Philanthropic Advisory Analyst

About the role

Crown Family Philanthropies (CFP) is the philanthropic division of Henry Crown and Company (HCC), a Chicago-based, privately-held operation managing business interests and investments. CFP supports the Crown Family's philanthropic and grantmaking endeavors, with more than 50 family members across multiple generations involved in strategic grantmaking.

Responsibilities

• Data Management: Complete accurate and timely database updates, including processing donation/grant records through the internal grants database (SmartSimple) and maintaining updated records on family engagements with CFP and external nonprofit partners through the internal CRM (Quarry).
• Family Liaison: Support process for notifying family of CFP-awarded grants to personal interest areas; manage the philanthropic advisory email inbox, coordinating responses and elevating time-sensitive messages; manage family mail received at the office, as needed.
• Family Eligibility and Engagement Tracking: Maintain records regarding family eligibility and completion of requirements (e.g., directed giving orientation, conflict of interest forms, modules, meeting notes, etc.).
• Data Analysis: Analyze personal giving data to identify trends in interest areas and to inform development of collective engagements and educational experiences; leverage data to opportunistically strengthen broader connection to the family’s collective giving.
• Grants Management: Research and develop grant recommendations, including due diligence on prospective grantees; support occasional grantee relationship management for individual family members with the goal of enhancing efficiencies and organically facilitating family connection to each other and to collective giving; manage diligence process for legacy giving.
• Philanthropic Trends: Conduct research on issues, organizations, and leaders relevant to individual family members' personal interest areas (e.g., democracy, reproductive justice, hunger, animal welfare, sports-based youth development) to inform engagement activities and advise grantmaking decisions; support creation of family-facing philanthropic resources (e.g., philanthropic budgeting, raising philanthropic children).
• Relationship Development and Stewardship: Support advisory relationships—including personal giving and civic leadership platforms—for a portfolio of family members, with the opportunity to grow into full manager of relationships over time.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong, trusting relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, from very senior leaders to junior staff (e.g., HCC staff, nonprofit leaders, family members, legal counsel).
• Asset Development: Support preparation for Advisory Services meetings with family members, including maintaining and updating bespoke philanthropic materials with the goal of enhancing efficiencies in how these materials are prepared and shared.
• Coordination: Coordinate with the CFP team across program areas, operations, strategy, and within the enterprise to ensure cross-functional communication and consistency.
• Collaboration: Create and participate in overall CFP Team activities that advance organizational aims around social impact and family engagement; commit to and actualize the CFP Mission and Values.
• Growth and Leadership: Engage in initiatives that foster team collaboration, including meetings, trainings, retreats, and special projects, taking the lead where interest, expertise, and opportunity coalesce.
• Administrative Work: Assist with management of team agendas, scheduling, calendar management, and other administrative duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate field experience required.
• 2+ years of experience in grants management, administrative support, fundraising, or another client- or relationship-focused role; candidates from adjacent fields (e.g., education, social impact) are encouraged to apply.
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency in database management and CRM systems; experience with grants management platforms (e.g., SmartSimple) a plus.
• Strong data analysis skills with the ability to identify trends and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including family members, senior leaders, nonprofit partners, and internal teams.
• Comfort operating with ambiguity; able to follow established processes while using sound judgment when a situation calls for a different approach.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare clear, professional materials for diverse audiences.
• Discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential family and organizational information.
• Commitment to CFP’s mission and values; interest in and respect for family philanthropy and its role in driving social impact.

Pay

The starting salary range is $83k - $95k. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Schedule

N/A