Chicago Food Policy Action Council Seeks Community Fund Program Manager
Posted on December 2, 2022
Position Title:
Community Fund Program Manager
Position Summary
The Community Fund Program Manager will work to build a grant-making program from the ground up, in collaboration with community-based organizational partners, to increase opportunities for local farms and food businesses aligned with Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) values to serve public meal programs and other community food access sites.
Who Are We?
Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) was founded in 2002 as a coalition and became a 501c3 nonprofit in 2011, and added full-time staff in 2017. CFPAC supports, facilitates, and participates in several active networks by providing coordination, communication, funding, policy development, and advocacy support.
Our Mission & Vision
CFPAC co-develops, facilitates, advocates for, and helps implement policies that advance food justice & sovereignty for Chicago and across the region. We envision a food system where residents of all races, gender, and social identities have the right to produce and access food through community-driven, ecologically regenerative, and economically resilient processes. To that end, we specifically focus on dismantling structural racism in the food system and lifting up food policies that support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Please visit www.chicagofoodpolicy.com to learn more.
Objectives You’re Here to Meet!
● Lead the designing and building of a grantmaking program to support local farmers, food businesses, and social enterprises looking to serve community meal programs and cafeteria settings.
● Establish and convene a Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative (GFPI) Community Fund Committee to support RFP processes in development, evaluation, outreach, and awarding.
● Provide ongoing leadership in RFP release and support applicants through the process.
● Lead and facilitate the decision making process for the GFPI Community Fund Committee in awarding.
● Serve as GFPI Community Fund leader and representative for Chicago Food Policy Action Council in award communication, and stewardship of funded projects.
● Complete all post-award data collection and reporting of fund award impacts.
● Establish and convene a Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative (GFPI) Community Fund Committee to support RFP processes in development, evaluation, outreach, and awarding.
● Provide ongoing leadership in RFP release and support applicants through the process.
● Lead and facilitate the decision making process for the GFPI Community Fund Committee in awarding.
● Serve as GFPI Community Fund leader and representative for Chicago Food Policy Action Council in award communication, and stewardship of funded projects.
● Complete all post-award data collection and reporting of fund award impacts.
Community Fund Program Manager Roadmap
Within Your First 3 months
● Design and implement internal grantmaking processes via appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, and reporting
● Develop a guiding Fund Charter for the GFPI Community Fund
● Be responsible for budgets of both specific program implementations and the program area as a whole
● Establish, organize, and convene GFPI Community Fund steering committee to guide development of request for proposals (RFP), proposal evaluation criteria, RFP outreach, and awarding of funds
● Provide/oversee administrative and logistical support for program implementations, including but not limited to processing grants to content delivery partners, ensuring IT resources are in place and accessible, securing meeting space, managing catering, creating agendas and materials, gathering/transporting supplies, documenting and archiving all program materials
● Participate in monthly meetings for the Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative
● Design and implement internal grantmaking processes via appropriate documentation, grant budgeting, and reporting
● Develop a guiding Fund Charter for the GFPI Community Fund
● Be responsible for budgets of both specific program implementations and the program area as a whole
● Establish, organize, and convene GFPI Community Fund steering committee to guide development of request for proposals (RFP), proposal evaluation criteria, RFP outreach, and awarding of funds
● Provide/oversee administrative and logistical support for program implementations, including but not limited to processing grants to content delivery partners, ensuring IT resources are in place and accessible, securing meeting space, managing catering, creating agendas and materials, gathering/transporting supplies, documenting and archiving all program materials
● Participate in monthly meetings for the Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative
Within Your First 6 months
● Establish and manage the process to publish RFP, promote Fund opportunity, receive proposals, and review proposals alongside Community Fund steering committee
● Develop data capturing and management systems to develop equitable design of evaluation/impact assessments
● Provide high-quality contract management, including developing scopes of work, managing invoicing and payment, monitoring completion of contract deliverables, and evaluating partnership success
● Provide outreach communications for GFPI-related trainings and events
● Develop mastery in areas of responsibility outlined in First 3 months
Within Your First 9 Months
● Represent the Community Fund while attending community meetings and other events to build and foster new relationships, while thoughtfully stewarding and deepening existing relationships
