ABOUT US

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is dedicated to fostering communities of educated, informed, and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic grant-making and Cantigny Park, the Foundation works to make life better in Chicagoland. The McCormick Foundation, among the nation's largest foundations with more than $1.5 billion in assets, was established in 1955 upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the

Chicago Tribune. The Foundation awards about $55 million a year across five grantmaking program areas.

Cantigny Park, part of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, is the 500-acre Wheaton estate of Robert R. McCormick. It is home to the McCormick House, First Division Museum, formal gardens, picnic grounds, walking trails and a Visitors Center with banquet and dining facilities.

OUR VALUES 

Integrity and Humility

Trust and respect are essential in relationships. We aspire to the highest standards of professional behavior and ethics. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We seek communities in which all individuals have equitable access to the resources, opportunities, and power they need to flourish, and where race and ethnicity are not predictive of life outcomes. 

Individual Rights and Responsibilities

We promote an understanding of both our Constitutional rights, as well as our obligations to others as members of our community.

Commitment to Service and Effective Stewardship

We support people and communities through our service to them. To sustain our mission for years to come, we respect the resources entrusted to us and the intent of our benefactor, Robert R. McCormick. 

Greater Impact and Collaboration

We work with communities to help solve their most pressing challenges. We look to maximize our impact through partnerships and teamwork.

Innovation and a Commitment to Learning

Continuous learning will improve our performance and each person’s ability to contribute.

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation and Cantigny Park provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, individuals with disabilities, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital and housing status.

About the Democracy Program

Our mission is to strengthen democracy in Illinois through informed and engaged citizens and communities, and responsive systems of government. The goals of the Democracy Program are that 1) youth are informed, actively participate in their communities, and have healthy civic dispositions; 2) local journalism is vigorous, independent, and effective at connecting and informing all levels of the democratic system; and 3) public institutions are inclusive, transparent, and accountable to the communities they serve.

Our strategy embodies a deep commitment to racial equity and serving under-resourced communities in Chicagoland. We seek to improve overall democratic outcomes and close the civic empowerment gap by providing resources, creating opportunities, and advocating for policies to address disparities for people of color.   

Opportunity: Consultant, Leadership in Democracy Program

In partnership with The Management Center and Executive Service Corps of Chicago, the Leadership in Democracy program will offer 15 leaders from McCormick Foundation grantee partners management training, executive coaching and a cohort learning experience between January and June 2021. One of the Democracy Program’s goals is to develop high capacity civic leaders, representative of the communities they serve, who invite constituent participation and advocate for and implement inclusive policies. The Democracy Program seeks an experienced consultant to design and implement a learning experience for the second cohort of this program.

The Consultant will be a savvy facilitator with experience building relationships with multiple stakeholders by listening to new ideas, encouraging dialogue, and inspiring people to work towards common goals. The learning sessions created by the Consultant should support developing skills and acquiring tools to address growth areas identified by participants, such as operationalizing equity, staff development, and strategic planning, and other topics that will further build their capacity as civic leaders. The Consultant will review applications from selected participants, meet with program participants individually, and plan and facilitate three cohort learning sessions. This is a part-time position anticipated to spend 90 hours between December 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 (30 hours for each session), and reports to the Program Officer overseeing the Leadership in Democracy Program.

Responsibilities

• Review participant applications and synthesize learning goals 
• Conduct 1:1s with program participants to better assess their needs for the cohort learning experiences 
• Attend two-day Management Center training on January 27^th and January 28^th with program participants and build upon learning from this training for future cohort sessions
• Design and facilitate cohort learning experiences in January, April and June based on participant interests and feedback  
• Evaluate cohort learning sessions 
• Synthesize trends that are affecting participants and recommend how the Democracy Program might better support our partners 
• Meet virtually and correspond electronically with Foundation staff and program participants throughout the engagement

Qualifications 

• Experience participating in or leading a community of practice or network and facilitating adult learning experiences 
• Experience in the nonprofit sector preferred
• Experience with facilitating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts
• Demonstrated commitment to leadership development 
• Excellent strategic thinking, relationship and consensus-building, and project management skills 
• Program design experience 
• Excellent presentation skills
• Exceptional time and project management skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated passion for the Foundation’s values with commitment to deliver results measured against the Foundation’s mission
• Basic computer skills, including use of Microsoft Office Suite
• All offers are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check and drug screening

Required Application Materials

Please submit the following materials online HERE:

• Resume
• Cover letter that includes expected compensation/hourly rate
• Writing sample that reflects your facilitation and/or planning skills