DASH benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, with DASH covering 90% of the employee’s premium and 80% for spouse and children; a minimum of 20 days of paid leave, 15 holidays, and a weeklong winter holiday; and a 3% DASH non-elective contribution retirement plan.

Physical Demands

This role includes prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Contact [e-mail] to request reasonable accommodations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

DASH values diversity and inclusion. People of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those with lived experiences relevant to DASH’s mission are strongly encouraged to apply.