Senior Program Officer

Our Organization

Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) is a public foundation working to advance gender equity, which we believe to be inherently interconnected with racial, economic, and health equity. CFW envisions a world in which all women and girls, and gender-expansive people have the opportunity to thrive in safe, just, and healthy communities. We celebrate the spectrum of identities and experiences of women and girls, and gender-expansive people uplift their leadership and center the voices of the community to achieve true equity. To support our philanthropy, the Foundation promotes increased investment in women, girls, and gender-expansive people, raises awareness about their issues, potential and develops them as leaders and philanthropists. Since 1985, the Foundation has awarded over $54 million to hundreds of organizations that help achieve its mission of gender equity across the Chicago region.

CFW looks at the broad spectrum of needs of all women, girls, and gender-expansive people. We support the areas of freedom from violence, economic security, and access to health, which we see as integrally related and are paths forward toward an equitable society.

About the Senior Program Officer Position:

The Senior Program Officer collaborates closely with the Director of Programs to ensure that CFW’s grantmaking strategies align with the Foundation’s strategic plan, values, and commitment to trust‑based philanthropy. They identify and recommend new and emerging opportunities that deepen CFW’s impact and respond to the evolving needs and priorities of community organizations across the Chicagoland region.

The Senior Program Officer leads the Foundation’s core grantmaking activities and coordinates CFW’s trust‑based process. This includes organizing a cross section of CFW’s stakeholders to ensure that community voice is centered and to promote transparency and shared learning.

As the primary point of contact for grantee partners, the Senior Program Officer provides relationship‑centered support—offering clear guidance on funding opportunities across CFW’s portfolios and initiatives, connecting organizations to resources, and ensuring a responsive, accessible application experience. They cultivate authentic partnerships grounded in mutual respect, open communication, and a commitment to long‑term impact.

The ideal Senior Program Officer is a skilled relationship builder and thoughtful project manager who brings curiosity, humility, and strong interpersonal and leadership skills. They model CFW’s culture of community, transparency, equity, and shared power in all aspects of their work.

Position breakdown:

Grantmaking Strategy and Grantee Support (60%)

• Present recommendations for strengthening CFW’s grantmaking strategies, processes, and priorities, ensuring alignment with CFW’s values, theory of change, and the Trust-Based Philanthropy framework.
• Coordinate and guide site visits, proposal discussions, and the recommendation process.
• Help the Foundation make evidence-informed decisions using data through a lens of racial and gender equity and justice.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for current and potential grantees, offering clear, relationship-centered guidance on CFW’s funding opportunities, priorities, and special initiatives.
• Steward and deepen partnerships with grantee organizations by centering their needs, soliciting ongoing feedback, and reducing administrative burden whenever possible.
• Support CFW’s Learning Community by gathering insights on sector needs and connecting grantees to networks, resources, and non-financial supports that strengthen their work.
• Practice a trust-based approach that prioritizes transparent communication, responsiveness, humility, and shared learning.

Grant Management & Administration (20%)

• Build and maintain effective grants processes through CFW’s grant management system (Foundant), including application stages, award/decline communication, reporting, and documentation.
• Analyze the organizational and financial capacity of current and potential grantees using budgets, audits, and nonprofit financial documents, focusing on right‑sizing due diligence to avoid unnecessary burden.
• Present written and verbal grant recommendations in a clear, thoughtful, and equity‑grounded manner to the Board of Directors.
• Aggregate and analyze grantmaking outcomes and community impact data, supporting the production of grant reports and organizational learning efforts.

Special Initiatives & Program Development (10%)

• Support the President & CEO and Director of Programs in designing and implementing special initiatives that strengthen community organizations’ capacity and respond to community‑identified needs.
• Contribute to efforts that elevate CFW’s national presence by participating in local and national coalitions, identifying strategic collaboration opportunities, and producing materials that highlight CFW’s policy insights and impact.

Community Building & Organizational Responsibilities (10%)

• Represent CFW within donor, board, peer funder, PSO, and community networks, uplifting the needs and leadership of women and girls.
• Stay current on research, policy changes, and trends in philanthropy related to CFW’s priority areas.
• Build and maintain a professional network by participating in convenings, conferences, and peer-learning opportunities in Chicago and beyond.
• Support peer Program Officers with their respective program areas and events.
• Collaborate with development, communications, and finance staff to align program goals with organizational strategies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 7 years of experience working with diverse communities in nonprofit or philanthropy settings, including public programming, grantmaking, or program evaluation. Experience in advocacy, community organizing, or public policy is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent professional and lived experience.
• Knowledge of issues facing women, girls, and gender-expansive people in Illinois and a strong commitment to gender, racial, and economic equity.
• Superb presentation and communication skills—verbal and written.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, especially with grantee partners and ability to work strategically across several communities and sectors.
• Foundational understanding of philanthropy and grantmaking strategies; working knowledge of grant management system.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and project management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work autonomously as well as within a small team.
• High integrity, ethical conduct, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality in all matters related to the Foundation and its stakeholders.

Application Process:

Interested applicants should apply via our website by submitting a cover letter articulating how their skills and experience align with the responsibilities outlined above, along with a resume.

CFW seeks to fill this position as soon as possible and will work actively to build a diverse pool of candidates.

Chicago Foundation for Women offers a competitive compensation package for all positions. Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life, short and long-term disability insurance, and 403 (b) plan with an employer nonelective contribution of 3%. CFW provides the following in paid time off: Fifteen vacation days, fourteen sick days, four personal days, two floating holidays, twelve organizational holidays, and two remote days per week (Mondays & Fridays). In addition to paid time off, CFW offers paid leave and sabbatical policies, along with a professional development allowance and membership opportunities.