Director of Development & 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.

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.

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

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

Institutional Giving & Grants

• 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.
• Ensure compliance and timely, accurate reporting by partnering with program, data, and finance teams; maintain funder communication records and audit-ready documentation.
• Track funding trends and funder priorities, especially within Los Angeles, and mental health–related grantmaking.

Donor Engagement, Events & Communications

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

Team Leadership & Cross-Department Collaboration

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

On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. All full-time MHAS employees, including this…