President and CEO AIDS Foundation of Chicago

President and CEO

AIDS Foundation Chicago

About AIDS Foundation Chicago

In 1985, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) was founded by four visionary Chicagoans who dared to bring dignity and human rights to the forefront of HIV services. Over these past four decades, their legacy has fed a movement that has grown in power and visibility. Today, AFC is a proud national leader on HIV care, housing, anti-racism, and advocacy, and a proud defender of hard-won progress.

Since its earliest days, the HIV movement has bravely confronted powerful interests and dreamed of a day when people living with HIV have justice and care, when there are no new HIV cases, and when people living with HIV will thrive. AFC dreams of an end to homelessness and an end to the structural inequities that fuel both HIV and housing instability. For 40 years, AFC has dared to dream and transcend those that would stand in its way.

To realize its dreams, AFC serves over 8,000 people per year and partners with 60+ agencies to provide critical HIV and housing services. Programs include supportive services for people living with HIV, behavioral health services, and partnerships to mobilize priority communities and address social determinants of health.

Critical housing programs include eviction prevention services, linkage to resources, and rent support for people with chronic health conditions. Additionally, AFC serves as the parent organization to the Center for Housing and Health (CHH), a 501(c)(3) supporting organization. CHH reduces barriers to safe, affordable permanent housing and supports people experiencing homelessness to find better housing solutions.

AFC’s programs and services are shaped by the following key strategic priorities:

• Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL): Leading the statewide implementation plan to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois by 2030.
• Housing as Healthcare: Expanding supportive housing models through CHH that recognize stable housing as a fundamental prerequisite for viral suppression.
• Equity & Justice: Implementing a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Plan across internal operations and external advocacy.
• Diversified Funding: Growing private philanthropy and corporate partnerships to complement government grants.

The Mission

AFC mobilizes communities to create equity and justice for people living with and vulnerable to HIV or chronic conditions.

Organizational Highlights

Founded: 1985

Annual Operating Budget: $44.5 million

Board of Directors: 23

Staff: 110

Headquarters: Chicago

The Opportunity

After over 21 years with AFC, including 12 years as President and CEO, John Peller will step down in December 2026. He believes AFC is poised for new energy and ideas and ready for its next chapter. The Board and John have designed an intentional plan to ensure a smooth transition to his successor.

The need for the right successor is especially important now. AFC serves thousands of people each year and manages more than $40 million in annual revenue, most of it from government grants. At the same time, the organization is working toward ambitious goals: ending the HIV epidemic, reducing homelessness, advancing racial equity, protecting access to care, and responding to a difficult and uncertain public funding environment.

At a time when the federal government has abandoned people living with HIV both at home and abroad, and when real and threatened funding cuts seek to silence dissent and reverse progress, AFC has resolved to keep fighting. This is a rare opportunity for an audacious, transformative leader to continue AFC’s legacy of fortitude and realize the dream of ending the HIV epidemic.

The Position

Reporting to the AFC Board of Directors, the President and CEO will be a visionary, mission-driven executive responsible for the organization’s full administrative, fiscal, and operational leadership. The new CEO will provide strategic oversight for both AFC and its supporting organization, the Center for Housing and Health (CHH), and will be accountable for advancing AFC’s mission and strategic priorities. Essential responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• In partnership with the Board of Directors, provide vision and leadership for AFC’s continued growth and impact;
• Build and sustain a high-performing senior leadership team to advance AFC’s mission and realize strategic priorities;
• Maintain an organizational climate and culture that attracts, motivates, and retains diverse, mission-aligned talent;
• Drive AFC’s role in Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL), ensuring the organization remains central to statewide efforts to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 and beyond;
• Align the efforts of AFC and CHH to maximize impact in health, housing, and policy;
• Oversee the development and implementation of innovative programs that improve HIV health outcomes and reduce racial health disparities.

Fundraising and Fiscal Management

• Oversee the development and implementation of a strategic fundraising plan to diversify current revenue streams;
• In collaboration with the External Relations team, cultivate individual gifts and legacy giving, and develop a successful strategy to increase corporate and philanthropic support;
• Develop and sustain quality, authentic relationships with individual donors, event sponsors, and corporate and private philanthropy funders;
• Oversee annual budget development, fund allocation, and financial controls to ensure fiscal integrity and mission alignment.

Policy and Advocacy

• Oversee AFC’s advocacy agenda, including formulation and implementation of all major public policy positions;
• In collaboration with the Policy & Advocacy team, influence legislative and regulatory public policy and increase city, state, and federal funding in the areas of public health, housing, healthcare delivery, and human and civil rights.

Communications and Community Engagement

• Represent AFC across its diverse constituencies with credibility, gravitas, and a national perspective;
• Serve as a prominent public voice for HIV/AIDS justice and racial health equity at state and national levels;
• Communicate organizational outcomes effectively to diverse constituencies including funders, policymakers, and the public;
• Maintain and deepen relationships with key public health partners including Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and other government and regulatory bodies.

