Program Officer, Jewish Community & Israel

About Crown Family Philanthropies and Henry Crown and Company

Henry Crown and Company/CC Industries is a Chicago-based, privately-held company that manages business, philanthropic, and family interests on behalf of a multi-generational family.  The business ventures fall into broadly-defined categories: wholly-owned operating companies, public and private equity investments, and real estate. The enterprise employs approximately 350 professionals in the areas of investment management, corporate development, financial operations, tax, research and innovation, human resources, information technologies, philanthropy, and legal.

Crown Family Philanthropies (“CFP” or the “Foundation”) is the philanthropic division of Henry Crown and Company and supports the Crown Family’s philanthropic and grantmaking endeavors. In 2009, after more than 60 years of family grantmaking under the name Arie and Ida Crown Memorial, CFP was developed to represent and facilitate an array of family grantmaking practices. Today the legacy of Arie and Ida Crown lives on in the work continued by their descendants, who remain dedicated to the Jewish tradition of tikun olam, or “repairing the world.” Supported by a professional staff, CFP is led by more than 50 family members across multiple generations who come together to set strategy and make grantmaking decisions.

About the Jewish Giving Program 

The CFP Jewish and Israel Giving area is committed to building a vibrant pluralistic Jewish community with diverse opportunities for individuals and families to deepen their Jewish identity and their connectivity to the community. The portfolio focuses on the following areas: 

Education: Ensuring a range of pluralistic educational pathways to enhance Jewish identity​ 

Experiences: Supporting intentional, “deep” experiences that promote Jewish identity formation and meaningful relationships with Jewish peers​. 

Strong Dynamic Sector: Investing in leadership development, innovation, capacity building, and research & evaluation to meet the evolving needs of the Jewish community. 

Antisemitism/Anti-Hate: Supporting education, training, advocacy, bridge-building, and security to combat hate and antisemitism and secure the Jewish community. 

Health and Human Services: Care for the needs of the Chicago Jewish community and beyond through access to mental health, wellness, food, medical care, and inclusion services. 

In addition, CFP is committed to a successful Israel, focusing its grantmaking work on ensuring pathways for underrepresented groups in Israel to have equal access to the high-tech sector.  

Position Description

The Program Officer will report to the Director of Jewish and Israel Giving and be a part of a 6-person team. The team works in coordination with trustees through a committee structure to execute the Foundation’s Jewish Giving portfolio. The ideal candidate will have at least seven years progressive experience in a foundation or non-profit organization working on program-related issues preferably in the Jewish communal sector. 

They will have practical expertise and an authentic interest in and passion for building a pluralistic robust Jewish community and a successful Israel. Experience in antisemitism initiatives is a plus. Successful candidates will demonstrate a natural intellectual curiosity and appetite for learning, the technical abilities to manage grantmaking operations, and the drive and skills to provide thought leadership in the Jewish ecosystem. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Planning and strategy:  

• Work with Jewish and Israel Giving Team (Committee Chair, Associate Chair, Director, and CFP and CFF teams) to develop strategy and goals, guide direction of portfolio, develop grant recommendations, assess current grant initiatives, and coordinate learning opportunities aligned with the lead pursuit strategic framework. Participate and when appropriate lead effective, dynamic committee meetings.  
• Identify and source impactful grants within lead pursuit strategies to enhance committee priorities and impact.  
• Maintain an understanding of regularly shifting issues in the field, in order to inform trustees and facilitate their decision-making and participate in field-wide efforts as a thought leader. Identify and bring in experts around specific questions to inform strategic impact and educate the Committee and Board.  
• Build and maintain deep relationships with diverse stakeholders, working closely with grantees, funders and other external stakeholders to maximize impact on systems change. Utilize best practices and collaborate with other funders on field-wide