About Safe Shores The DC Children’s Advocacy Center

For more than 30 years, Safe ShoresThe DC Childrens Advocacy Center has served as the cornerstone of the District of Columbias response to child abuse by implementing the nationally replicated Childrens Advocacy Center (CAC) modelan evidence-informed, multidisciplinary approach to child abuse investigation and response. As an accredited CAC, Safe Shores coordinates child abuse investigations by bringing together law enforcement, child welfare, prosecutors, medical and mental health providers, and victim advocates in a way that minimizes the trauma children might otherwise experience during the investigative process, while prioritizing their safety, dignity, and well-being. Through six core program areas – Forensic Services, Clinical Services, Client Advocacy Services, the Youth Advocacy Initiative, Prevention and Outreach, and MDT Advancement and Support – Safe Shores provides crucial direct services to approximately 1,400 children and their families each year across all eight wards of the District,while also reaching thousands of adults and children through engaging, impactful, evidence-informed prevention trainings designed to reduce harm before it occurs.

The Job and Your Role

We are currently searching for an experienced Director of Development. This is a regular, full-time salaried, exempt position. To uphold organizational pay equity standards, the salary for this position is $125,000 for the first year of employment, plus a robust benefits package.

The Director of Development provides strategic leadership and hands-on execution for Safe Shores contributed revenue strategy, with primary responsibility for individual giving and major gifts and significant, strategic oversight of institutional and government funding. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the senior leadership team, this role is responsible for building a sustainable, relationship-centered fundraising program that aligns with Safe Shores mission to protect child victims and support healing.

The Director of Development serves as the architect of Safe Shores individual giving program, leading major gifts strategy, portfolio management, campaigns, donor communications, and stewardship systems. The role also oversees institutional and government funding strategy, with accountability for timely proposal and report submissions, revenue targets, compliance requirements, and alignment with organizational priorities.

The Director of Development supervises the Development Manager and Development Associate, collaborates closely with program, communications, administration, and finance teams, and serves as a fundraising coach to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.

This is a hybrid position and is a mandated reporter for child abuse and neglect under District of Columbia Statute 4-1321.02. Reasonable accommodation may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Core Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Individual Giving and Major Gifts Strategy

• Lead Safe Shores individual giving and major gifts strategy.
• Own and manage portfolios of mid-level, major, and leadership-level donors and prospects, with a focus on building long-term relationships and securing increased and multi-year support.
• Lead disciplined pipeline management, including regular portfolio reviews, maintenance of priority prospect lists, and consistent documentation in the donor CRM (Bloomerang).
• Ensure consistent, high-quality execution of donor outreach, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across all individual giving segments.