Executive Director, Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund
2 months ago
Chicago
Job Description Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund Executive Director Position Announcement Title: Executive Director Location: Chicago, IL (hybrid) Status: Full-time, exempt Salary: $130,000 - $150,000 Reports to: Steering Committee Application Deadline: October 15, 2025 Desired start date: March 2026 About the Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund The Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund (CRJPF or the “Pooled Fund”) supports community organizing and the larger ecosystem of movement building which contributes to dismantling anti-Black racism in Chicago and Cook County. In addition, the Pooled Fund supports efforts that are ally-led and working to dismantle anti-Blackness in their respective communities. CRJPF was created in 2020 in response to an urgent call from community organizations addressing the COVID-19 crisis and the murder of George Floyd. With input from organizers, a group of local funders volunteered to create an efficient, low-threshold application and grant making process. As of May 2025, the Pooled Fund has raised over $11M from 42 foundations and provided over $9.9M in unrestricted grants to 105 Chicago organizations building and sustaining movements for justice that center Black lives and address anti-Blackness. CRJPF’s goal is to raise and grant an additional $15M – along with other resources – over the next five years. We envision a future where barriers are dismantled, communities are invested in, every person works toward our collective dignity, every community knows and exercises its power toward that collective dignity, and communities thrive. Definitions of terms and additional information can be found at . The Pooled Fund is fiscally sponsored by Crossroads Fund and led by a Steering Committee of local foundations that has identified five priorities that encompass its work: • Funder Education and Engagement, • Fundraising, • Community Building and Mutual Support among Funders, • Leveraging our Social Capital, • Grant Making CRJPF engaged Black Researchers Collective to evaluate how funders and grantees experienced the Pooled Fund as well as its successes, challenges, and contributions to community power-building. For more information, please read the Four-Year Impact Report, which also includes a list of contributing funders and grantee partners. The Opportunity: Executive Director The Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund is excited for the opportunity to continue leveraging its collective resources to support organizations working on issues of equity, justice, and power-building. Hiring an Executive Director to guide and manage its work is an important next step. The incoming Executive Director will be responsible for building on the momentum and success of the Pooled Fund to mobilize and secure additional support, building its fundraising and financial capacity, and driving its grant making strategy. This is an external-facing role responsible for building and cultivating relationships and leading outreach to and across several key stakeholder groups, including leading/organizing the Steering Committee, supporting grantee partners, liaising with current and prospective funders - including potentially introducing strategies to expand to corporate and individual giving - and others. An ideal candidate will be an experienced leader and strategist skilled in nonprofit fundraising, building strategic partnerships, and with a solid understanding of how institutional funders operate. The Executive Director will have a strong understanding of and commitment to community organizing, the unique challenges and opportunities facing Black- and ally-led organizations and local communities, and community-driven social change. The Executive Director will also be motivated to contribute thought leadership on shifting practices in philanthropy toward Black-led organizations/nonprofits and Black communities. This position presents an exciting opportunity to expand the visibility and impact of the Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund and to steer dollars to organizations that have been historically excluded in a local nonprofit ecosystem that typically privileges large, well-resourced organizations. Please note that as the sole paid staff person, the Executive Director will cover all tasks, including administrative work. Crossroads Fund will provide accounting services and access to Foundant (grant management software); all other functions will be the responsibility of the Executive Director. Responsibilities Grant Making Strategy + Process • Review and track all grant applications (new and renewal) and reports, as well as grantee organization data in Foundant, • Share grant proposals with the Allocations Committee and facilitate committee meetings to make recommendations, • Develop supportive relationships with grantee groups organizing in Black communities and/or working to dismantle anti-Blackness in non-Black communities, • Create and nurture a grant making framework grounded in trust and supporting community power and self-determination, • Develop an evaluation plan to understand the continuing impact of the Pooled Fund’s grant making and strategy Fundraising + Funder/Donor Organizing • In partnership with the Steering Committee, develop and implement a fundraising and development strategy for the Pooled Fund that spans individual, corporate and institutional giving, • Establish strong relationships with current funding partners while cultivating potential new funding partners, • Develop inspiring and persuasive funding proposals, presentations, materials, and other external communications, • Build connections with regional