Managing Director, Philanthropy

Managing Director, Philanthropy

Cresset is a firm built by clients, for clients. As an independent, award-winning multi-family office and private investment firm, we are reimagining the way wealth is experienced. Our purpose is to help ensure that both wealth and life are fully optimized—integrated, intentional, and aligned with each client's vision of success.

We provide access to the caliber of talent, ideas, and investment opportunities typically available to the largest single-family offices and institutions. Our approach is personalized, entrepreneurial, and client-first.

Proudly owned by our clients and employees, Cresset was built to endure. We are creating a 100+ year firm—one focused on delivering an exceptional experience, not only for the families we serve but for the team that serves them. Recognized by Barron's and Forbes among the nation's top RIA firms, and as one of the industry's best places to work, Cresset is guided by long-term relationships, shared success, and a belief that wealth should serve a life well lived.

Cresset is seeking a Managing Director of Philanthropy to join its Family Governance, Education, and Philanthropy team. Reporting to the Head of Family Governance, this senior leader will advise ultra-high-net-worth families on philanthropic strategy, grantmaking, family foundation governance, and the effective use of charitable vehicles.

This role requires a sophisticated, client-facing advisor who can help families clarify their values, define their impact goals, develop thoughtful grantmaking strategies, and integrate philanthropy into broader conversations around governance, education, legacy, and stewardship. The Managing Director will also serve as an internal resource for Cresset advisors, support the growth of Cresset's donor-advised fund offering, and maintain strong partnerships across the philanthropic ecosystem.

• Advise individuals, families, family offices, and family foundations on philanthropic vision, strategy, governance, and implementation.
• Facilitate client conversations around values, purpose, family engagement, legacy, decision-making, succession, and rising-generation involvement.
• Help clients evaluate and use philanthropic vehicles, including donor-advised funds, private foundations, charitable trusts, LLCs, 501(c)(3) s, 501(c)(4) s, fiscal sponsors, supporting organizations, giving circles, impact investing vehicles, and related structures.
• Integrate philanthropy into broader family governance, education, wealth stewardship, and legacy planning engagements.

• Help clients develop clear, values-aligned grantmaking strategies, theories of change, priority issue areas, decision-making criteria, due diligence processes, learning agendas, and impact measurement practices.
• Support the design and management of grant portfolios across a range of approaches, including direct service, advocacy, research, capacity building, field building, movement building, systems change, emergency response, and long-term community investment.
• Advise on innovative approaches to impact, including catalytic philanthropy, trust-based philanthropy, participatory grantmaking, collaborative funds, advocacy-oriented giving, impact investing, recoverable grants, program-related investments, mission-related investments, prizes, challenges, and public-private partnerships.
• Help clients assess existing giving, refine focus areas, sunset legacy commitments, deepen grantee relationships, and move from reactive giving to more strategic philanthropy.

• Coach family foundation boards, staff, and next-generation leaders on effective grantmaking, board-staff alignment, governance, grant review processes, evaluation, grantee communication, and learning.
• Support foundation staff in translating family priorities into practical grantmaking processes, board materials, meeting structures, and decision frameworks.
• Facilitate alignment among donors, family members, foundation staff, advisors, nonprofit leaders, and external experts.

• Educate Cresset…