Communications Manager

About the role

Priority will be given to applications received by Thursday, April 30, but applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. ABOUT THE RICHARD L. DUCHOSSOIS FOUNDATION The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation (RLD) was founded in 2022 and launched formal operations in 2024 with a deep commitment to addressing seemingly intractable social problems with imagination and passion. Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation works to improve the lives of families and veterans while cultivating entrepreneurship through data-driven and collaborative funding approaches. The RLD Foundation practices rigorous, listening-centered philanthropy, striving to be a learning-focused organization that continually deepens its understanding of needs and issues within its priority areas. While the Foundation's home and primary focus is the Chicago region, it may consider national efforts that align with its mission, values, and goals. JOB SUMMARY The Communications Manager at the RLD Foundation will build and lead the organization's communications strategies and functions from the ground up, shaping how the Foundation tells community stories in support of meaningful partnership with grantees. The Manager will often apply a journalistic, policy, or issue-based research orientation to craft communication strategies and content that is relevant to government, academic, and nonprofit entities alike. A leading goal is to ensure the foundation operates with openness and transparency in ways that contribute to more meaningful relationships and dialogues with our grantee partners and the communities whom the Foundation serves. With initial emphasis on honing the Foundation's voice, this person will serve as a strategic advisor to the leadership team in addition to personally executing much of the early work across external and internal communications platforms. With responsibility for developing and leading an integrated communications strategy primarily focused on building bridges and trust within the philanthropic and non-profit landscapes, the Communications Manager will advance the RLD Foundation's mission, strengthen its position as an open thought-partner, and amplify the impact of grantee partners. This role oversees communications, including thought leadership content, media relations, digital channels, publications, and executive communications. KEY RESPONSIBILTIES Strategy and Leadership Work with senior leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with the Foundation's mission and program priorities --entrepreneurship, strong families and veterans - grounded in learning, data, research, and grantee and community dialogue. Recognizing the critical role the grantee-funder relationship plays in philanthropic impact, engage in thoughtful and transparent communications methods with the goal of establishing and deepening rapport and mutual trust with key stakeholders. Using the foundation's focus on impact metrics (e.g. not the number of people reached, but rather the impact of a message on trust-building and mission-advancement), establish annual communication objectives, track progress, and report learnings to leadership, Board and the public. Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director, program leadership, and Board on opportunities for community support, message development, positioning, and establishing foundation voice and presence in the philanthropic landscape. Leverage communication as a strategic tool in Foundation grantmaking to build trust, bridge divides and help make meaningful impact possible. In partnership with the Executive Director and leadership team, draft and/or review and edit major external communications pieces, including but not limited to press releases, annual reports, talking points, presentations, team-generated thought leadership pieces, and Q&As. As needed, support spokespersons as needed with preparation and coaching. Build relationships with the communications leaders of the foundation's grantee partners and peer funders to ensure the Foundation is a constructive, collaborative partner on issues important to the communities served. Amplify the work and learnings of grantee partners to raise awareness of issues impacting local communities and the approaches employed to mitigate them. Brand, Messaging and Content Given the Foundation's relatively early stage, further define, codify, and steward the Foundation's brand, narrative voice, and identity across all channels and materials. In collaboration with the foundation's program and data teams, oversee and support the development of compelling content (stories, reports, op eds, blog posts, videos, and presentations) that elevates grantee partners; reflects lived experience, and translates field insights into clear pathways and shared learning. Ensure internal and external messaging aligns with and is reflective of the Foundation's values, mission, stra

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