Director, Advancement - DASH

Good Insight; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

20 days paid leave

15 holidays

Winter holiday

3% retirement plan contribution

Job summary

District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) in the DC region seeks a Director of Advancement to lead fundraising, communications, and advocacy efforts that advance its mission to provide safe housing and trauma-informed services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The role requires in-person work 2–3 days per week and a strong track record in donor cultivation and major gifts.

The Director will partner with the Executive Team, manage fundraising partners, and drive multi-channel

Qualifications

• 5+ years in fundraising or related field.
• Proven success in major gifts, grants, sponsorships.
• Ability to cultivate individual donors and increase contributions.
• Experience with multi-channel marketing campaigns.
• Strong leadership, team development, and strategic planning.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, data collection and analysis.
• Must be located in the DC region and in-person 2–3 days/week.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising and communications strategy, donor engagement, and advocacy.
• Oversee donor programs, events, and relationships with sponsors and partners.
• Coordinate with executive leadership and outsourced fundraising partners.
• Manage communications, branding, and external messaging.
• Guide the Development & Communications department and mentor staff.
• Support organizational collaboration and internal customer service.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Marketing

Team management

Project management

Budgeting & forecasting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

The District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) seeks a Director of Advancement to lead the organization's fundraising, communications, and advocacy work.

About 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. This role is central to cultivating and fostering relationships, particularly with individual donors, and supporting DASH’s fundraising and advocacy efforts to drive the organization’s mission and impact. The Director ensures that fundraising initiatives, communications, and donor engagement are aligned to advance DASH’s priorities and strengthen its community presence.

Development and Fundraising (50%)

• Partners with the Executive Team, including the Deputy Chief & Chief Financial Officer (DC & CFO), to align fundraising initiatives with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability goals.
• Coordinates with and provide 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 provide 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.
• Participates in organizational recruitment processes as requested.
• 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 ability to build and maintain 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.

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.