and national funders, donor collaboratives/pooled funds, and others that support similar work, • Support the Steering Committee and provide members with tools/systems to leverage their networks and social capital to steer more resources to the Pooled Fund for its grantee partners Steering Committee Management + Governance • Lead the Steering Committee in operationalizing a set of values, theory of change, goals, and specific tactics to guide the ongoing work of the CRJPF, • Schedule and prepare agendas for Steering and subcommittee meetings, guide and facilitate meetings in a way that motivates stakeholders to commit to and follow through on specific tasks in an inclusive and efficient manner, and keep track of follow-up items, • Present reports and share relevant updates with the Steering Committee on organizational performance, including financial updates and any key metrics, • Support the Steering Committee to create and sustain an effective governance structure, • In partnership with the Steering Committee, engage current funders and potential funding partners in community building and funder education External Relations + Thought Leadership • Serve as the primary external representative of the organization, building and maintaining relationships across stakeholder groups, • Develop materials that help funders and other audiences understand community organizing and social justice movements, • Organize and facilitate conversations, funder briefings, grantee convenings, issue- or topic-focused learning opportunities with grantees and current/potential funders General Operations + Financial Management • Manage day-to-day operations of the CRJPF, including systems for organizational processes and shared decision-making, • Draft, manage, and monitor an annual budget in consultation with Crossroads’ accountant, • Ensure that the Steering Committee and Allocations Subcommittee receive timely, clear and accurate financial and grant making data, • Manage any contractors/consultants to the Pooled Fund, • Ensure that justice, equity, and collective liberation are guiding principles in all CRJPF activities Skills + Experiences We know that people of color and women candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every requirement. Please do not be deterred if you have not held an Executive Director or Chief Development Officer title in a prior role. Your gifts and lived experiences matter to us more than titles. You may be exactly who we are looking for! • Community organizing experience, • Bold analysis of philanthropy’s role in the movement landscape, • At least 10 years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector, specifically with Chicago-area movement organizations, with at least five years in leadership roles, • Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing fundraising strategies with clear and measurable goals; experience across foundation, corporate, and individual giving is a plus, • Traditional foundation experience is not required, but ideal candidates will have an understanding of institutional philanthropy and how to mobilize resources in the sector, • Budget and financial management experience, • Strong project management, organization, and planning skills; including the ability to prioritize, work both independently and collaboratively, and create and communicate a blueprint of the key elements that projects require for successful completion, • Experience building strong, meaningful relationships across a variety of stakeholders and gaining alignment to create action, • Strong facilitation skills with experience leading or participating in the context of an advisory board, taskforce, or collaboratives with committees, with an orientation to move work forward, • Excellent verbal and written communications skills across diverse audiences, • Strong computer and office software, application, and data management skills (Microsoft Office, Google Office Suite, cloud-based storage, and other tools) Work Environment • The position reports directly to the CRJPF Steering Committee., • This is a hybrid position located in Chicago, IL that includes membership at Impact House, a co-working space with access to meeting rooms., • Evening and weekend work are occasionally required, particularly during events or convenings. To Apply • A cover letter is not required to apply for this role. Instead, all candidates will provide a resume and written answers to application questions. Your responses will be shared with the search and steering committees. Up to 3 paragraphs maximum per response, please., • This search is led independently by the CRJPF search committee, although the job application is hosted online with a philanthropy consultancy., • All applicants will receive a confirmation email once their application has been submitted. For those invited to continue on in the process, next steps may include a brief phone or virtual interview and two additional rounds of interviews with CRJPF steering committee members. There may also be a request for a writing sample or other job-related assessment. Please, no phone calls or emails., • DEADLINE: October 15, 2025. Crossroads Fund is the fiscal sponsor and serves as employer on record. Crossroads Fund is an equal opportunity employer that provides a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Benefits Salary + Benefits • The salary range for this position is $130,000 - $150,000, commensurate with experience., • CRJPF is fiscally sponsored by Crossroads Fund, which offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plan/match, and paid time off., • This is a grant-funded position with two years of salary and benefits secured. There is a possibility of extension pending fundraising success.
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