Manager of Institutional Partnerships

Organization Overview

Nourishing Hope is a Chicago nonprofit working to end food hunger and address its root causes. Founded in 1970, we have evolved from a traditional food pantry into a comprehensive organization providing nutritious food, social services, and mental health support to individuals and families across Chicago.

We support the whole person with with respect, dignity, and compassion through:

• Five food access programs providing monthly groceries—including fresh produce, protein, grains, canned goods and other pantry staples—plus Bonus distributions offering additional food throughout the month.
• Home delivery for older adults, homebound neighbors and neighbors living with disabilities.
• Social services including case management, mental health counseling, job search support, domestic violence intervention, referrals and public benefits assistance (SNAP, healthcare, government forms) for anyone in need.

Each year, Nourishing Hope provides nutritious food and essential support to tens of thousands of Chicagoans. In 2025, we distributed more than 6 million pounds of food, served 50,000 neighbors, and provided more than 7,000 social services, including over 3,400 free mental health counseling sessions.

When you join Nourishing Hope, you become part of a team committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors and strengthening our Chicago communities.

Position Summary

The Manager of Institutional Partnerships manages a mid-tier portfolio of corporate and foundation funders ($10,000+), cultivates new revenue opportunities, and leads corporate volunteerism and employee engagement partnerships. This role also leads the Chicago Marathon fundraising team and supports the broader institutional partnerships strategy through prospecting, proposal coordination, and funder engagement.

Schedule and Locations

This position primarily works out of Headquarters located at 1716 W. Hubbard Street. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. This role has a hybrid opportunity to work remotely 2 days per week. Hours and other onsite location presence may vary based on programmatic needs.

Essential Job Functions

• Major Funder Portfolio Management - Manage a portfolio of 50–75 active funders and prospects at the $10,000+ level, leading proposal creation, submission, impact reporting, and relationship stewardship to meet or exceed revenue goals
• New Lead Identification - Identify and qualify 50 new institutional leads annually related to health and hunger, food insecurity, social services, and mental health services, building a diversified pipeline across corporate, foundation, and community channels
• Corporate Partnership Management - Cultivate and manage corporate volunteerism and employee engagement partnerships, coordinating with program and operations teams to deliver meaningful experiences that strengthen funder relationships and deepen organizational support
• Chicago Marathon Fundraising - Lead and manage Nourishing Hope’s Chicago Marathon fundraising team, including participant recruitment, peer-to-peer campaign support, and donor stewardship to maximize event revenue
• External Representation - Represent Nourishing Hope in funder meetings, community events, and cultivation opportunities throughout the year, maintaining strong Salesforce documentation of all pipeline activity, call notes, and stewardship touchpoints

Qualifications

Required

• A bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of fundraising, business development and/or sales experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office programs and use of relational databases such as Salesforce
• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in the area of corporate and foundation fundraising techniques
• Demonstrated ability in proposal writing for varied proposal development
• Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of corporations and foundations
• Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and networking skills with large groups as well as with individuals
• Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances
• Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective corporate and foundation donors and interact via telephone and in person with institutional representatives
• Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for a diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision
• Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from corporations and foundations
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting
• Commitment to Nourishing Hope’s mission and an understanding of and belief in the importance of food security for all

Highly Preferred

• Experience managing corporate volunteer or employee engagement partnerships
• Experience with peer-to-peer or event-based fundraising campaigns
• Familiarity with EOS/Traction or similar operational frameworks
• Knowledge of Chicago’s corporate and philanthropic landscape

Physical Requirements

• Ability to do sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing
• Manual dexterity to use computer, mouse, telephone, and other standard office equipment
• Visual acuity (with or without correction) to read documents and computer screens
• Ability to occasionally move objects up to 25 pounds
• Ability to occasionally lift, bend, crouch, reach
• Ability to occasionally work on one’s feet for most of the day
• Ability to occasionally engage in prolonged standing and walking
• Ability to occasionally ascend or descend ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like

Pay and Benefits

Salary Range: $63,000 - $68,000 based on experience

Full-time benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Paid birthday holiday
• Employee Assistance Program
• Parental leave
• Language pay
• $250 employee referral bonus
• Free subscription to mental wellness app

Background Check

Because we are a Medicaid provider all applicants who are offered employment with Nourishing Hope will be subject to a background screening. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background screening conducted in accordance with Nourishing Hope policy and federal, state and local laws.

We kindly ask that agencies and recruiters refrain from reaching out. Unsolicited sales messages will be blocked and reported as spam.