Opportunity Snapshot: Anixter Center, one of Chicago’s longest-standing human services institutions, is seeking a strategic and steady Vice President of Philanthropy to lead the next era of its fundraising. For more than a century, Anixter has served people with disabilities and the communities around them, and today it reaches more than 7,000 Chicagoland residents each year through over 30 programs spanning disability services, mental health care, employment services, and communication access for people who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing through its Chicago Hearing Society (CHS).

Anixter enters this search with clear direction and real momentum. Under President and CEO Samantha Handley, Anixter has launched a five-year strategic plan (2026 to 2031), opened The Hub, a renovated mental health recovery space in Uptown, and earned national recognition for CHS’s Caption with Intention initiative, including an award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2026, Anixter also completed a comprehensive development assessment and roadmap process with external experts, giving the next Vice President of Philanthropy a well-defined plan, board and executive support, and a mandate to build.

Anixter’s opportunity for philanthropic growth is significant. Anixter has built a loyal base of individual, foundation, and corporate supporters, including a gala that raises more than $300,000 each year, and the organization’s recent assessment confirmed strong potential to grow that support. With a new strategic plan and committed Board and executive leadership, Anixter is preparing to invest in philanthropy at a scale that matches its $18 million operation. The next Vice President of Philanthropy will build the strategy, team, and systems to grow annual philanthropic revenue from nearly $1 million today toward $3 million or more in the coming years, with a longer-term aspiration of $3 to $5 million.

This is a role for a confident, relationship-driven fundraising leader who can command a room, translate the breadth of Anixter’s work into one compelling story, and bring the discipline and consistency to see a multi-year plan through. Anixter is seeking a leader ready to make a long-term commitment and grow alongside the organization over the next five years and beyond.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $140,000 to $160,000, commensurate with experience.

Anixter offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a choice of Cigna medical plans, dental and vision coverage, and a Flexible Spending Account, with coverage available for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents; employer-paid basic life/AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance; a 401(k) savings plan; a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program; and paid time off that includes 15 to 20 vacation days per year based on tenure, plus paid sick leave.