Program Officer, Jewish Community and Israel

About Crown Family Philanthropies and Henry Crown and Company

Henry Crown and Company/CC Industries is a Chicago-based, privately-held company that manages business, philanthropic, and family interests on behalf of a multi-generational family.  The business ventures fall into broadly-defined categories: wholly-owned operating companies, public and private equity investments, and real estate. The enterprise employs approximately 350 professionals in the areas of investment management, corporate development, financial operations, tax, research and innovation, human resources, information technologies, philanthropy, and legal.

Crown Family Philanthropies (“CFP” or the “Foundation”) is the philanthropic division of Henry Crown and Company and supports the Crown Family’s philanthropic and grantmaking endeavors. In 2009, after more than 60 years of family grantmaking under the name Arie and Ida Crown Memorial, CFP was developed to represent and facilitate an array of family grantmaking practices. Today the legacy of Arie and Ida Crown lives on in the work continued by their descendants, who remain dedicated to the Jewish tradition of tikun olam, or “repairing the world.” Supported by a professional staff, CFP is led by more than 50 family members across multiple generations who come together to set strategy and make grantmaking decisions.

About the Jewish Giving Program 

The CFP Jewish and Israel Giving area is committed to building a vibrant pluralistic Jewish community with diverse opportunities for individuals and families to deepen their Jewish identity and their connectivity to the community. The portfolio focuses on the following areas: 

Education: Ensuring a range of pluralistic educational pathways to enhance Jewish identity​ 

Experiences: Supporting intentional, “deep” experiences that promote Jewish identity formation and meaningful relationships with Jewish peers​. 

Strong Dynamic Sector: Investing in leadership development, innovation, capacity building, and research & evaluation to meet the evolving needs of the Jewish community. 

Antisemitism/Anti-Hate: Supporting education, training, advocacy, bridge-building, and security to combat hate and antisemitism and secure the Jewish community. 

Health and Human Services: Care for the needs of the Chicago Jewish community and beyond through access to mental health, wellness, food, medical care, and inclusion services. 

In addition, CFP is committed to a successful Israel, focusing its grantmaking work on ensuring pathways for underrepresented groups in Israel to have equal access to the high-tech sector.  

Position Description

The Program Officer will report to the Director of Jewish and Israel Giving and be a part of a 6-person team. The team works in coordination with trustees through a committee structure to execute the Foundation’s Jewish Giving portfolio. The ideal candidate will have at least seven years progressive experience in a foundation or non-profit organization working on program-related issues preferably in the Jewish communal sector. 

They will have practical expertise and an authentic interest in and passion for building a pluralistic robust Jewish community and a successful Israel. Experience in antisemitism initiatives is a plus. Successful candidates will demonstrate a natural intellectual curiosity and appetite for learning, the technical abilities to manage grantmaking operations, and the drive and skills to provide thought leadership in the Jewish ecosystem. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Planning and strategy:  

• Work with Jewish and Israel Giving Team (Committee Chair, Associate Chair, Director, and CFP and CFF teams) to develop strategy and goals, guide direction of portfolio, develop grant recommendations, assess current grant initiatives, and coordinate learning opportunities aligned with the lead pursuit strategic framework. Participate and when appropriate lead effective, dynamic committee meetings.  
• Identify and source impactful grants within lead pursuit strategies to enhance committee priorities and impact.  
• Maintain an understanding of regularly shifting issues in the field, in order to inform trustees and facilitate their decision-making and participate in field-wide efforts as a thought leader. Identify and bring in experts around specific questions to inform strategic impact and educate the Committee and Board.  
• Build and maintain deep relationships with diverse stakeholders, working closely with grantees, funders and other external stakeholders to maximize impact on systems change. Utilize best practices and collaborate with other funders on field-wide activities that build on Committee strategies. Some travel is required. 

Grantmaking:  

• Manage grants, develop issue-area expertise, and monitor emerging developments in the field. Research issues of interest and maintain current understanding of trends related to the work of the Jewish and Israel Giving Committee and the Foundation. Based on research results and foundation’s strategic initiatives, identify, prepare, and present grant dockets to the Committee consistent with lead pursuit framework. 
• Lead analyses on grantee organizations and grant outcomes. 
• Lead the design of data collection tools and the development of narrative and oral presentations resulting from analysis. 
• Develop frameworks to evaluate impact of grants and maintain dashboard to assess impact of lead pursuit strategies. 
• Analyze nonprofit organizations’ financial statements and operational conditions to determine organizational strength and effectiveness. Formulate recommendations for grant size and term.  
• Plan and conduct site visits as appropriate, representing CFP to candidate organizations and grantees. Investigate facilities and observe programming and environment to provide key feedback and partnership on funding recommendations. Act as primary point of contact for committee grantees. 
• Lead the preparation of materials for committee meetings, including grant summaries, progress reports, grants dockets, budget materials, meeting minutes, and additional content as assigned. 

Leadership role:  

• Serve as key staff contact for the Jewish and Israel Giving Committee, including as primary contact for select grants. 
• Support and mentor senior program analyst and analyst, including guidance on ongoing professional development. 
• Identify areas of possible cross collaboration with the Foundation's other issue areas.  
• Serve as an active participant and leader in relevant conversations and associations at the local and national level.  

CFP Team Activities:

• Play a collaborative role within the Program team, seeking and providing guidance with CFP colleagues on issues pertinent to the role. 
• Participate in cross-functional teams that advance the organizational aims around social impact and family engagement. 
• Engage in initiatives that foster team collaboration, including meetings, trainings, retreats, and special projects, taking the lead where interest, expertise, and opportunity coalesce.  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree or commensurate experience preferred 
• Minimum of seven years progressive experience in a foundation or non-profit working on program-related issues preferably in the Jewish communal sector. 
• Candidates should have practical expertise and authentic interest in and passion for building a pluralistic Jewish community and a successful Israel.  Experience in antisemitism is a plus. 
• Ability to conceive and execute strategy and align tactical needs creatively and effectively  
• Ability to set clear goals and develop and implement metrics to measure outcomes  
• Significant knowledge and understanding of issues related to the Chicago and National Jewish community 
• Highly collaborative team player who enjoys engaging with colleagues 
• Experienced in detailed project management  
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including ability to listen and synthesize multiple inputs with sensitivity, diplomacy and professionalism  
• Superb organizational skills, including ability to prioritize agendas and manage conflicting needs  
• Excellent problem-solving skills  
• Growth mindset with an eagerness to receive feedback and seek opportunities to grow 
• Demonstrated ability to act with humility, sensitivity, and discretion 
• Meticulous attention to detail  
• Ability to respond flexibly to shifting priorities

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals experiencing disability and BIPOC are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Henry Crown and Company/CC Industries, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.