Crown Family Philanthropies — Director, Health and Human Services

About the Position 

Crown Family Philanthropies (CFP or the Foundation) seeks a
Program Director to oversee strategic development and program
execution for its Health and Human Services (HHS) Program.
Reporting to the CFP President and serving alongside other
Foundation leaders, the Director will manage the HHS Program
team, including a Senior Program Analyst and Program/Data Analyst.
CFP’s HHS Program portfolio is guided by the Foundation’s Health
and Human Services Committee, an engaged group of trustees who
provide direction to CFP staff.  

The HHS Program Director will facilitate the family’s
long-standing commitment to supporting safety-net services in
Chicago-area communities, with a particular focus on ending
homelessness in the city and building capacity in the domestic
violence sector. They will lead the development and implementation
of strategies and systems that result in dynamic grantmaking
that maximizes social impact and deepens family engagement.
The Director must be able to sit at the table with top nonprofit,
philanthropic, and government leaders and add value through deep
discussions and the development of close partnerships. The ideal
candidate will be a recognized leader in the field, highly
creative, intelligent, inspiring, and particularly adept at
handling sensitive and complex topics with multiple
stakeholders. 

Key Areas of Responsibility 

• Work with the HHS Committee (especially the Committee’s
Co-Chairs and other Foundation  leaders) to develop impact
strategy and goals, guide direction of the portfolio, develop grant
recommendations, assess current grant initiatives, and coordinate
learning opportunities aligned with the strategic framework

• Serve as CFP’s content area expert and represent the
institution in health and human services arenas (especially in
sectors addressing homelessness and domestic violence), as well as
take a leadership role in initiating convenings among funders and
practitioners in the field; act as a field-wide thought partner on
issues of strategic importance; and engage Crown family members in
opportunities to think broadly about and innovate
long-horizon, sustainable solutions

• Identify, establish and cultivate partnerships to fund and
operationalize Committee strategies

• Develop and track metrics for clusters of related grants and
work with grantees to embed evaluation indicators into both grants
and portfolios

• Inform Committee members of the economic and social impacts of
key policy developments and  initiatives related to domestic
violence prevention, housing insecurity, and other public health
and human service matters; engage with leading experts in the field
and share relevant information; maintain an understanding of
relevant issues and developments and be an overall leader in the
field 

• Maintain deep relationships with diverse stakeholders,
including grantees, funders and other  external stakeholders
to collaborate on efforts and maximize impact; understand best
practices and immediate needs; advocate for grantee partners within
the foundation and the field 

• Plan, manage, and co-lead Committee meetings, supporting the
Committee Chairs to ensure dynamic, engaging, and productive
sessions 

• Conduct due diligence on and present health and human-services
grants; collaborate with the  Foundation’s grants management
team to ensure that grantmaking complies with all regulations on
private foundations and public charities 

• Develop opportunities for family member learning and
engagement 

• Oversee the HHS Program team, including a Senior Program
Analyst and Program/Data Analyst,  providing leadership and
mentorship to CFP staff on the team 

• Serve on CFP leadership team overseeing internal CFP projects
and activities 

• Provide support on individual grantmaking, advising family
members on compelling philanthropic  opportunities for
personal giving in the sector 

Experience 

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in the field of
health and human services within  the philanthropy, government
and/or non-profit sectors; significant experience and exposure to
the non-profit sector and the specific challenges of domestic
violence, housing insecurity, and/or homelessness in the Chicago
region strongly preferred 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience effectively leading and
managing teams (preferred) 

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience; master’s degree
in relevant field is a plus 

Core Competencies (Skills and Abilities) 

• Deep knowledge of the health and human services landscape in
Chicago; content area expert,  knowledgeable about national
trends and innovations that may be relevant to Chicago 

• Talented, inspirational leader with outstanding relationship
and meeting facilitation skills 

• Ability to plan strategically, taking into consideration an
evolving landscape and lessons drawn from  grantee
experiences, field knowledge, and evaluation and measurement
results; ability to conceive  and execute high level strategy
and align tactical needs creatively and effectively 

• Demonstrated ability to set and achieve bold goals, develop
and implement metrics to measure  outcomes, and reassess goals
and priorities as appropriate 

• Detail oriented with keen conceptual, analytical, and critical
thinking skills and an inquisitive nature 

• Significant experience managing and coaching operationally
diverse and dispersed teams 

• Superb organizational skills including ability to prioritize
agendas and manage conflicting needs; ability to respond flexibly
to shifting priorities 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
comfortable operating in a collaborative  team
environment 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a
demonstrated track record of  communicating complex issues
succinctly; ability to listen and synthesize multiple
inputs 

• Ability to interpret and generate financial
statements 

• Demonstrated ability to act with humility, sensitivity, and
discretion 

• Growth mindset with an eagerness to receive feedback and seek
opportunities for professional  development

Compensation and Benefits  

Henry Crown and Company (HCC) and the Crown Family
Philanthropies division offer a generous compensation package that
includes health insurance, 401(K), paid time off, pension, and
profit sharing. Salary will be discussed in candidates’ first
interview.

Additional Information  

Henry Crown and Company and the Crown Family Philanthropies
division are committed to creating a  diverse environment and
proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants
will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, gender, gender identity or  expression,
sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or
veteran status.  

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 HCC 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. 

Note: Henry Crown and Company and CFP currently operate
in a hybrid work environment, with staff expected to work in
the downtown Chicago office a minimum of two days per
week. 

 

About Crown Family Philanthropies  

Crown Family Philanthropies (“CFP” or the “Foundation”) is the
philanthropic division of Henry Crown and Company (see below)
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 Henry Crown and Company  

Henry Crown and Company is a Chicago-based, privately-held
operation [not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization] that
manages  business interests and coordinates investments
falling into four broadly-defined categories: publicly traded
securities, real estate, investment funds, and privately held
operating companies. The corporate office employs approximately 200
professionals in the areas of investment management,
corporate  development, accounting, tax, human resources,
information technologies, legal, family services, 
philanthropy, and administration.