Blog

I am writing to share some personal news. After careful transition planning with the Distribution Committee and CFF staff, I have decided to retire from full-time work in the fall of this year, and will be resigning my position as Executive Director of the Christopher Family Foundation (CFF) on October 1.

In my seven years at CFF, we have done meaningful work together, and I’m truly proud of what we have accomplished. With the family’s direction we have:

• Expanded the CFF team: The three members of our team have joined since I became Executive Director. Molly, Carla, and Monica will be staying on to provide continuity and to continue the excellent work they do every day.
• Reshaped the Portfolio: Our determination to focus on the geographic area of Austin, on the West Side of Chicago, has meant that our funding has become more strategic and focused since my arrival in 2018. We have also deepened our support for many longstanding grantees whose tenure runs much longer than mine with the foundation. The work our grantees do in Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Food Security is essential for the well-being of that community and the broader West Side. I have been continually inspired by the depth, strength, imagination, and commitment of our grantee partners.
• Collaborative Partnerships: As part of the Chicagoland Workforce Funders Alliance, Fresh Taste, and the Austin Fresh collaborative, we have built working relationships with other foundations that have helped all of us to serve the community better than we could alone. Our foundation partnerships have taught me so much about what good philanthropy looks like.

All of this gives me great satisfaction as I move on to the next phase of my own career. I am exploring the field of Spiritual Direction, and am designing a class for the newly retired. I will also be providing some consulting assistance here and there, so I will still be active in the faith and nonprofit worlds, but with more time for birdwatching. It all feels like a great gift, which helps to offset any sadness I feel about all the good people I will miss.

With gratitude and excitement,
Clare Butterfield

A Message from the CFF Distribution Committee

On behalf of The Christopher Family Foundation, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Executive Director Clare Butterfield for her visionary leadership. Since becoming ED in 2018, Clare has led our family to even greater positive impact on Chicagoland communities, organizations and the people they serve. We are grateful to Clare for her tenure with us and wish her the best in her well-deserved retirement.

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Over the last seven years CFF has grown in size and in staffing to better support our mission. Even more importantly, we’ve increased our connection to the West Side of Chicago and our collaboration with the philanthropic community in general. Clare’s leadership has helped us focus our vision and prepare for a bright future.

The CFF Distribution Committee will partner with Morten Group, a search firm well-equipped to assist us in finding our next Executive Director. The position description and application information can be found here.

Clare is committed to assisting with a seamless transition as she moves into a Senior Advisor role for a period after she completes her tenure as ED. The remainder of our CFF team will continue their important work supporting the Foundation and our grantee partners. With all of that in place, we look forward to entering Fall 2025 with new leadership, but uninterrupted collaboration.

Thanks to all our partners for the dedication they bring every day to our community. We look forward to working with all of you for many years to come.

Sincerely,
Kelley Christopher Schueler
Chair, Distribution Committee