Position Overview

The President and Chief Executive Officer

Reports to: Board of Directors

Leads: A team of 110 staff

Oversees: 5 direct reports

Manages: $44.5 million budget

Lives in: Chicagoland

Professional Requirements

The President and CEO will be a strategic and transformational leader skilled at navigating current threats while setting and executing a long-term vision. They will be community-centered with an understanding of housing, HIV, and public health policy and a clear commitment to racial and social justice. They will leverage strong financial management, operations management rigor, and fundraising skills to advance AFC’s goals and deepen its impact. The ideal candidate will also bring:

• Financial acumen and fiscal discipline to manage risk and ensure sustainability;
• Operations management principles, practices, and policies to maximize human capital and financial resources;
• Executive leadership experience in a complex organization with diverse programs and revenue streams;
• Proven success in leading and effectively deploying cross-functional teams comprised of diverse, talented, and dedicated staff;
• Effective change management leadership through a variety of complex social, economic, and political situations while maintaining focus on strategic imperatives;
• Exceptional relationship management skills through cultivating individual, corporate, and foundation donor engagement;
• An understanding of community health and housing programs and funding models to drive revenue diversification. Experience with Medicaid, Ryan White, and HOPWA programs is a plus;
• Knowledge of the social determinants of health and the intersecting injustices fueling the HIV and homelessness epidemics;
• Persuasive communication and advocacy skills. Legislative and lobbying experience is valued;
• An understanding of board governance best practices and effective committee structures, and a commitment to transparent and meaningful board engagement.

Mission-Aligned Qualities

The CEO will be a skilled communicator, fierce advocate, and inspiring leader who reflects AFC’s values and realizes its dreams. They will be driven by a passion for ending the HIV epidemic and a commitment to racial equity. Essential characteristics include:

• Ability to establish trust and develop credible and compelling engagement with AFC’s priority communities (Black and Latine gay men, Black and Latine transgender women, and Black women);
• Tenacity to lead through funding and public health policy uncertainty while maintaining focus and momentum;
• Genuine commitment to racial equity and motivation to uplift people with lived experience of HIV and homelessness, through the lens of Racism as a Public Health Crisis;
• Unwavering belief in housing as healthcare.

Competencies

The new CEO will be a strategist and organizational builder with the skills and qualities to lead both internally and externally. They will strive toward ambitious goals with resilience and creativity. They will be highly emotionally intelligent and will lead with empathy, integrity, and transparency. The ideal candidate will bring the following strengths:

Visionary & Strategic Thinker

Assumes a long-term view and builds a shared core purpose throughout the organization; influences others to translate core purpose into action/behaviors;

Internal/External Communications

The ability to authentically engage diverse audiences including donors, community partners, elected officials, and movement leaders;

Operational Efficiency

Oversee the development and implementation of operational policies and procedures that create efficiencies to ensure effectiveness across all departments;

Resources Management Optimization

Identify and eliminate redundancies across departments and implement data-driven standards to reduce financial exposure, while maintaining quality service delivery standards;

Decisive & Results-Driven

A decision-making style that centers active listening, humility, and the perspectives of impacted communities;

Collaborative & Relationship-Oriented

Establishes and fosters mutually beneficial relationships, networks, and strategic alliances, both internally and externally, which create opportunities benefiting all parties. Comfortable with dissent and the ability to facilitate constructive conflict within and across teams;

Politically Astute

Demonstrates an understanding of the organizational, governmental, and stakeholder environment in which decisions are made. Effectively navigates complex relationships, competing priorities, and sensitive issues while maintaining professionalism, integrity, and alignment with organizational objectives.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $266,000 – $313,000. AFC’s comprehensive benefits program includes employer-supported health and dental insurance, as well as optional vision, life, AD&D, supplemental, and pet insurance. Additional benefits include a 401(k) plan with a 3% Safe Harbor contribution, Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Location

AFC’s offices are located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The organization supports flexible scheduling and provides hybrid, remote, and on-site models to meet individual employee needs.

Individuals who are LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, people of color, living with HIV and AIDS, disabled, system-impacted, immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply.

Background Check Statement

Please note, McCormack + Kristel will check references, verify employment history and academic credentials, and our clients frequently request background checks before finalizing an offer.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

McCormack + Kristel works only with equal opportunity employers. AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) is committed to providing equal opportunity and supporting affirmative action initiatives in all of our employment practices. AFC does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy and childbirth), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, military service and/or veteran status, marital status, order of protection status, handicap, mental or physical disability (including HIV/AIDS status), housing status, use of social service/support services, genetic information, use or nonuse of lawful products off AFC premises during nonworking hours, credit history, arrest record, criminal history ordered expunged, sealed or impounded or any other characteristic protected by law, and is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with regard to all aspects of employment, including hiring, recruiting, selection, training, promotion, transfer, job assignment, opportunities for advancement, compensation, job benefits, discipline, layoffs, termination, social/recreational activities and general treatment during employment. To ensure these practices are upheld, managers, as well as all AFC employees, are required to complete trainings regarding biases.