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CME Group Foundation (the Foundation) was created in 2008 and endowed with a gift of $16 million from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Trust (CME Trust). Additionally, CME Trust makes annual contributions to CME Group Foundation to support its grantmaking.  Combined assets of CME Trust and CME Group Foundation currently total over $130 million.  The 2026 grant budget is $6.7 million.

CME Group Foundation strives to empower future generations through education, equipping today’s students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. They will shape the future of the world’s most important industries – including our own – so we give them the tools they need to achieve their full potential, including:

• Providing students from low-income backgrounds the support to succeed in college and their careers.

• Ensuring access to programs and resources in computer science for low-income K-12 students.

• Supporting the early childhood education ecosystem so early learners from low-income communities have adequate resources and high quality classrooms.

• Providing mental health support with a focus on trauma-responsive needs for girls and young women in school and driving efforts towards systems-level change.

• Supporting first generation college students through the CME Group Foundation Scholars program.

The Foundation supports transformative solutions that promote real, measurable impact by:

• Increasing exposure to skills essential for future academic success;

• Developing new programs, and research and development;

• Empowering partners to bring innovative programming to Illinois - often as the first corporate investor; and

• Beyond funding, the Foundation facilitates collaboration by encouraging partners to find creative ways to support tomorrow’s classroom.

CME Group Foundation strategies include:

• Achieving impact through narrowly focused priorities so limited grants dollars aren’t diluted;

• Achieving impact through large, multi-year commitments to organizations with track records of success in Foundation priority areas;

• Leveraging Foundation grants for thought leadership and visibility;

• Maintaining flexibility to make small investments in new organizations and programs to gauge their potential; and responding to Board/Trustee interests through discretionary grants.

Position Summary:

The Director of CME Group Foundation and CME Trust, under the direction of the Trustees/ Board of Directors, provides overall leadership and supervision for the daily operations of the Foundation and Trust including strategic direction, program development, operations, financial management, personnel management, and external and community relations.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Governance, Board Administration and Support: With the Board/Trustees, enables the Foundation and Trust to fulfill its governance function.

• Financial and Legal: In consultation with the Board/Trustees, communicates actions and decisions made with the investment advisor, and the Finance and Legal teams regarding the investment portfolio, regulatory compliance and governance of the Foundation and Trust to ensure their operations under applicable laws and regulations.

• Program Development and Operations: Responsible for implementing the Foundation’s mission and its annual grantmaking goals within Board-approved guidelines.

• Administrative Management: Supervises day-to-day operations of the Foundation and Trust, supervises the administrative assistant.

• External and Community Relations:  Assures the Foundation and its mission is consistently presented in strong, positive images to relevant stakeholders.

Candidate qualifications should include:

• Demonstrated interest in early childhood, K-12 and post-secondary education, expertise in at least one of these areas.

• Senior-level managerial experience with proven ability to strategically lead and manage an organization.

• Relevant leadership experience in the philanthropic, public or business sectors.

• Experience in or knowledge of Illinois and Chicago with an appreciation for their underserved communities.

• Strong track record as a motivator, collaborator, innovator and builder of partnerships.

• Experience in conceiving, analyzing, implementing and evaluating program initiatives in relevant fields.

• An ability to communicate effectively and openly, verbally and in writing, with a broad range of individuals and organizations.

• Ability to secure the trust and confidence of Board members, internal and external colleagues and grantees.

• Demonstrated understanding of the legal, financial and ethical requirements of private foundations.

• Experience with strategic planning, financial management and program operations.

• Willingness to serve as an external-facing representative of CME Group and CME Group Foundation; experience in public-facing roles

• Willingness to travel locally and nationally.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

CME Group is committed to offering a competitive total rewards package for our employees that recognizes their contributions to the business and reflects our long-term investment in their future. The pay range for this role is $0-$0. Actual salary offered will be dependent on a wide array of factors including but not limited to: relevant experience, skills, education and comparison to internal employees (where relevant). Our compensation program also includes an annual target bonus opportunity for all employees, as well as the opportunity to become an owner in the company through our broad-based equity program. Through our benefits program, we strive to offer flexibility, value and choice. From comprehensive health coverage, to a retirement package that includes both a 401(k) and an active pension plan, to highly competitive education reimbursement provisions, paid time off and a mental health benefit, CME Group offers a holistic benefits package for our team and their dependents.

CME Group: Where Futures are Made

CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. But who we are goes deeper than that. Here, you can impact markets worldwide. Transform industries. And build a career by shaping tomorrow. We invest in your success and you own it – all while working alongside a team of leading experts who inspire you in ways big and small. Problem solvers, difference makers, trailblazers. Those are our people. And we’re looking for more.

At CME Group, we embrace our employees' unique experiences and skills to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and valued. As an equal-opportunity employer, we consider all potential employees without regard to any protected characteristic.

Important Notice: Recruitment fraud is on the rise, with scammers using misleading promises of job offers and interviews to solicit money and personal information from job seekers. CME Group adheres to established procedures designed to maintain trust, confidence and security throughout our recruitment process. Learn more here.