Program Manager, Community Wealth (Hybrid)
Apply NowCompany: The Chicago Community Trust
Location: Chicago, IL 60629
Description:
Job Description
The Chicago Community Trust is hiring a Program Manager for its Community Wealth strategy, a body of work that is critical to the Trust achieving its goal to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. The focus areas of the position are organizational development at the neighborhood level, shared-ownership models, community planning and systems change. A prominent feature of this role is working closely with community-based organizations to build their capacity for greater impact.
In 2020, the Trust began implementing its Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment strategy, later known as the Community Wealth strategy. Working at the organizational and institutional levels, the strategy supports majority Black and Latinx communities in their efforts to attract, retain and own local investments. We do so by investing in systemic change and support for equitable development in the region, neighborhood-level support to build the capacity and planning necessary for more investment, and project level investment to catalyze ideas into tangible outcomes.
The Program Manager will use the tools, resources, and relationships of The Chicago Community Trust, and specifically the Community Wealth team, to advance the strategy, and supports cross-functional collaboration with Philanthropic Services, Learning and Impact, and Strategic Communications teams. The job entails internal and external partnerships, thought leadership, innovation, field building, community knowledge, convening, policy change when applicable, and grantmaking.
Position Responsibilities
Experience and Skills
Starting salary: $112,000
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are fundamental to achieving our impact
The Chicago Community Trust's vision is a Chicago region where equity, opportunity, and prosperity abound. We acknowledge the specific role discrimination and systemic barriers based on race, ethnicity, and other varied identities and differences have played in limiting opportunities for too many. A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is at the core of who we are, the decisions we make, and the actions we take in our work to strengthen the communities we serve and advance our strategic focus to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap. Click here to learn more about our strategic plan.
The History of The Chicago Community Trust
The Chicago Community Trust was founded in 1915 by Norman and Albert Harris, father and son duo of the Harris Trust and Savings Bank (now BMO Harris Bank). The Trust was the fourth community foundation ever created. There are now 750 community foundations in Canada and the U.S.
As our region's community foundation, the Trust unites generous donors, committed nonprofits and caring residents to effect lasting change that moves our entire region forward. Our approach centers on tackling the region's immediate needs and addressing the root causes of deep-seated issues to realize a more prosperous future for all who call metropolitan Chicago home.
For more than 100 years, donors have entrusted their philanthropic resources and visions to our stewardship. Guided by our deep knowledge of the community, we fund, lead, convene and collaborate to address the greatest and most critical needs facing the Chicago region. From the $22 million raised to help with unemployment relief in the Great Depression to spearheading an effort to help people keep their homes during the foreclosure crisis of the Great Recession to $35 million raised for the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, which supported nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors, Chicagoans have put their trust in us.
In 2019, we announced we would focus our discretionary spending over the next decade on working to close Chicago's growing racial and ethnic wealth gap. The Trust envisions a Chicago region that's stronger and more prosperous because everyone-regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code-has equitable access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed and live a fulfilling life.
With assets of more than $4.5 billion, the Trust, in partnership with its donors, distributes more than $1.6 billion in grants each year. The Trust Team seeks to match the passion and commitment of donors, grant recipients, residents, and community leaders that continue to work tirelessly to make the Chicago region one where all have the opportunity to realize their dreams.
The Chicago Community Trust is hiring a Program Manager for its Community Wealth strategy, a body of work that is critical to the Trust achieving its goal to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. The focus areas of the position are organizational development at the neighborhood level, shared-ownership models, community planning and systems change. A prominent feature of this role is working closely with community-based organizations to build their capacity for greater impact.
In 2020, the Trust began implementing its Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment strategy, later known as the Community Wealth strategy. Working at the organizational and institutional levels, the strategy supports majority Black and Latinx communities in their efforts to attract, retain and own local investments. We do so by investing in systemic change and support for equitable development in the region, neighborhood-level support to build the capacity and planning necessary for more investment, and project level investment to catalyze ideas into tangible outcomes.
