MANAGING DIRECTOR, PHILANTHROPY
$230,000–$275,000 year
On-siteChicago, Illinois, United States
Job Summary
Advise ultra-high-net-worth families and foundations on philanthropic strategy, governance, and the effective use of charitable vehicles including donor-advised funds and private foundations. Facilitate client conversations around values, legacy, and succession while helping families develop values-aligned grantmaking strategies and impact measurement practices. Coach foundation boards on governance and grant review processes, and serve as an internal resource to educate Cresset advisors on philanthropic trends and planning opportunities. Support the growth of Cresset's donor-advised fund offering and maintain strong partnerships across the philanthropic ecosystem. Collaborate across governance, education, and advisory teams to deliver integrated client experiences.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in philanthropy, charitable planning, family office advisory, foundation leadership, donor-advised fund administration, nonprofit strategy, impact advising, or a related field
- Significant experience advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, foundations, or complex multigenerational family systems
- Deep knowledge of philanthropic vehicles and structures, including donor-advised funds, private foundations, charitable trusts, LLCs, 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, fiscal sponsors, supporting organizations, giving circles, and impact investing vehicles
- Experience developing grantmaking strategies, theories of change, grant portfolios, due diligence frameworks, evaluation practices, and learning agendas
- Experience advising or coaching family foundation boards, staff, donor committees, or multigenerational grantmaking groups
- Strong understanding of innovative approaches to impact, including catalytic philanthropy, trust-based philanthropy, advocacy-oriented giving, participatory grantmaking, collaborative funds, impact investing, recoverable grants, and systems-change philanthropy
- Excellent facilitation, communication, writing, presentation, and relationship-management skills
- Ability to explain complex philanthropic, governance, and planning concepts in a clear, practical, and client-centered way
- Strong judgment, discretion, emotional intelligence, and comfort working with families navigating sensitive topics related to wealth, values, legacy, impact, control, succession, family dynamics, and power
- Collaborative, entrepreneurial, and able to operate strategically and practically across client advisory, technical planning, grantmaking design, education, and execution
Desired Qualifications
- Experience working within or alongside a multifamily office, wealth management firm, private bank, community foundation, donor-advised fund sponsor, private foundation, philanthropic advisory firm, nonprofit organization, or family office
- Familiarity with family governance, family education, rising-generation development, and the dynamics of multigenerational wealth
- Experience supporting the growth or enhancement of a donor-advised fund platform or charitable planning offering
- Knowledge of mission-aligned investing, program-related investments, mission-related investments, recoverable grants, and other tools that connect capital deployment with impact
- Experience designing family philanthropy retreats, educational curricula, board training, grantmaking processes, learning agendas, portfolio reviews, or multigenerational giving programs
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