Director, Advancement

Founded in 2006, the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) is one of DC’s largest providers of safe housing and trauma-informed services for survivors experiencing homelessness due to domestic and sexual violence. DASH meets survivors where they are, eliminating barriers to safe housing so that they can rebuild their lives on their own terms. To learn more, visit 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.

Development and Fundraising (50%) 

• Reports directly to the President & CEO, providing guidance and support for DASH’s fundraising activities.
• Partners with the Executive Team to align fundraising initiatives with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability goals.
• Coordinates with and provide oversight of outsourced fundraising partners.
• Identifies, cultivates, and stewards individual donors, major gift prospects, sponsors, and funding partners.

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, under the direction of the President & CEO.
• Supports the development and implementation of DASH’s communications strategy.
• Manages relationships with external partners, including donors, funders, media, businesses, and community leaders, in coordination with the Executive Team.

Leadership and Team Management (20%)

• Supports DASH on resource development and grant applications. 
• Supervises and supports the Development & Communications department. 
• Attracts, develops, coaches, and retains high-performance team members. 
• Ensures staff understand DASH’s model of voluntary service and trauma-informed practice to embed within DASH’s development and communications strategies and functions. 

Organizational Collaboration and Internal Customer Service (10%)

• Supports DASH’s strategic planning efforts, including collaborating with executive and senior leadership to develop and implement operational strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Contributes to the development of organizational strategies.
• Participates in organizational recruitment processes as requested.
• Maintains effective working relationships with all employees. 
• 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

• A minimum of five years of related experience, or a combination of professional experience and a graduate degree (e.g., master’s degree with two years of experience). 
• 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.
• Familiarity with budget development and forecasting as well as data collection and analysis. 
• Proven track record of developing and managing strategic partnerships with external stakeholders.
• Strong communication, collaboration, ethics, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven capacity to respond sensitively and thoughtfully to individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, and social backgrounds, encompassing a range of values, attitudes, and languages.
• Experience or understanding of trauma’s dynamics, trauma-informed frameworks, and trauma issues in gender-based and power-based violence fields, including domestic violence, sexual assault/violence, human trafficking, and interfamilial violence, is a plus but not required.

Other:

• Ability to travel within Washington, DC, including to DASH offices, community sites, and other Washington, DC locations during business hours is expected.
• Occasional work in the evenings and on weekends may be required to attend or manage fundraising events and opportunities.
• Must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation, as well as a routine drug screening (if required by any of DASH’s funding agreements).
• Must provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 unless qualified for a medical or religious exemption.

Compensation & Benefits

DASH offers a competitive salary in the range of $115,000–$130,000 along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Application Process

Good Insight, a national nonprofit executive search firm headquartered in Washington, DC, is assisting with this search. View the full job description and apply at  good-insight.org/careers. Confidential inquiries about the role may be directed to [email protected]. For best consideration, submit a PDF resume and a cover letter by late January 2026. 

Location 

DASH is located in Washington, DC. The Director, Advancement position operates on a hybrid schedule that requires location in the DC region. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

DASH is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive work environment and building a team that reflects the rich diversity of our community.