Grand Rapids, Michigan – Paws With A Cause (PAWS) has welcomed Ashley Diersch, CFRE, to the leadership team as the first ever Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) in the organization’s 45-year history. As a national nonprofit serving people with disabilities through custom-trained Assistance Dogs, Diersch’s hire comes at a pivotal time for the organization.
Diersch will be a key player in expanding PAWS’ mission and helping to double the placement of Assistance Dogs by 2030, the primary goal outlined in the Embrace the Journey Capital Campaign, which was publicly launched earlier this year. She will lead the advancement team in raising the remaining $400,000 needed for the facility renovations, which will help PAWS increase the number of Assistance Dogs placed annually. In addition to this, she will lead the fundraising efforts to support daily operations.
“Ashley brings a wealth of industry knowledge and development experience to this role as well as passion for our mission,” said Michele Suchovsky, PAWS Chief Executive Officer. “With her enthusiasm and leadership skills, I am confident she will have a huge impact on the future success of PAWS. I’m looking forward to seeing how our organization will grow with her leading our advancement team.”
Diersch brings over 20 years of nonprofit advancement/development experience to her new role as CAO. Prior to joining PAWS, Diersch held nonprofit development roles at Meals on Wheels Western Michigan, Kids’ Food Basket, and Special Olympics Michigan. She also serves as the Board Chair for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) West Michigan and as a board member for No Surrender Running Club.
“I am so excited to join the team at Paws With A Cause! The mission of PAWS in connecting individuals with assistance dogs is an incredible opportunity for me to connect my passions, community and dogs.” said Diersch. “I love creating opportunities for people to connect to missions that truly make a difference and have lasting impact! I can’t wait to dive right in, work with this amazing team, supporters and volunteers, and to help continue the impact of this remarkable organization.“
More information about PAWS leadership can be found here.
###
