(Washington, D.C., March 25, 2025) – Deirdre O'Brien, a fundraising and international human rights expert, has joined DAWN as Director of Development, the organization announced today.
O'Brien will lead DAWN's fundraising efforts, bringing extensive experience in strategic planning, relationship building, community engagement and development leadership to support the organization's mission of promoting democracy and human rights in the U.S. and the Middle East.
"We are thrilled to welcome Deirdre to DAWN at a pivotal time for the organization," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of DAWN. "The challenges we face in promoting human rights and reforming U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East are greater than ever, and we need committed and resourceful people to mobilize all necessary support to sustain and expand our impact. Deirdre's experience and dedication will be instrumental in ensuring DAWN has the resources to continue its critical work against the odds."
O'Brien has an extensive background in strategic planning, major gifts, board development, donor cultivation, stewardship and annual giving. After spending a decade working in international human rights, she transitioned to fundraising, where she successfully secured six- and seven-figure gifts to increase annual revenue for New York City independent schools. Motivated by global crises, including the war in Ukraine, she returned to the international sector, combining her human rights and development expertise at the International Crisis Group. Most recently, at CNEWA, as Director of Development, she secured critical humanitarian funding in the Middle East, reflecting her deep commitment to advocacy and philanthropy.
O'Brien's background in international human rights includes work with the Pat Finucane Centre and the Committee on the Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland. She played a key role in the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Diaspora Project and was part of the investigative team examining the Srebrenica genocide for the Special Department for War Crimes at the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her expertise has been recognized by the Washington Ireland Program and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which named her one of 25 Emerging Leaders in conflict resolution.
"I'm thrilled to be joining DAWN as the Director of Development. Now more than ever, DAWN's mission to promote human rights and democracy in the Middle East and to shape U.S. foreign policy toward the region is imperative. I am inspired to further its mission and secure the funding needed to sustain its impact," said O'Brien.