The Program Manager will use the tools, resources, and relationships of The Chicago Community Trust, and specifically the Community Wealth team, to advance the strategy, and supports cross-functional collaboration with Philanthropic Services, Learning and Impact, and Strategic Communications teams. The job entails internal and external partnerships, thought leadership, innovation, field building, community knowledge, convening, policy change when applicable, and grantmaking.
Position Responsibilities
- In partnership with Sr. Director, co-develop, lead and manage the physical planning, placemaking, shared ownership and organizational development priorities of the Community Wealth strategy.
- Partner with peer program manager to advance work that is complementary to the real estate development and systems work of the Community Wealth strategy
- Work with community-based organizations, individually and in cohorts, on capacity-building needs and neighborhood investment solutions.
- Integrate Community Wealth objectives with objectives from the Trust's other strategy teams and programmatic affiliates
- Work closely with the Policy Change team to advance any policy changes relevant to the strategy.
- Cultivate internal and external relationships to advance the Community Wealth strategy.
- Lead and manage catalytic and strategic grantmaking.
- Cultivate funding opportunities with Trust donors and other philanthropic sources.
- Identify, lead, and manage research opportunities.
- Refine, track and report on outcomes and measures for physical planning, placemaking, and organizational development priorities.
- Hire and manage vendors, including consultants and interns.
- Manage and track strategy budget.
- Conduct other duties as assigned.
Experience and Skills
- Minimum of 5 years of related work experience; 7 years is preferred.
- Master's degree preferred but we welcome all candidates regardless of education background.
- Demonstrated experience and background in urban planning and community/economic development. Knowledge of the built environment is a must.
- Experience with real estate development and development finance a plus.
- Understanding of the role community-based organizations play in catalyzing neighborhood investment. Experience with organizational development and change management a plus.
- Understanding of the community development ecosystem in Chicago and the region, including how different types of community-based organizations plan, prioritize, and implement solutions and measure progress.
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to the Trust's goal of closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap; Understanding of racial equity practices and frameworks is required.
Starting salary: $112,000
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are fundamental to achieving our impact
The Chicago Community Trust's vision is a Chicago region where equity, opportunity, and prosperity abound. We acknowledge the specific role discrimination and systemic barriers based on race, ethnicity, and other varied identities and differences have played in limiting opportunities for too many. A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is at the core of who we are, the decisions we make, and the actions we take in our work to strengthen the communities we serve and advance our strategic focus to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap. Click here to learn more about our strategic plan.
The History of The Chicago Community Trust
The Chicago Community Trust was founded in 1915 by Norman and Albert Harris, father and son duo of the Harris Trust and Savings Bank (now BMO Harris Bank). The Trust was the fourth community foundation ever created. There are now 750 community foundations in Canada and the U.S.
As our region's community foundation, the Trust unites generous donors, committed nonprofits and caring residents to effect lasting change that moves our entire region forward. Our approach centers on tackling the region's immediate needs and addressing the root causes of deep-seated issues to realize a more prosperous future for all who call metropolitan Chicago home.
For more than 100 years, donors have entrusted their philanthropic resources and visions to our stewardship. Guided by our deep knowledge of the community, we fund, lead, convene and collaborate to address the greatest and most critical needs facing the Chicago region. From the $22 million raised to help with unemployment relief in the Great Depression to spearheading an effort to help people keep their homes during the foreclosure crisis of the Great Recession to $35 million raised for the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, which supported nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors, Chicagoans have put their trust in us.
In 2019, we announced we would focus our discretionary spending over the next decade on working to close Chicago's growing racial and ethnic wealth gap. The Trust envisions a Chicago region that's stronger and more prosperous because everyone-regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code-has equitable access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed and live a fulfilling life.
With assets of more than $4.5 billion, the Trust, in partnership with its donors, distributes more than $1.6 billion in grants each year. The Trust Team seeks to match the passion and commitment of donors, grant recipients, residents, and community leaders that continue to work tirelessly to make the Chicago region one where all have the opportunity to realize their dreams.