The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation
Program Director
Entrepreneurs
About The Foundation
The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation (RLDF) was founded in 2022 and launched formal operation in 2024. The Foundation is committed to addressing seemingly intractable social problems with imagination and passion. We strive to improve the lives of families and veterans, and to cultivate entrepreneurs through data driven and collaborative approaches to funding. We seek to practice philanthropy with rigor and from a place of listening and strive to be a learning organization – to always seek greater understanding of our funding priorities. While our home and our priority is the Chicago region, we may consider national efforts that are aligned with our mission, values and goals.
Program Director, Entrepreneurs
RLDF seeks a Program Director for the Entrepreneurs grantmaking program. This position provides a unique opportunity to define and craft a strategy for RLDF’s philanthropy over the next decade. Working in collaboration with the RLDF team, industry peers, and community nonprofits, this Director will develop and refine near and long-term giving priorities and practices for the portfolio.
Initial interests for the Entrepreneurs program include three components: ensuring access to relationships, technical assistance and funding; cultivating and supporting emerging talent in the field; and strengthening new businesses and their operations.
Access: All aspiring entrepreneurs should have the same opportunity to achieve their professional goals. Our goal is to ensure Chicago’s entrepreneurs gain appropriate access to the technical, relational and financial capital needed to succeed in business.
Talent: Great companies require great leaders who are forged by time, lived experience, mentoring, education, and peer-to-peer learning. Our grantmaking will support organizations that create and attract business talent in greater Chicago, provide entrepreneurial training and technical assistance to under-resourced populations, and to use the power of convening to advance funding goals.
Business: Our grantmaking will support the development of companies—from neighborhood-based to high-growth—to strengthen their business operations and readiness. This includes promoting business development in low-income neighborhoods, fostering the work of business accelerators and business service organizations, supporting social enterprises, and fostering high-tech innovation and businesses.
Successful Candidates: Experience and Skills
The Foundation is looking for candidates who are strategic thinkers and with experience developing effective initiatives in the field of entrepreneurship, job growth and business development as a conduit for strengthening the regional economy. Priority will be given to those who are subject matter experts and/or have experience building effective philanthropic initiatives.
Successful candidates are results driven, value data and analysis, are highly collaborative, have excellent capacity for written and verbal communication, and can balance “analysis” with “doing.” They are problem solvers with exemplary judgement and thrive tackling with complex problems. We value individuals who approach the work with humility and curiosity.
Finally, RLDF places a high priority on maintaining high standards of personal integrity; values genuine partnership and alliance building both within the Foundation and with external partners and grantees; and believes in incorporating the principles of respect, equity, diversity and inclusion into the work of grantmaking.
Program Development
- In partnership and with approval of the Board and Executive Director, the director will design and implement a comprehensive grantmaking strategy for advancing program goals and outcomes. This will include further development of funding guidelines and criteria, identifying and building an effective pool of grantees, and ongoing analysis and refinement of program priorities.
- In partnership with the Director of Data Strategies & Learning, develop an evaluation strategy to support internal and external learning and to monitor progress toward meeting program goals. This would involve a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
- Prepare regular reports for RLDF leadership and external stakeholders, provide updates on funding achievements and challenges, and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Identify and build productive and respectful relationships with grantee partners, potential grantee partners, philanthropic colleagues, and leaders in the field.
Grantmaking
- The Director will manage all aspects of the grantmaking process including the research and identification of grantee candidates; evaluation of grant proposals; conduct legal and financial due diligence; assess a potential grantee’s effectiveness and alignment with RLDF’s priorities; assemble and present funding recommendations to the Board of Directors.
- Communicate with grant-seekers regularly through written, virtual and in-person meetings and conduct site visits as part of the review process.
- Build a relationship with all grantees and grant applicants based on respect, so nonprofits can ask RLDF for the supports and tools they truly need to make change.
- Monitor progress of funded projects, ensure accountability, and evaluate outcomes to ensure alignment with grant objectives.
Operations, Administration and Additional Responsibilities:
- Participate in and meaningfully contribute to Foundation-wide strategic planning and implementation efforts.
- Actively participate in required staff, Board, and committee meetings. Participate in educational opportunities and professional networks.
- Partner with the CFO on the annual budgeting processes and ongoing review of financial reports.
- Represent the organization at relevant conferences, workshops, and meetings.
- Other special projects and duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A minimum of 5-8 years in philanthropy or related field.
- Social sector program design and management experience, with knowledge in large-scale systems-change work a plus.
- Strong writing, analytical, and organizational skills with the ability to synthesize and present information efficiently.
- Proven measurement and evaluation experience including the ability to identify risks, opportunities, accountability factors, and trends in the field.
- Outstanding verbal communication skills with experience conveying complex issues to internal and external audiences.
- Advanced level proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES FOR SUCCESS
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and with people who hold diverse perspectives.
- Personal and professional commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion is evident in how they think, act, and contribute to a team.
- Highly developed emotional intelligence and demonstrated ability to use interpersonal skills and political acumen in respectful and collaborative ways.
- Flexibility, commitment to teamwork, curiosity, and a sense of humor.
- A visionary who proactively plans with imagination and foresight.
- Capacity to work amicably in a small office with high volume of work, as well as a deep sense of responsibility and accountability.
- Ability to make decisions, justify recommendations and be responsible and clear with stakeholders.
- A record of recognizing and acting on opportunities to continuously improve.
- Experience working directly with a Board of Directors.
- High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
- Ability to work autonomously.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
$160,000 - $190,000 a year
This is a full-time position with a salary of $160,000 and above, commensurate with experience. RLDF offers a competitive benefits package, including:
- 401(k) plan with employer match
- Medical and dental insurance (80/20 split)
- Life insurance*
- Short-and long-term disability insurance*
- Competitive PTO policies
- Pre-tax Commuter Expense Reimbursement Plan
*Life insurance and short-and long-term disability are provided at no cost to the employee.
LOCATION
RLDF will be establishing offices in Chicago’s Loop or adjacent. Occasional travel outside of Chicago may be expected such as participation in professional conferences or grantee engagement.
Please note RLDF will maintain a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to work in the office three days a week.
EEO AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
RLDF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to recruit and retain highly competent individuals for its staff. It is RLDF’s policy to recognize the potential of each employee without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status or family, or socio-economic backgrounds. This policy shall apply to all phases of the employment relationship. All applicants will be evaluated on a merit basis.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
RLDF will conduct background checks prior to all hires.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to sit at a computer terminal for long periods of time, ability to be physically in attendance at workstation at a designated company office location during normal business hours designated for the position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, handle, and feel.
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