OVERVIEW: The Lester and Edward Anixter Family Foundation makes grants in the areas of health, Jewish causes, education, youth, the arts and human services.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.
PROFILE: The Lester and Edward Anixter Family Foundation was established in 1986. It bears the name of the late Lester J. Anixter, a Chicago industrialist, and his late brother Edward Anixter. The foundation is now steered by Steven Anxiter, president of the foundation and Edward's son, and Joann Anixter Silva, Edward's daughter and vice president of the foundation. The Anixters owned Advance Electrical Supply Co., Inc and Englewood Electrical Supply Co. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Lester and Edward Anixter Family Foundation funds grantmaking related to health, Jewish causes, education, youth, the arts and human services.
Lester Anxiter launched the Anixter Center in Chicago, which "provides an array of services and supports for people with disabilities to live, learn, work and play in the community." The family continues to support the center via their foundation. The foundation has also funded a scholarship program, a $2500 scholarship awarded to a student enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited four year college or university.
Grants range from $1,000 to $185,950. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $965,000. Past grantees include Am Shalom Temple, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Children's Museum, Jewish United Fund Metropolitan Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.
The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept proposals.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
CONTACT:
Lester and Edward Anixter Family Foundation
1300 N State Pkwy, Unit 803
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 296-4860