Connecting Home Buyers with Down Payment Assistance

The City of Durham offers generous down payment assistance to low- and moderate-income households seeking to purchase their first home, but many eligible residents are unaware of or not utilizing this opportunity. The FUSE Executive Fellow will spearhead a comprehensive outreach strategy, encompassing data-driven marketing campaigns, targeted community engagement, and strategic partnership development to amplify program visibility and accessibility. Additionally, the Fellow will recommend enhancements to strengthen the program's long-term effectiveness. As a result of this work, more Durham families will avoid displacement, gain housing stability, and build inter-generational wealth.

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

Durham, North Carolina, is experiencing one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the country, currently ranking fourth nationally in terms of price growth and demand. Major tech and finance firms call the city home, and the abundance of job opportunities, combined with a (relatively) affordable cost of living, has drawn new residents from across the U.S. While the city's growth brings economic benefits, it also presents significant challenges - especially for BIPOC renters who face a disproportionate risk for displacement.

The City of Durham's mission is to provide quality services to make Durham a great place to live, work, and play. Shared economic prosperity is core to achieving this mission, and affordable homeownership provides BIPOC renters a unique opportunity to join in that economic prosperity. In pursuit of this mission, the Community Development Department's Down Payment Assistance Program equips first time homebuyers with up to $80,000 in a forgivable, 0% interest 15-year loan to put towards a down payment and closing costs.

If Durham allocated $80,000 to every eligible Down Payment Assistance Program applicant, it could support nearly 72 households this fiscal year, offering these families not only housing security but also a crucial pathway to wealth creation. However, this potential impact cannot be realized if eligible families remain unaware of the program. A comprehensive and targeted marketing plan ensures the program reaches those in need, building a strong pipeline of qualified applications and making the difference between displacement and long-term stability.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Starting in May 2025, the FUSE Executive Fellow will develop deep relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including City partners (e.g., the Down Payment Assistance Program administrator), affordable housing industry partners, and members of the public (with an emphasis on BIPOC individuals and communities). The Fellow will seek to understand the resources, opportunities, and aspirations these stakeholders have for affordable housing and homeownership. In addition, the Fellow will review best practices for equitable, inclusive homeownership in communities similar to Durham, and will work with their Executive Sponsor and Project Supervisor to develop and approve specific project goals and deliverables.

Next, the Executive Fellow will develop a comprehensive marketing campaign to encourage more residents to apply for down payment assistance. The target applicant earns 80% of the Area Median Income or less, has not owned a home in the last three years, and plans to use their home as a primary residence. The campaign would utilize multiple marketing channels (e.g., digital, traditional media) and include direct community engagement led by the Fellow to connect motivated target applicants with the program. The Fellow will also collect and analyze data to evaluate and improve marketing resources to ensure that the Down Payment Assistance Program has a strong pipeline of high-quality applicants.

At the same time, the Executive Fellow will conduct research to understand homeownership trends in nearby cities. The research will identify what drivers impact home buyer decisions and what additional programs could be effective in Durham. For example, the City of Raleigh, NC offers $45,000 in down payment assistance, while the City of Durham offers nearly double that amount. Despite this, some buyers continue to purchase homes in Raleigh. Understanding the factors behind these decisions will be key in shaping future affordable housing programs and policies for the city, ensuring that the City of Durham's offerings are more competitive and better meet the needs of its residents.

To ensure sustainability, the Executive Fellow will create evergreen, data-driven marketing assets, empowering the Community Development Department to effectively manage these campaigns long after the Fellowship concludes.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

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

• Conduct a Stakeholder Listening Tour - Develop relationships with stakeholders in City government, local non-profit and real estate leaders, and members of the public to understand the resources, constraints, perceived opportunities, potential threats, and aspirations affecting affordable homeownership in Durham.
• Develop Marketing Materials - Create a multi-channel marketing campaign that encourages eligible households to apply for down payment assistance.
• Facilitate Community Engagement-Meet with community members face-to-face to educate them on the Down Payment Assistance Program and encourage them to apply.
• Collect and Analyze Marketing Data - Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing resources and outreach efforts. Adjust approaches based on data analysis.
• Research Regional Housing Trends - Research trends, programs, and drivers affecting homeownership in nearby cities.
• Propose Program Enhancements: Based on research and data analysis, recommend new and enhanced housing programs for the City of Durham.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Executive Sponsor - Reginald Johnson, Director, Community Development Department
• Project Supervisor - Dr. Michael Pullum, Neighborhood Stabilization, Community Development Department

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.