James and Lesley Anixter Foundation
The James and Lesley Anixter Foundation is a private foundation based in Highland Park, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations in the Chicago area and elsewhere.
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation at a glance
In short: James and Lesley Anixter Foundation gave $147K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Illinois. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $146,600
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +5.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,716
- -0.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $430,128
- +50.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (6 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James and Lesley Anixter Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1432 Waverly Road, Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: (847) 291-9009
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James and Lesley Anixter Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($100K). Together the top 10 received $137K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 102 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 6% to New York, 2% to Florida, and 1% to Wisconsin. The filing also lists Connecticut at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is James and Lesley Anixter Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 19 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 47% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 676% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $84K (2020) to $147K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $147K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $100,000 |
| Jewish Council for Youth Services Chicago, IL | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $6,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Association Highland Park, IL | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $6,000 |
| Jewish Community Centers - Chicago Women's Board Northbrook, IL | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $6,000 |
| Am Shalom Glencoe, IL | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $5,500 |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces New York, NY | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $5,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $2,300 |
| Anixter Center - Chicago Hearing Society Division Chicago, IL | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $2,000 |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom New York, NY | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $2,000 |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society New York, NY | To Further the Mission of the Donee | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with James and Lesley Anixter Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $430,128 | $383,705 | $153,970 | $146,600 | 19 | $149,706 | $128,787 | $22,134 |
| 2024 | $285,126 | $120,256 | $140,680 | $139,760 | 18 | $139,775 | $19,475 | $20,306 |
| 2023 | $305,472 | $112,855 | $118,389 | $111,050 | 21 | $114,173 | $8,952 | $17,308 |
| 2022 | $311,411 | $126,993 | $106,622 | $99,400 | 23 | $102,150 | $22,521 | $15,720 |
| 2021 | $290,905 | $54,800 | $99,106 | $92,250 | 21 | $95,091 | $50,785 | $21,450 |
| 2020 | $335,172 | $11,509 | $91,164 | $84,230 | 17 | — | $7,180 | $21,802 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Lesley Anixter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $22K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as community services, youth programs, music, health, and Israel-related activities. For example, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago describes its work as providing resources for food, health care, education, and emergency assistance; Ravinia Festival Association says it enriches lives through music, education, and community engagement; and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society states that it works to cure MS and empower people affected by it.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $146,600. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $100,000, with a median grant of $2,000.
The largest reported grant was $100,000 to Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. Other notable grants included $6,000 each to Jewish Council for Youth Services and Ravinia Festival Association; $5,500 to Am Shalom; and $5,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. The foundation also gave $2,000 each to Anixter Center–Chicago Hearing Society Division, American Friends of Magen David Adom, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Friends of ELNET.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James Anixter as president and Lesley Anixter as vice president.
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation is led by James Anixter, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Anixter
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lesley Anixter
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about James and Lesley Anixter Foundation
How much does James and Lesley Anixter Foundation give each year?
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation gave $147K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $140K across 18 grants.
What is James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's typical grant size?
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $7,716, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James and Lesley Anixter Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does James and Lesley Anixter Foundation give grants?
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Highland Park, IL (3 grants) and Northbrook, IL (2 grants).
Does James and Lesley Anixter Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further the Mission of the Donee" (19 grants).
Who are James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's largest grantees?
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($100,000), Jewish Council for Youth Services ($6,000) and Ravinia Festival Association ($6,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James and Lesley Anixter Foundation?
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation reported $430K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $150K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $22K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James and Lesley Anixter Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as community services, youth programs, music, health, and Israel-related activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James and Lesley Anixter Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's EIN?
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3072091. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does James and Lesley Anixter Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
Circle of Service Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation funds community services, education, Jewish community, and medical research, with grantmaking concentrated in Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois, though it also funds organizations elsewhere. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000 and ranged from $50 to about $1.74 million; it accepts unsolicited pre-applications for community services and for Jewish community requests in Cook or Lake County, but not for the other stated categories or out-of-area Jewish community requests.
Assets
$592.0M
Grants
637
Total Given
$37.0M
Jarvis Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The foundation supports a varied mix of universities, health and research, Jewish community and Israel-related organizations, museums, education, and volunteer-focused groups. In 2025, it made 144 grants totaling $4.7 million, ranging from $100 to $1 million, with a median of $3,600; the largest shares went to organizations in Illinois, Louisiana, New York, and California. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$100.5M
Grants
144
Total Given
$4.7M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James and Lesley Anixter Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-lesley-anixter-foundation-morg_2d3f025fd7ad4ab49f1268ac3467f00e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203072091_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James and Lesley Anixter Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-lesley-anixter-foundation-morg_2d3f025fd7ad4ab49f1268ac3467f00e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from James and Lesley Anixter Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
James and Lesley Anixter Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?