School Partnerships Manager

Job Summary

Reporting to the Managing Director of Strategy & Investments, the School Partnerships Manager will develop, implement and manage the day‑to‑day activities of CFF’s direct‑to‑school strategy. This includes overseeing the CFF School Partnership Program, partner activations, school‑based grants and distribution of gifts and experiences. This is a full‑time exempt position paid on a salary basis.

• Oversee a strategy and portfolio of prospective donors to fundraise for direct‑giving and partnership with CPS schools and students; manage full lifecycle fundraising including prospecting, cultivation and stewardship; synthesize schools’ external funding and partnership needs into compelling storytelling via presentations, proposals and marketing packages.
• Identify new, creative ways to engage corporate partners and their employees (e.g. contests, citywide events, cause marketing campaigns, point of purchase); manage partner activation and donations at the school level (e.g. corporate employee engagement events, donation of in‑kind resources).
• Manage and grow the CFF School Partnership Program cohort, working closely with prospective donors, existing partners, and school leadership, as well as CFF and CPS Communications; develop and execute trainings to build school‑based staff’s confidence and skill with raising philanthropic funds and stewarding partners.
• Support and provide oversight to schools in tracking and managing philanthropic grant expenditures, and provide guidance in stewarding funds properly for CFF school‑level philanthropic grants; communicate grant deliverables for select CFF school‑level grants with school teams/leaders and support in completing deliverables.
• Develop and manage an ongoing process to collect data to better assess school needs and understand where external partners and philanthropy could be of the highest impact; create and manage a tracking platform that highlights real‑time needs, gaps and opportunities across CPS to ensure resources are applied strategically and equitably; research and evaluate new partnership opportunities, and match thoughtfully and equitably to school needs.
• Collaborate closely with CPS central office departments to support logistical coordination of experiences, grant‑funded programs at schools, and in‑kind donations including working with CPS warehouse and facilities, etc.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.

• Minimum of five (5) years experience in development, corporate partnership management, fundraising, and/or corporate social responsibility is required.
• Experience tracking and managing philanthropic grants is preferred.
• Experience working in schools or education systems preferred.

• Strong project management, multi‑tasking and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to forge deep relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Fundraising and donor communications.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to think creatively, strategically and operationally.
• Enthusiastic, self‑motivated and committed to excellence.
• Self‑starter who can anticipate problems and develop preemptive solutions.
• Ability to be flexible and to adapt to a continually shifting environment.
• Passionate about making a material impact in the lives of students.
• Ability to think creatively about funder/partner engagement.
• Ability to develop effective and compelling communications for external funders/partners.

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part‑time positions; however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

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