Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is a leading national organization focusing on mood disorders including depression and bipolar disorder, which affects over 21 million Americans, accounts for over 50% of the nation’s suicides every year, and costs $23 billion in lost workdays and other workplace losses.
Through our extensive online and print resources and our support groups and chapters, DBSA reaches millions of people each year with in-person and online peer support; current, readily understandable information about depression and bipolar disorder; and empowering tools focused on an integrated approach to wellness.
DBSA publishes in peer-reviewed medical journals and conducts surveys on issues of importance to individuals living with mood disorders and those treating these disorders.
DBSA’s prestigious 40-member Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is comprised of leading researchers and clinicians in the field of mood disorders. SAB members review DBSA publications and programs for medical and scientific accuracy. In addition, SAB members present at DBSA conferences, author peer-reviewed manuscripts on behalf of the organization, and represent DBSA to the media.
DBSA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and depends upon public support to achieve its vital mission to empower and educate peers…and save lives. Roughly 85% of DBSA’s budget comes from charitable contributions, which include gifts and grants from corporations, foundations, individuals, and government agencies. The remaining 15% of DBSA’s budget comes from earned revenues, chapter affiliation and membership fees, program dues, contracted work in training and consultation, and event and publication fees.
DBSA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
DBSA recognizes the unique ways identity, culture, and access affect people living with mood disorders. We strive to create safe and inclusive spaces for individuals to feel empowered on their own path to wellness. DBSA seeks to create equitable access to peer support services and mental health resources and advocate for all individuals with a lived experience with a mood disorder, regardless of cultural and social identity or systemic barriers.
Our Team Values
Integrity
- Perform at the highest standards. We strive for best in class.
- Be honest in our interactions and develop trusting relationships.
- Take personal, and where appropriate, team responsibility for results.
- Acknowledge what we don’t know.
Openness
- Demonstrate a willingness to continuously learn, grow, and change.
- Celebrate our differences.
- Be present, curious, and receptive to new and different ideas and situations.
Mindfulness
- Ask for help and reciprocate help when needed.
- Respect each other’s perspectives, experiences, and sensitivities.
- Be mindful of our individual impact on the work environment.
- Speak with thoughtfulness. We think before we speak.
Collaboration
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- Show a willingness to give up personal ownership for the greater good/outcome.
- Work together to foster individual and organizational growth.
- Create an environment where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
- Have a holistic view of the work of the organization.
- Remain flexible to achieve optimal outcomes.
Dedication to an Equitable Workplace
DBSA is committed to equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. DBSA is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through our equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. At DBSA, we make a point to celebrate our differences and respect each other’s unique perspectives. In fact, it is core to the work we do.
Director of Peer Support Services
The Director, Peer Support Services (PSS), provides strategic leadership for DBSA’s peer support portfolio, including the Chapter Network, National Online Support Groups, Peer Specialist Course and Workforce Development, and related initiatives within the scope of the PSS department. As a member of DBSA’s management team, the Director leads department-wide strategic planning and ensures effective execution of priorities in collaboration with the CEO and senior leadership. The Director is responsible for guiding program teams in implementing high-quality, scalable peer support services while overseeing the collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting of program data using a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) framework. This role ensures that data and evaluation findings inform decision-making, program design, and long-term sustainability. In partnership with Finance, the Director develops and manages annual program budgets and maintains a strong understanding of program costs and financial performance. The Director also collaborates closely with the Development team to identify, secure, and steward funding opportunities—including grants and contracts—to sustain and expand PSS programs. Through cross-functional leadership, the Director ensures alignment between strategy, operations, data, and outcome-driven impact across all Peer Support Services initiatives.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Director of Peer Support Services position includes the following primary responsibilities:
Support Groups & Chapter Network
- Provide strategic oversight and leadership for DBSA’s Chapter Network; report program performance and key issues to the CEO and Board.
- Manage high‑level relationships with peer support partners, research partners, and volunteer leadership bodies.
- Collaborate with Development to increase program funding through opportunity identification, grant strategy, and proposal development.
- Oversee chapter lifecycle governance (formation, compliance, and dissolution) and resolve escalated support group and chapter issues.
- Establish and enforce program‑wide SOPs, including oversight of technology platforms and systems.
- Lead intentional program expansion, outreach, and marketing strategies, prioritizing equity and the needs of marginalized communities.
- Oversee the BD2 project to ensure strategic alignment, progress toward goals, relationship management, and quality assurance.
