Description
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Social Impact provides strategic and operational leadership for the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation’s Social Impact program area, guiding the development, implementation, and evolution of the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy. Reporting to the Vice President of Programs, the Director will join the Foundation at a pivotal moment as the Social Impact strategy is being finalized. This role will help refine and operationalize the strategy, translating it into clear priorities, partnerships, and grantmaking approaches that advance the Foundation’s mission and program goals. The Director will lead the execution of the program area’s grantmaking across established and emerging focus areas, while also strengthening evaluation, learning, and collaboration to ensure meaningful and measurable impact.
The Director will also lead and grow a high-performing Social Impact team, currently supervising a Senior Program Officer, Program Officer, and Associate, with plans to expand the team by two to three additional staff members in the coming year or two. This leader will foster a collaborative, values-driven team culture while setting clear goals, supporting professional development, and ensuring strong program execution. As a member of the Foundation’s leadership team, the Director will work closely with internal colleagues, the CEO, VP of Programs, and the Board while representing the Foundation externally with grantees, partners, and philanthropic peers. Through thoughtful leadership of people, programs, and partnerships, the Director will help ensure the long-term success and impact of the Social Impact program area.
Strategic and Programmatic Leadership
- Provide strategic direction and oversight for PMAFF’s Social Impact grantmaking.
- Partner with CEO, Vice-President of Programs, Board, and Social Impact staff to ensure alignment of grantmaking strategies with the Foundation’s mission and goals.
- Pilot new grantmaking areas or models, testing innovative approaches to philanthropy.
- Support the creation of frameworks for impact measurement, evaluation, and organizational learning.
- Advise the CEO, Vice President of Programs, and the Board on trends in philanthropy, emerging opportunities, and sector best practices relevant to the Social Impact program area.
- Represent PMAFF externally, sharing learnings and strengthening partnerships across the philanthropic ecosystem.
People Leadership and Management
- Foster an environment that encourages staff development, learning, and cross-program collaboration.
- Model empathetic, values-based leadership that promotes inclusion, trust, and accountability.
- Set clear expectations and support strong staff performance through regular oversight, coaching, and goalsetting.
- Integrate PMAFF priorities and strategies into workplans for the Social Impact team.
- Hire, supervise, and evaluate Social Impact staff, ensuring alignment with organizational values and performance goals.
Organizational Learning and Impact
- Develop and implement frameworks that support evaluation, reflection, and learning across PMAFF’s Social Impact grantmaking.
- Lead efforts to assess and communicate the impact of the Foundation’s Social Impact program area internally and externally.
- Work with staff to ensure grantmaking data and qualitative insights are integrated into decision-making.
- Facilitate learning sessions with Social Impact staff and board to assess progress, challenges, and opportunities for course correction.
- Promote a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement, where experimentation and honest feedback are valued.
Collaboration and Internal Operations
- Partner with the grants management team to ensure grantmaking systems and processes are efficient, equitable, and transparent.
- Collaborate with finance team to develop and manage grantmaking budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
- Support cross-program initiatives and identify opportunities for shared learning and coordinated funding strategies.
- Collaborate with the Talent and Culture team on human capital projects and strategy.
- Contribute to organizational planning and operational decision-making as part of the senior leadership team.
Internal and External Engagements
- Represent the Foundation in funder collaboratives and at convenings, seminars, official forums, conferences, and external meetings
- Convene meetings with grantee partners and funders.
- Build strategic partnerships and relationships with peer funders, nonprofit leaders, and cross-sector experts.
- Collaborate with communications consultants to share stories of grantee impact and elevate voices from the communities PMAFF serves.
- Participate in board meetings and collaborate with staff on preparing agendas and materials
- Participate in educational opportunities, professional networks, and conferences.
- Participate in regular team meetings, planning sessions, and cross-program learning efforts to align with goals and share knowledge.
ABOUT THE PAUL M. ANGELL FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation (PMAFF) unites with our partners to ignite possibilities for all. Established in 2011 by the Angell family to honor innovator and entrepreneur Paul M. Angell, we fund bold, community-led solutions in Chicago and beyond. Together with our partners, we’re working to protect our oceans, champion the arts, strengthen communities, and promote belonging across society. By removing barriers that limit the potential of people and the planet, we aim to spark change that lasts for generations.
ABOUT THE SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAM
The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation’s Social Impact program area supports organizations and leaders working to strengthen communities and expand opportunity. The Foundation partners with thoughtful, strategic changemakersworking to address complex challenges and create meaningful progress for communities facing persistent inequities and barriers to opportunity.
The Social Impact program area is currently refining its strategic focus around efforts that advance high-impact academic and social-emotional interventions, expand pathways to wealth-building and employment training, including entrepreneurship opportunities, and support community-driven capital investments and asset-building in historically disinvested communities without displacement.
As this work continues to evolve, the Foundation is exploring how to deepen its engagement across these areas while remaining responsive to emerging needs and opportunities. Through collaboration, learning, and thoughtful grantmaking, the Social Impact program area aims to support solutions that strengthen communities today while helping to build the conditions for broader change across systems and sectors.
OUR DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CORE VALUE
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunity and to compliance with applicable local, state, and federal antidiscrimination laws which prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employees or applicants for employment based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, age, ancestry, marital status, protective order status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, work authorization status, pregnancy and the potential or intention to become pregnant, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, status as a victim of domestic, sexual, gender or criminal violence, certain arrest or criminal history records, lack of a permanent mailing address or a mailing address that is a shelter or social services provider, and use of lawful products outside of work during non-working hours.
We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon these characteristics or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Requirements
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- 14+ years of relevant professional experience.
- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in philanthropy or a related field; some prior grantmaking/philanthropic experience is required.
- Prior experience working in nonprofit sector
- Proven success managing people, programs, and budgets.
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and evaluating grantmaking strategies.
- Experience integrating evaluation and learning into organizational planning and practice.
- Prior experience leading through organizational growth and change.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical and project management abilities
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work autonomously as well as within a team
- Commitment to equity and justice in grantmaking, operations, and organizational culture.
- Ability to travel periodically for site visits, convenings, and conferences
- Operates with a deep understanding of equity and values diversity in all aspects of the work.
- Exhibits awareness of and works to address one’s own privileges, biases, and cultural preferences and how they impact collaboration.
- Skilled in building and maintaining authentic relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrates the values of the Foundation, including Excellence, Respect, Humility, Authenticity, and Collaboration.
- A lifelong learner who brings a growth mindset and is energized by contributing to an evolving organizational culture
- Capable of processing complex information and making sound decisions.
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment and manage change effectively
- An empathetic and thoughtful contributor to internal culture-building efforts during a time of growth and organizational development
- Maintains confidentiality in all matters related to the foundation and its stakeholders
- Collaborative, adaptable, and organized, balancing multiple priorities with clarity and calm
- Constructive and solution-oriented, offering feedback with respect and care
- Resilient and steady under pressure, helping maintain focus and perspective
