About the Driehaus Foundation
Since its founding in 1992, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation (“Driehaus Foundation”) has been committed to enriching the lives of all Chicagoans by improving the built environment, cultivating a robust and diverse arts and culture ecosystem, and supporting investigative journalism that fosters transparency, accountability, and effective government.
Through the Foundation’s work, the legacy of Richard H. Driehaus and his dedication to philanthropy in gratitude for those who provided him with opportunities throughout his life is carried on. The Foundation remains committed to historic preservation, architecture, and investment in the built environment to ensure that urban areas are designed to meet a community’s needs. Central to the Foundation’s work is a belief that the arts play an essential role in cultural life and that investigative reporting and an independent press have the power to improve society.
Mr. Driehaus took deep personal interest in the hundreds of organizations that benefitted from his generosity and believed in giving individuals an opportunity to create their own success. It is this sentiment that contributed to his unwavering philanthropic support of small organizations, many times as their earliest funder. Philanthropy enriched his life immeasurably, and he would often paraphrase Winston Churchill, reflecting that, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
The Opportunity
The Foundation is at an important and exciting inflection point and is growing the team to support the expansion of long-term portfolios in all giving areas.
In line with the Foundation’s ambitious agenda and increased giving, the Senior Program Director will lead the Arts and Culture program and play a key role in developing and implementing program goals and objectives. The Senior Program Director will provide grantmaking expertise and leadership; manage budget planning, oversight, and reporting; develop, manage, and evaluate philanthropic investments; and represent the Foundation and its Directors to existing and prospective grant recipients and other external stakeholders. The Senior Program Director will also lead and manage Program Officers assigned to the Arts and Culture portfolio.
The Senior Program Director will play a key role in identifying, developing, supporting, and evaluating potential grant recipients, partners, and funding opportunities, and communicate potential grants and their impact to the Directors and to the broader field. This work will be done through extensive conversation and network building with current and prospective grant recipients and leaders in the field.