Sol Anderson: President and CEO
Evanston, IL – The Evanston Community Foundation has selected Sol Anderson as President and CEO. Most recently, Anderson served as Executive Director for I Grow Chicago, a nonprofit in the Englewood community that works to eradicate the roots of violence. Prior to that, he served as the Chicago Executive Director of LIFT Incorporated, an organization that partners with parents to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and to build prosperity. Earlier in his extensive career, Anderson served in a variety of leadership roles for the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing, Cristo Rey Community Center and SCORE! Educational Centers. One of his earliest positions included serving as Youth Coordinator for the City of Evanston.
Founded in 1986, the Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) helps Evanston thrive now and forever as a vibrant, equitable and inclusive Evanston, where every member of the community can thrive. Through grants, training, and making connections, ECF enables Evanston nonprofits and community organizations to deliver their mission more effectively. ECF leverages the generosity of its donors so their charitable giving can have the greatest impact on the community.
ECF closed out 2020 with more than $30 million in assets, a milestone for the organization. Shortly after COVID hit the community, ECF created the Evanston Community Rapid Response Fund to support vulnerable individuals and organizations in its community who had been impacted by the pandemic. In just under a year, $4 million was raised and grants of $4.3 million have been awarded to community nonprofits and small businesses.
