FUSE Executive Fellow | Washington, DC - Strengthening Affordable Homeownership

The District of Columbia (District) is advancing efforts to stabilize and expand Limited Equity Cooperatives (LEC) to address housing inequities, preserve affordable homeownership, and build intergenerational wealth for low-income and BIPOC residents. The FUSE Executive Fellow will develop tools and strategies to strengthen LEC governance, financial sustainability, and long-term viability, positioning the District as a leader in equitable and sustainable homeownership solutions.

Fellowship Dates: April 28, 2025 – April 24, 2026

Salary: Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual base salary of $80,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. Compensation for this year of public service is not intended to represent market-rate compensation for the experienced professionals in our program.

ABOUT THE FUSE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP

FUSE is a national nonprofit working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities that have been limited by a history of systemic and institutionalized racism. FUSE partners with local governments and communities to more effectively address pressing challenges by placing experienced professionals within city and county agencies. These FUSE Executive Fellows lead strategic projects designed to advance racial equity and accelerate systems change. Since 2012, FUSE has led over 250 projects in 40 governments across 20 states, impacting the lives of 25 million people.

When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and local stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward regional priorities. FUSE then conducts an individualized search for each project to ensure that the selected candidate has at least 15 years of professional experience, the required competencies for the role, and deep connections to the communities being served. They are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects by developing actionable roadmaps and monitoring progress to completion.

Executive Fellows are hired as FUSE employees and embedded in government agencies for at least one year of full-time work. Throughout their fellowships, they receive training, coaching, and professional support from FUSE to help achieve their project goals. FUSE Executive Fellows bring diverse perspectives and new approaches to their projects. They build strong relationships with diverse arrays of stakeholders, foster alignment within.

PROJECT CONTEXT

LECs are a form of affordable homeownership where residents collectively own their housing and agree to limit resale prices, thereby preserving long-term affordability for future generations. These cooperatives empower low- and moderate-income residents to achieve housing stability, build equity, and engage in community governance while maintaining affordability. LECs are particularly vital in Washington, D.C., where rapidly rising housing costs and systemic inequities have disproportionately displaced Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

The District has made significant efforts under the current Mayor’s administration to support and expand LECs as part of their overarching affordable housing strategy. The Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) empowers tenants to purchase their rental properties and convert them into cooperatives, and programs like the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) and Housing Preservation Fund (HPF) provide essential financial resources for LEC acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation. Unfortunately, many LECs face financial vulnerabilities, deferred maintenance, and internal governance challenges, which threaten their sustainability. DHCD has been working on these operational difficulties by establishing an LEC Advisory Council to provide operational and governance support. Further, a LEC Task Force outlined key recommendations to enhance LEC sustainability moving forward. Despite these initiatives, many LECs still struggle with fragmented processes, insufficient funding, and gaps in board member training, limiting their long-term viability. Without targeted support, vulnerable populations risk losing access to this essential pathway to affordable homeownership.

The District will partner with FUSE to advance its efforts to stabilize and expand LECs city-wide. The FUSE Executive Fellow will: conduct a landscape analysis and listening tour; develop a comprehensive database of existing LECs; create standardized governance templates and training materials; design and implement pilot projects to ground truth proposed solutions and refine implementation strategies; and propose innovative funding strategies to enhance long-term financial sustainability. These efforts will strengthen LEC governance, improve operational efficiency, and ensure these cooperatives remain a viable option within D.C.'s affordable housing strategy. Ultimately, this will help preserve affordable homeownership, empower underserved communities, and position the District as a leader in addressing housing equity and resilience.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Beginning in May 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will collaborate with DHCD, local stakeholders, and community partners to stabilize and expand LECs.

The Executive Fellow will begin by conducting a landscape analysis of current LEC properties in Washington, D.C. and the policies, practices, and funding mechanisms impacting them, as well as research successful LEC models and support frameworks from other cities. The Executive Fellow will also conduct a comprehensive listening tour with key stakeholders, including DHCD staff, LEC residents and board members, nonprofit housing organizations, technical advisors, and financing partners. This tour will gather insights into the financial, operational, and governance challenges facing LECs, while identifying opportunities for improvement. To ensure inclusivity, the Executive Fellow will prioritize engaging with residents from low-income and BIPOC communities who are most affected by housing inequities. The Executive Fellow will use these collected insights to develop specific project goals and deliverables for DHCD’s review and approval to guide the remainder of the fellowship.

The Executive Fellow will then develop and implement strategic recommendations to address LEC governance and financial sustainability challenges. This will include creating a centralized database to document the conditions, governance structures, and financial health of existing LECs. The Executive Fellow will design standardized governance templates and training materials to support the creation of future LECs and to support cooperative boards in addressing common operational challenges, such as governance, leadership transitions and financial planning. Additionally, the Executive Fellow will propose innovative funding strategies to ensure long-term sustainability, leveraging public resources like HPTF, HPF, and exploring private-sector partnerships.

The Executive Fellow will then design and implement pilot projects to test the new tools and processes with select LECs. They will monitor the progress of these projects, collect and evaluate data on their successes and challenges, and refine their strategic recommendations based on initial performance.

By the end of the fellowship, the Executive Fellow will deliver a comprehensive operational plan for strengthening and scaling LECs in Washington, D.C. This plan will include a detailed roadmap for implementing governance improvements, financial strategies, and ongoing training support. The Executive Fellow will also develop a sustainability framework to ensure that DHCD and its partners can continue supporting LECs beyond the fellowship period. These efforts will help stabilize existing cooperatives, empower new ones, and position the District as a national leader in advancing equitable, affordable homeownership.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

By April 2026, the Executive Fellow will have produced the following:

• Comprehensive LEC Database: Developed a centralized database cataloging all existing LECs in Washington, D.C., including detailed information on governance structures, financial health, and property conditions. This resource will serve as a foundational tool for DHCD’s ongoing LEC support efforts.
• Standardized Governance Templates and Training Materials: Created user-friendly templates and training resources to strengthen LEC governance, addressing common challenges such as leadership transitions, financial management, and resident engagement.
• Pilot Projects to Test Tools and Strategies: Designed and implemented pilot projects with select LECs to test new governance templates, training materials, and funding strategies. The Executive Fellow will analyze the successes and challenges of these pilots and refine tools and processes based on real-world feedback.
• Innovative Funding Strategies: Proposed actionable funding solutions to enhance the financial sustainability of LECs, including optimized use of HPTF, potential private-sector partnerships, and other innovative financing mechanisms.
• Operational Plan and Sustainability Framework: Delivered a comprehensive plan for strengthening and scaling LECs, including a roadmap for governance improvements, financial strategies, and ongoing training support.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Executive Sponsor – Colleen Green; Director, DHCD
• Project Supervisor – Gene Bulmash; Housing Preservation Officer, DHCD

QUALIFICATIONS

• Synthesizes complex information into clear and concise recommendations and action-oriented implementation plans.
• Develops and effectively implements both strategic and operational project management plans.
• Generates innovative, data-driven, and result-oriented solutions to complex challenges.
• Respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, strategies, and other processes.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing and excels in active listening and conversing.
• Fosters collaboration across multiple constituencies to support more effective decision-making.
• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of government, particularly community-based relationships.
• Embraces differing viewpoints and implements strategies to find common ground.
• Demonstrates confidence and professional diplomacy while effectively interacting with individuals at all levels of various organizations.

FUSE is an equal-opportunity employer with core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person