- Represent DBSA at conferences and chapter network convenings as needed.
Peer Specialist Course
- Provide strategic leadership to achieve quarterly and annual program and revenue goals.
- Drive execution of strategic planning goals to ensure long-term sustainability and scalability of the Peer Specialist Course.
- Oversee public and contract enrollment, improving registration processes for efficiency and clarity.
- Partner with Finance and Development to manage budgets, track revenue, and secure scholarship funding.
- Develop scalable operational systems and internal SOPs aligned across the organization.
- Maintain compliance with SAMHSA standards and strengthen DBSA’s partnership with the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
- Expand the Peer Specialist Course program to address national workforce gaps through program growth, marketing, and outreach.
- Collaborate closely with the Senior Program Manager to enhance curriculum quality and develop new DBSA training offerings.
QUALIFICATIONS AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
Required
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Demonstrated commitment to DBSA’s mission and a recovery‑oriented, strengths‑based approach to mental health and peer support.
- 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit or mission‑driven organization, including managing and mentoring teams at a senior level.
- Experience leading or supporting peer support or mental health–related programs, including navigating or overseeing crisis situations.
- Strong understanding of the peer support model and the role of Peer Specialists.
- Proven ability to lead strategically, manage complex initiatives, and translate goals into effective team execution.
- Demonstrated success in revenue growth, fundraising, or securing grants and contracts.
- Expertise in data management, analysis, and program evaluation, with the ability to use data to inform decision‑making and continuous quality improvement.
- Experience developing and managing program budgets and understanding program costs.
- Strong communicator and facilitator with the ability to lead, coach, and collaborate across teams and stakeholders in a technology‑enabled, largely asynchronous environment (e.g., Microsoft 365, Teams).
- Demonstrated ability to influence and build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including volunteers, partners, and community leaders.
- Commitment to equity‑centered practice and experience integrating DEI principles into program design and leadership.
- Ability to model and promote hope, recovery, and wellness for individuals living with mental health, trauma, and substance use challenges.
Preferred
- Experience working with healthcare or public health data and familiarity with healthcare payment models for peer support services.
- Experience leading volunteer committees, peer‑led networks, or chapter‑based organizations.
- Familiarity with CRM systems, particularly Raiser’s Edge.
- A master’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or a similar field is preferred.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to perform work utilizing a computer and a telephone for extended periods of time.
- Ability to travel by air or ground transportation as required in performing the work.
- Ability to frequently interact with others and work in environments with others
- Ability to demonstrate regular and predictable attendance
- Ability to multitask, shift priorities
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, rapport, and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly in verbal and written formats.
- High emotional intelligence with the capacity to navigate sensitive conversations, support staff, and motivate teams.
- Strategic thinking skills with the ability to develop long-term plans, anticipate challenges, and identify opportunities for growth.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Sound judgment and decision-making abilities that reflect a balance between analysis, experience, and organizational values.
- Ability to lead, coach, and mentor staff in a supportive and accountable manner.
- Adaptability and resilience, especially when responding to changing external conditions, funder expectations, or organizational priorities.
- Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, teamwork, and fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace culture.
COMPENSATION
This is a full-time, exempt position with generous benefits, including health, dental, vision, disability, 401K, and life insurance. The salary range for this position is $80,000 – $100,000.
The position will primarily work standard hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, with flexible start/end times possible. Periodic evening or weekend hours may be required.
This position is fully remote through 2026, with required travel to Chicago for quarterly leadership meetings and additional meetings as needed. While the role is currently remote, candidates should be open to a potential return to a hybrid or in-office model in Chicago beginning in 2027. Local Chicago candidates are preferred, and the position is open only to Illinois residents.
To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to jobs@dbsalliance.org with the position title in the email subject.
Development Coordinator
The Development Coordinator plays a critical role in organizing the systems, processes, and workflows that support the organization’s fundraising efforts. This position helps ensure development activities stay on schedule, data remains accurate and useful, and teams have the operational support needed to effectively execute campaigns, stewardship, and reporting. By connecting day-to-day execution with long-term fundraising strategy, the Development Coordinator brings structure and clarity that support sustainable fundraising growth.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Donor Engagement, Campaign & Team Support
- Maintain grant records in Raiser’s Edge and provide grant research and grant writing support, including monitoring restricted grants and following projects through the full grant lifecycle.
