Fundraising and Development Support

Black birthing people in the United States die from pregnancy-related causes at 2–3 times the rate of white birthing people. This disparity cuts across income, education, and zip code. It is not a mystery. It is the result of systemic racism — and it can be changed.

The UCSF Center for Birth Justice (CBJ) exists to change it.

We are a community-led research and advocacy center that grew out of the UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative, rooted in over a decade of work alongside Black communities, midwives, doulas, and birth workers across California. Our programs train community members as researchers. We work in coalitions for policy change and create healing spaces for those most harmed by birth inequity. This is life-saving work. And right now, it is under financial pressure because federal health equity funding has been cut. Many foundations are retreating from equity-focused work under political and legal pressure.

Organizations like ours — doing unapologetically community-centered, justice-driven work — are absorbing those losses hardest. Our team is small. The need is not.

We're looking for volunteers to help us sustain and grow our fundraising capacity so that our programs can keep running, our community partners can keep being paid, and our work can keep moving forward.

You don't have to be an expert. You just have to be willing to learn and be reliable.

We mean that. If you're detail-oriented, a strong writer, or simply motivated by this mission, we will train you on everything else.

If you do have fundraising or development experience, we want you, too!

Here's what the work looks like, depending on your skills and availability:

• Grant & Donor Research — Identify foundations, government grants, and individual donor prospects aligned with our mission, using tools like Foundation Directory, GrantStation, or guided web research. No experience needed — we'll show you how.
• Direct Mail & Email Fundraising — Help draft, review, or organize donor appeals, campaign copy, and stewardship communications. If you can write a clear, warm sentence, you can do this.
• Grant Writing — If you have the skills, we will put them to work. Help us craft the narratives that make funders say yes to programs that save lives.

All volunteer roles are remote-friendly and flexible in time commitment — from a few focused hours a week to more intensive project-based support.

What you'll be sustaining:

One of the premier research centers focused on making it safer for Black birthing people (which actually makes birthing safer for all) during a time when evidence and data are being heavily deprioritized and underfunded.

This opportunity is for you if:

• You believe that how safe a birthing person is should not be determined by the color of their skin
• You want your skills — or your willingness to learn new ones — to do something that matters
• You're looking for a volunteer experience with real stakes and a real opportunity to learn and make change.

Ready to join us?

We're in an active fundraising season and could use support now. Apply through VolunteerMatch and tell us a little about yourself — your background, your availability, and why this work calls to you. No cover letter polish required. Just be honest. We'll take it from there.

The UCSF Center for Birth Justice — Building the evidence. Shifting the power. Making birthing safer.