Senior Program Partner Christopher Family Foundation

Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy; Northern, Westmont (KY, IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christopher Family Foundation in Westmont, Illinois, seeks a Senior Program Partner to help shape Employment and Entrepreneurship work on Chicago’s West Side and to build data infrastructure that sharpens impact.

This role emphasizes community engagement, relationship-building with grantee partners and leaders, and strategic influence beyond mere execution; it offers remote work one day a week and in-office four days at the Westmont office.

Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit program management and community partnerships.
• Ability to build data and evaluation infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Shape grantmaking strategy with visibility into Distribution Committee decision-making.
• Develop data and evaluation infrastructure for the Foundation.
• Build real relationships with West Side leaders, entrepreneurs, and grantees.
• Collaborate with grantee partners and maintain proximity to the community.

Skills

Relationship-building

Strategic thinking

Community engagement

Grantmaking

Job description

About the organization

The Christopher Family Foundation (CFF) was created in 1997 by Jay W. and Doris K. Christopher, and is an outgrowth of the Pampered Chef, a business they founded in their home in 1980. Today, the Westmont, Illinois-based foundation is governed by a Distribution Committee (Board) consisting of multiple generations of the Christopher Family and views its work through two key lenses: the Christian perspective of its founders, and a focus on access and equity. Most of CFF’s funding is centered on Chicago’s West Side, with special emphasis on the Austin community.

We invest in:

• Jobs that provide family-sustaining wages for people facing multiple barriers to employment
• Entrepreneurship pathways that build intergenerational wealth and stability
• High-quality education and youth development
• Access to healthy food

For more information about the Christopher Family Foundation, please see: christopherff.org.

About the position

CFF is growing steadily and intentionally and we’re building our program team to match our ambitions as we look for a strategic, relationship-driven team player to help shape what’s next for our work in Employment and Entrepreneurship on Chicago’s West Side, and to build the data infrastructure that will sharpen our impact for years to come.

This isn’t a role where you’ll sit behind a desk reviewing proposals in isolation. You’ll be in the community, collaborating with grantee partners, and at the table when strategy is set. This is a unique opportunity where relationship-building, rigorous thinking, and real proximity to community all matter equally.

The Senior Program Partner is a new role that will build upon the work of the Foundation. The successful candidate can expect:

• Real influence, not just execution. You’ll help shape grantmaking strategy, not just implement it with direct visibility into Distribution Committee decision-making.
• Community-rooted work. Success here means real relationships with West Side leaders, entrepreneurs, and grantee partners.
• A chance to build something. You’ll work to develop CFF’s data and evaluation infrastructure.
• A close-knit, mission-driven team. CFF is a small office with big trust. This role comes with genuine latitude to bring your own strategic voice to the work.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $125,000–$140,000, based on experience and CFF offers a generous benefits package.

Working Environment

This position presents the opportunity to work remotely one day a week and in-office four days a week at the Christopher Family Foundation office in Westmont, Illinois (shared with the family office). Time in the field, working with grantees or other stakeholders is also expected.