Director of Development and Grants

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS) is a nonprofit legal aid organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of people with mental health disabilities. For more than four decades, MHAS has provided free legal services, advocacy, and education to ensure individuals have access to housing, education, employment, healthcare, and the support they need to thrive in their communities. Guided by a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, MHAS works at the intersection of mental health and social justice- empowering individuals, influencing systems, and driving lasting policy change to create a more just and compassionate society. MHAS has a staff of 25 and an annual budget of $3.2 million. MHAS will celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2027.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

MHAS seeks to hire an energetic and results-driven fundraiser to be our first Director of Development & Grants. The Director will originate this position at MHAS, leading and growing MHAS’ philanthropic revenue and institutional funding, with responsibility for donor cultivation and stewardship, special events, and the full lifecycle of government and private grants. This position also supports campaign creation, communications alignment, and data‑driven fundraising operations.

The Director is a critical member of the Leadership Team, works closely with and reports to the Executive Director, and supervises the Communications Manager. In partnership with the Executive Director, the Director directly engages and supports MHAS’ Board of Directors in fundraising and promoting MHAS. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, relationship‑centered leader with a passion for donor engagement and social justice whose approach to philanthropy will champion MHAS’ mission to protect and advance the legal rights of low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

1. Build and execute annual and multi‑year development plans across individual, corporate, law firm, foundation, and government funding to meet organizational revenue goals.
2. Engage and support MHAS’ Board of Directors in fundraising activities, including providing materials, strategy coaching, and updates.

Institutional Giving & Grants

1. Manage the full lifecycle of private and government grants: prospecting, proposal development, data collection, narrative writing, budget coordination, submission, stewardship, and closeout. MHAS currently receives 15 grants.
2. Ensure compliance and timely, accurate reporting by partnering with program, data, and finance teams; maintain funder communication records and audit‑ready documentation.
3. Track funding trends and funder priorities, especially within Los Angeles, and mental health–related grantmaking.

Donor Engagement, Events & Communications

1. Lead planning and execution of MHAS’ Annual Celebration, an event featuring awards, donor engagement, and community recognition. 2026 is the 20th Celebration.
2. Oversee sponsorship outreach, donor engagement opportunities, and coordination with staff, vendors, honorees, and partners.
3. Engage and support MHAS’ Board of Directors in promoting and fundraising for the annual Celebration and other campaigns.
4. In collaboration with the Communications Manager, oversee donor communications, including appeals, stewardship updates, impact stories, and digital engagement strategies.
5. Lead agency-wide refresh of our logo, website, collateral materials, and annual report.

Team Leadership & Cross-Department Collaboration

1. Supervise the Communications Manager and ensure alignment between fundraising and external messaging.
2. Partner with program staff to gather data, outcomes, and stories for proposals and reports.
3. Collaborate with finance on budgets, forecasting, and grant compliance.
4. Model MHAS’ values, including a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in donor, funder, and community relationships.
5. Assist with other projects and tasks related to MHAS’ mission as assigned by the Executive Director.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. 5+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, including grant writing/management and direct donor engagement.
2. Significant experience with government and private grants, including compliance and reporting.
3. Exceptional writing, storytelling, and editing skills; ability to translate complex programs into compelling, outcomes‑oriented narratives.
4. Excellent interpersonal, relationship‑building skills with donors, funders, Board members, and colleagues.
5. Strong project management skills with ability to manage and meet competing tasks and multiple deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
6. Availability for evenings/weekends for events or donor meetings as needed.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Experience fundraising within legal services, disability rights, mental health advocacy, or related social justice fields.
2. Familiarity with Los Angeles philanthropic and government funding landscape.
3. Experience leading events, including sponsorship acquisition and donor recognition.
4. Knowledge of planned giving/bequest programs.
5. Supervisory experience supporting staff development.
6. JD or CFRE preferred but not required.

FRINGE BENEFITS AND WORK CULTURE

On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. All full-time MHAS employees, including this position, work four, eight-hour days per week. The MHAS office is closed on Fridays.

Other benefits include paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; employee health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; and parking/transit fare reimbursement. MHAS offers a bilingual pay supplement of up to $100 per month, subject to language testing.

MHAS staff work remotely with access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips all employees working from home with needed technology and other office supplies. The Director will be required to live in the Los Angeles area and occasionally attend in-person meetings as needed.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Mental Health Advocacy Services seeks to fill all positions with people who share our values, including our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage all interested individuals to apply - especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people experiencing mental health and/or physical disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary; immigrants; people who have been affected by mass incarceration; and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We believe that the resulting diversity is both a source of program strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness.

APPLICATION PROCESS: View full job announcement at Employment Opportunities — Mental Health Advocacy Services. Submit the following to info@mhas-la.org (please write “Employment Application” in the subject line):

1. Resume
2. Cover letter discussing any and/or all of the following:
   • Your motivation for seeking the position;
   • Your interest in working with the communities MHAS serves;
   • How you meet the minimum qualifications; and/or
   • How your personal background or experience, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

MHAS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, mental or physical disability, or any other basis protected by law.

FRINGE BENEFITS AND WORK CULTURE

On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. All full-time MHAS employees, including this position, work four, eight-hour days per week. The MHAS office is closed on Fridays.

Other benefits include paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; employee health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; and parking/transit fare reimbursement. MHAS offers a bilingual pay supplement of up to $100 per month, subject to language testing.

MHAS staff work remotely with access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips all employees working from home with needed technology and other office supplies. The Director will be required to live in the Los Angeles area and occasionally attend in-person meetings as needed.