About the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation
Driven by the values, priorities, and experiences they share as a family, the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation (“the Foundation” or “PPFF”) is a Chicago-based private foundation that represents the family’s passions and interests for creating a positive impact in the world. The Principals include Gigi Pritzker and Michael Pucker and their three daughters, Abby, Jessy, and Maggie.
Founded nearly a decade ago, the Foundation grants ~$7 million annually in support of high-impact programs that seek to transform individuals, families, and communities through innovative, collaborative, and scalable approaches. To date, PPFF has largely focused on three programmatic areas:
- Community Safety: Promoting coordinated restorative justice and violence reduction strategies and interventions that strengthen communities, change the trajectory of people's lives, and allow neighborhoods to flourish.
- Arts, Culture, and Impact: Supporting the expression of art and artists within a framework of social justice, cultural engagement, and audience enrichment through a wide range of arts initiatives.
- Educational Innovations: Working with colleges and universities, especially those with which the family has a personal connection, to support students and faculty to develop interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.
As the next generation becomes increasingly involved, bringing new perspectives, ideas, and areas of interest, programmatic focus is expected to expand to include: Reproductive Rights; Early Childhood; Mental Health; and more.
With an $80 million endowment that is poised to grow significantly in the years ahead, in addition to the next generation’s growing interest and involvement, the foundation is at an exciting inflection point.
The Opportunity
To support the Foundation’s next chapter of growth and evolution, the family is seeking a thoughtful and dynamic leader to serve as the Foundation’s CEO. This is an opportunity to build on the impact and strong reputation of PPFF and take it to the next level.
Reporting to the Principals and leading an existing team of three, the CEO will successfully lead the Foundation into its next phase, resulting in a best-in-class organization and platform for the family’s philanthropic endeavors.
The CEO is responsible for leadership and overall management of the Foundation. The duties and responsibilities of the CEO include, but are not limited to:
- Work with the Principals to design, articulate, and implement PPFF’s vision and strategy with the goal of maximizing impact.
- Teach, guide, and encourage the next generation as they grow into and further define their philanthropic interests and pursuits, inclusive of exploring innovative ideas and approaches to having impact.
- Recruit, develop, and retain a top-tier team that can work with the Principals to achieve their philanthropic goals.
- Develop a vibrant culture of teamwork, active collaboration, deep respect, and results-orientation, reflective of the family’s style and values.
- Develop the appropriate infrastructure, systems, and operational processes, setting high standards for effectiveness, efficiency, and excellence.
- Provide ongoing advice and counsel to the Principals and play a key role in facilitating and developing ideas into clear programs and long-term strategies.
- Oversee budgeting and financial reporting and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Share insights to help drive appropriate planning and well-informed decision making.
- Communicate effectively and transparently with the Principals, staff, and external constituents.
- Serve as the public face of foundation and initiate and engage with the funder and grantee community on collaborative efforts.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate could come from a variety of backgrounds. An interdisciplinary career with chapters in philanthropy as well as other mission-driven sectors would be attractive. Ideally, this leader will have experience in a wide range of leadership settings, with a demonstrated track record of success with management of small, highly effective, and nimble teams.
Although candidates do not need to have subject matter expertise in the funding areas the Principals support, a shared interest for these areas will be important as will the ability to attract and leverage experts to support the work.
While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following offers a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:
A Strong People & Organizational Leader
The successful candidate will:
- Be a natural leader and relationship builder who works well and inspires trust with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Be a humble, empathetic, uplifting, dependable, and team-oriented leader with a high degree of emotional intelligence.
- Have demonstrated success in attracting, managing, and retaining top talent with a diverse set of skills and providing them with a productive work environment and professional growth opportunities.
- Have a proactive, positive, and open communication style, with the ability to provide clear expectations and accountability measures for deliverables while encouraging innovation.
- Bring an understanding of how to build a best-in-class, effective, and efficient foundation.
- Have an organized and structured, yet flexible style.
The successful candidate will:
- Be an authentic, strong, and confident leader with a high degree of humility and a diplomatic style; willing to challenge the Principals, serve as a thought partner, and navigate the personalities and dynamics of a family foundation.
- Be a dynamic leader, enthusiastic about the idea of serving as a ‘hands-on’ manager of the Foundation during a period of transition and growth.
- Have an understanding of when to delegate and a willingness to leverage experts and the broader infrastructure and resources of the family, as needed.
- Be energized by the opportunity to teach and guide the next generation as they continue to become more active participants in the Foundation and further define their philanthropic interests.
- Have the ability to be autonomous, agile, organized, entrepreneurial, and navigate ambiguity.
- Have the judgment to know when to consult the Principals and when to take the lead.
- Have a demonstrated track record of driving results.
An Intellectually Curious & Strategic Thinker with a Results Orientation
The successful candidate will:
- Be inherently curious, with a strong aptitude for translating ideas and goals into clear strategies and action plans.
- Be a strong critical thinker, with a willingness to do the necessary research on complex issues to develop well-informed solutions.
- Respect the diverse ideas, interests, and perspectives of the Principals.
- Have strong project management skills and the desire and ability to execute.
- Have a basic understanding of the underlying rules of foundation finances & the ability to ask the right questions.
- Bring creative thinking and a solutions orientation, with a natural desire to ‘get to yes.’
- Have an approach of continuous improvement, and the adaptability to adjust and meet evolving needs.
Values Aligned with a Commitment to the Chicago Region
The successful candidate will:
- Have a deep commitment to the Chicago region and community.
- Demonstrate a strong belief in the impact effective philanthropy can have on society, with a commitment to advancing the goals of the foundation.
- Be committed to doing the very best they can at all times.
- Have a sense of humor; someone who takes the work seriously, but doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
- Be energized by working in close partnership with a family, and a clear understanding that they are working in service of the Principals’ vision.
- Share similar core values with the family – is gracious, empathetic, kind, thoughtful, and playful.
- Be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, discretion, and values; can be trusted without reservation.
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