About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository believes that food is a basic human right, and its mission is to end hunger. Widely recognized as a leading, equity-driven organization, the Food Depository serves as the food bank for Chicago and all of Cook County—working in partnership with a dynamic network of 850 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, community organizations, and other partners committed to ensuring that no one in the community goes hungry.
A Critical Lifeline in the Face of Rising Need
In a region where an estimated 1 in 5 households experiences food insecurity—with families with children and communities of color disproportionately impacted—the Food Depository remains a vital source of nourishment, stability, and hope.
As the effects of inflation and the rollback of federal nutrition programs persist, hunger continues to surpass pre-pandemic levels. In fact, visits to food pantries across the Food Depository’s network have increased compared to 2022, reflecting the urgent and ongoing demand for food assistance.
In Fiscal Year 2024, the Food Depository:
- Distributed the equivalent of 101.4 million meals, serving neighbors through 2.4 million household visits to free grocery partners
- Prepared 433,000 scratch-made meals and sourced an additional 4 million meals from external vendors
- Rescued 17.3 million pounds of food from 389 local retail outlets
- Engaged 26,000 volunteers, who donated over 100,000 hours to repack 7.3 million pounds of food
- Assisted with 1,700 SNAP applications, totaling more than $5 million in benefits
This powerful impact is made possible by tens of thousands of annual donors–individuals and institutions with a deeply rooted commitment to the Food Depository’s mission to end hunger.
Moving Beyond Food Distribution
The Food Depository’s work goes beyond delivering food. As a proud member of the Feeding America network, the organization leads with bold, equity-centered strategies to address the root causes of hunger: poverty, systemic inequity, and structural racism.
Key initiatives include:
- A new state-of-the-art production kitchen, launched in 2024, that enables the preparation of up to 10,000 scratch-made meals per day
- Prepared meal partnerships with BIPOC-owned businesses, creating health-focused solutions and local economic opportunity
- School-based food markets and college pantries supporting students and families
- Veteran-focused food access programs, including nationally recognized food pantries in partnership with VA hospitals
Investing in Community-Led Solutions
With a deep commitment to community voice and localized investment, the Food Depository is channeling more than $14 million into historically disinvested neighborhoods—those with the highest rates of food insecurity.
- 52% of all food is distributed to these high-priority communities
- 100% of partners receive food at no cost, empowering them to allocate resources toward other essential services
A Mission-Driven Anchor Institution
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is a respected leader in hunger relief—known for its compassion, innovation, and deep connection to the communities it serves. Its next Chief Philanthropy Officer will join a purpose-driven team at a pivotal moment, contributing to a legacy of impact and shaping a future where everyone has access to the food and resources they need to thrive.
Learn more about the Greater Chicago Food Depository at chicagosfoodbank.org.
The Opportunity
At this moment of rising need and extraordinary potential, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven leader to serve as its next Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO). This is a rare and powerful opportunity to have impact at significant scale.
The CPO will play a central role in advancing the Food Depository’s mission to end hunger across Chicago and Cook County by strengthening and expanding a $50M+ contributed revenue portfolio—positioning the organization to continue to meet rising need in the years ahead.
Reporting to CEO Kate Maehr and serving as a key member of a healthy, high-functioning senior leadership team, the CPO will lead a team of more than 30 staff, including four direct reports that oversee Corporate & Foundation Relations, Strategic Giving, Response & Annual Giving, and Stewardship Operations. The CPO will also serve as a trusted thought partner to the CEO, collaborating on high-level strategy and stewarding transformational donor relationships.
The Food Depository is currently undertaking a comprehensive Development assessment to identify opportunities for revenue growth, diversification, and deeper donor engagement. Upon joining, the CPO will have the opportunity to lead implementation of the assessment’s findings—setting the vision, goals, and strategy for the next era of fundraising and philanthropic growth.
The CPO will oversee all aspects of fundraising strategy, relationship development, and donor stewardship, working in close partnership with the CEO, Development and Marketing teams, the Board, and external stakeholders to ensure the resources needed to fuel the Food Depository’s ambitious mission and impact.
Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Fundraising Strategy & Execution
- Lead all aspects of the Development function, including strategy, financial oversight, and team management.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive, data-informed fundraising strategy aligned with organizational goals.
- Creatively diversify revenue streams—taking smart, strategic risks to unlock new funding opportunities.
- Provide clear, actionable reports and updates to the Executive Team and Board, rooted in data and impact metrics.
- Stay abreast of best practices, trends, and emerging opportunities in fundraising and nonprofit leadership.
- Leverage thought leadership, communications, and marketing assets to support sustainable revenue generation.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
- Elevate the Food Depository’s brand and impact to deepen local recognition and philanthropic support.
- Build and nurture strong relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and other key funders.
- Partner with the CEO to engage and steward major donors through tailored cultivation strategies.
- Secure new donors while deepening existing relationships through thoughtful and consistent engagement.
- Implement clear moves management and stewardship standards to ensure meaningful donor recognition and impact reporting.
Team Leadership & Management
- Partner closely with the Board, Senior Leadership Team, and staff to drive short- and long-term goals.
- Recruit, develop, and empower a high-performing Development team to reach new levels of success.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture grounded in open communication and shared learning.
- Promote a results-driven environment with clear goals, accountability, and continuous feedback.
- Ensure collaboration between development and marketing functions, including digital and direct outreach.
Relationship & Partnership Building
- Build trust and alignment across the organization, inspiring a shared, co-created fundraising vision.
- Cultivate and expand innovative partnerships that grow the Food Depository’s donor base and amplify impact.
- Collaborate closely with the CEO and Board to align philanthropic strategy and maximize fundraising potential.
- Represent the Food Depository externally at key events, conferences, and public forums.
Candidate Profile
While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following competencies offer a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:
A Transformational & Highly Strategic Leader with Strong Business Acumen
- A transformational and bold visionary with the ability to translate strategy into practical execution.
- A strong people leader with a record of building, developing, and retaining exceptional teams, and developing a culture of driving results and accountability.
- Brings sharp business acumen and a strong grasp of financial strategy—capable of understanding and influencing the organization’s P&L while effectively serving as its “chief revenue officer.”
- Self-starter energized by possibility and motivated to drive ambitious goals forward.
- Able to balance high-level strategic thinking with hands-on engagement in fundraising and stewardship.
An Expert in Fundraising and Development
- Proven ability to close major, transformative gifts.
- Deep knowledge of development best practices and a successful track record in revenue diversification.
- Demonstrated skill in working across donor segments, including individuals, foundations, and corporations.
- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to convey mission and impact with clarity and passion.
An Exceptional Relationship Builder
- Authentic and relational leadership style that builds trust across stakeholders.
- Skilled at cultivating and sustaining long-term relationships with donors, partners, and team members.
- Politically savvy and able to navigate complex, diverse stakeholder landscapes with ease and grace.
A Commitment to the Mission & the Chicagoland Region
- Passionate commitment to the Food Depository’s mission, vision, and future.
- Personal alignment with the organization’s values and its work to address the root causes of hunger.
- Energized by the opportunity to lead with purpose and expand impact across Chicago and Cook County.
- A champion of equity, inclusion, and justice. A leader of high integrity who brings sincerity, humility, and transparency to every interaction.
Location
The successful candidate must be based in or willing to relocate to Chicago, Illinois. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the CPO is expected to work in-person at the Food Depository's offices five days per week.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with the selected candidate’s experience. The salary for this role is expected to range from $250,000–$300,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package.