● Oversee development of an annual Community Fund report and support promotion of funded projects on social media, the CFPAC website, events, and other media outlets
● Develop mastery in areas of responsibility outlined in First 6 months
Within Your First Year
● Lead the measurement and evaluation of the Community Fund’s impact
● Build connections with aligned funders to identify auxiliary resources and opportunities to collaborate
● Support ongoing capacity building for resource development to grow the Community Fund
● Develop mastery in areas of responsibility outlined in First 9 months
What You’ll Bring
● Understanding of community food systems and small food entrepreneurship
● Commitment and passion to food justice & equity
● Experience in project management
● Experience or familiarity in community development
● Experience and thorough understanding of grantmaking process
● Experience with partnership or coalition building
● Based in Chicago, available for regular in-person meetings and to conduct site visits to prospective and funded projects
● Commitment and passion to food justice & equity
● Experience in project management
● Experience or familiarity in community development
● Experience and thorough understanding of grantmaking process
● Experience with partnership or coalition building
● Based in Chicago, available for regular in-person meetings and to conduct site visits to prospective and funded projects
Bonus If…
● Experience in providing support or technical assistance to small businesses or social enterprises
● Experienced in Community Fund development and coordination
● Experienced in Equitable Finance
● Bilingual (Spanish)
● Experience in providing support or technical assistance to small businesses or social enterprises
● Experienced in Community Fund development and coordination
● Experienced in Equitable Finance
● Bilingual (Spanish)
Desired Competencies
● Self-Starter: Highly self-motivated with a knack to move projects forward independently and on teams
● Judgment/Decision Making: Ability to intuitively make sound decisions when all the information is not
available. Knowing when to engage and when to listen, and how to combine knowledge and context.
● Organization/Planning: Excellent project management ability; able to effectively balance and prioritize
multiple projects and initiatives with various deadlines
● Resourceful: Ability to find efficient and innovative ways to overcome challenges, optimize resources to
improve or create, and present solutions to every obstacle.
● Adaptability: Ability to react positively to change and remain productive in a changing environment. The capacity to change one’s actions, approach, or decisions based on new information or a new situation.
● Judgment/Decision Making: Ability to intuitively make sound decisions when all the information is not
available. Knowing when to engage and when to listen, and how to combine knowledge and context.
● Organization/Planning: Excellent project management ability; able to effectively balance and prioritize
multiple projects and initiatives with various deadlines
● Resourceful: Ability to find efficient and innovative ways to overcome challenges, optimize resources to
improve or create, and present solutions to every obstacle.
● Adaptability: Ability to react positively to change and remain productive in a changing environment. The capacity to change one’s actions, approach, or decisions based on new information or a new situation.
Total Rewards Package
Salary range is $50,000 - $60,000 based on experience and qualifications for the role. CFPAC offers a premium benefits package with Retirement savings, 100% employer-paid health insurance, vision and dental offered.
Generous paid time off, sick time, paid holidays, and team volunteer days.
Chicago Food Policy Action Council is a distributed team, providing individual and team-collaboration work spaces in the Loop and Bridgeport. We host hybrid meetings for staff to attend in-person and virtually.
Generous paid time off, sick time, paid holidays, and team volunteer days.
Chicago Food Policy Action Council is a distributed team, providing individual and team-collaboration work spaces in the Loop and Bridgeport. We host hybrid meetings for staff to attend in-person and virtually.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter tying your experience to specifics in the job description
to Hiring@chicagofoodpolicy.com with subject line “Community Fund Program Manager application.”
Applications received by will be given priority review
to Hiring@chicagofoodpolicy.com with subject line “Community Fund Program Manager application.”
Applications received by will be given priority review
Equal Opportunity Employer
Chicago Food Policy Action Council is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual
orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. CFPAC makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
Chicago Food Policy Action Council is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual
orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. CFPAC makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
We strongly encourage all who are interested to apply, regardless of whether or not you meet all of the listed qualifications! Studies show women and BIPOC candidates are less likely to apply unless they check every single box. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and uniquely talented team reflecting the beautiful tapestry of Chicago and the world. If you are excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t match up perfectly, please consider applying anyway