- Assist in campaign execution (e.g., MHAM, Giving Tuesday, year‑end), including calendar coordination, timelines, list pulls, segmentation, and performance tracking.
- Provide operational support for fundraising events, including registration tracking and post-event reconciliation.
- Support cross-functional project planning and provide operational assistance across the development team.
- Build and maintain project plans for fundraising campaigns and development initiatives, ensuring key tasks, timelines, and dependencies are clearly documented and tracked.
Development Operations & Data Management
- Maintain, configure, and continuously optimize the Raiser’s Edge database, including constituent records, gifts, actions, relationships, and custom fields.
- Design and maintain efficient workflows, dashboards, queries, and exports to support fundraising, development operations, and leadership decision‑making.
- Oversee all grant tracking and management within Raiser’s Edge, ensuring accuracy from prospecting through reporting.
- Establish and reinforce database best practices while training and supporting colleagues as the internal Raiser’s Edge resource, partnering with development staff to ensure the system effectively supports fundraising strategy and operations.
- Maintain and optimize the Windfall integration to support prospect research, segmentation, and major gift strategies.
- Develop and maintain documentation of development operations processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Reporting, Analytics & Strategic Insights
- Develop and maintain clear, accurate fundraising, donor, grant, and pipeline reports for development staff and leadership.
- Execute and track fundraising metrics and reports in support of the strategic plan and revenue goals, collaborating with development leadership to ensure alignment with established priorities
- Create dashboards and reporting tools that track goals and fundraising progress.
- Analyze giving trends, donor behavior, and pipeline performance to identify insights and opportunities that support planning and decision‑making.
- Prepare timely reports for the Board of Directors and committees, providing accurate data and analysis.
Revenue Operations & Financial Management
- Process and acknowledge all gifts (mail, online, credit card, planned gifts, and stock transfers) in compliance with tax receipt standards and stewardship requirements within one week of receipt.
- Manage pledge tracking, acknowledgments, and follow‑up, achieving a target of at least 95% pledge fulfillment.
- Oversee matching gift processing and tracking, ensuring accurate donor crediting and identifying opportunities to increase participation within one week of receiving payout details.
- Reconcile gift records in Raiser’s Edge with QuickBooks on a monthly basis in partnership with Finance by the first week of each month.
- Support audit‑related inquiries in a timely manner.
- Facilitate third‑party vendor Labyrinth, ensuring compliance with charitable registrations, filings, and related regulatory requirements.
QUALIFICATIONS AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
Required
- 2+ years of experience with CRM database management, including knowledge of Raiser’s Edge.
- Experience in any of the following: data entry, database administration, project management, budgeting, and/or donor stewardship.
- High level of computer literacy and competency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, and familiarity with project management tools and CRM platforms, including Raiser’s Edge.
- Ability to successfully manage project deadlines and deliverables.
- Ability to multitask and provide support to team members with diverse work styles.
- Commitment to problem-solving, continuous improvement, curiosity, and personal development.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills.
- Enthusiasm for nonprofit fundraising and a willingness to proactively seek best practices and new ideas.
- Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
Preferred
- Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Psychology, or related field, preferred.
- Project management tool experience, such as Smartsheet or Planner, is preferred.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to perform work utilizing a computer and a telephone for extended periods of time.
- Ability to travel by air or ground transportation as required in performing the work.
- Ability to frequently interact with others and work in environments with others
- Ability to demonstrate regular and predictable attendance
- Ability to multitask, shift priorities
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, rapport, and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly in verbal and written formats.
- High emotional intelligence with the capacity to navigate sensitive conversations, support staff, and motivate teams.
- Strategic thinking skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and identify opportunities for growth.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Sound judgment and decision-making abilities that reflect a balance between analysis, experience, and organizational values.
- Adaptability and resilience, especially when responding to changing external conditions, funder expectations, or organizational priorities.
- Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, teamwork, and fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace culture.
COMPENSATION
This is a full-time, exempt position with generous benefits, including health, dental, vision, disability, 401K, and life insurance. The salary range for this position is $49,000 – $55,000.
The position will primarily work standard hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, with flexible start/end times possible. Periodic evening or weekend hours may be required.
This position is fully remote through 2026, with required travel to Chicago biweekly and additional meetings as needed. While the role is currently remote, candidates should be open to a potential return to a hybrid or in-office model in Chicago beginning in 2027. Local Chicago candidates are preferred, and the position is open only to Illinois residents.
To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to jobs@dbsalliance.org with the position title in the email subject.
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