Ne Arc

Northeast Arc Names Jansi Chandler Chief Development Officer

Northeast Arc has named Jansi Chandler as Chief Development Officer. Chandler will be responsible for all development efforts to support Northeast Arc’s mission. She will also oversee marketing, public relations, and volunteer services.

Chandler comes to the Northeast Arc from Cardinal Cushing Centers (CCC) where she served as Chief Development Officer for fourteen years. At CCC she was responsible for all fundraising and development for the organization while assisting the CEO in strategic planning and positioning growth for the $40 million nonprofit with 600 employees serving people with intellectual disabilities.

Since 2006, Chandler has been the Director of Development at Grant Communications Consulting Group, an award-winning publishing, public relations and issues management company. Her focus is providing assistance to nonprofit organizations on organizational development, fundraising and strategic planning.

Previously, Chandler served as executive director for the Department of Community Development in Lynn, obtaining $80 million in federal and state funds for housing, community facilities, and economic development programs. She created the Lynn Community Development Housing Corporation which built 100 infill homes to transform Lynn and its neighborhoods as well as creating the Arts and Cultural District including Lynn Arts, Raw Arts, and the Community Minority Cultural Center. Chandler also oversaw the opening of the Small Business Assistance Center, the creation of the position of Small Business Advocate, and the City Hall information booth.

“Jansi is the perfect person to join our team as our new Chief Development Officer,” said Jo Ann Simons, President and Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Arc. “I have known Jansi for a long time and had the pleasure of working with her when I was President and CEO at Cardinal Cushing Centers. I’m very glad that she was available when this position opened up as her experience aligns perfectly with our goal of continuing to grow our fundraising through philanthropy, individual and corporate donors, and events.”

“I’m thrilled to join the leadership team at Northeast Arc. Grant Communications has worked with the organization for many years so I’m very familiar with it,” said Chandler. “I’m excited to work with Jo Ann again and to deepen my relationships with the staff, board, business partners, donors, and most importantly the people served by Northeast Arc.”

Chandler, who lives in Marblehead, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Connecticut College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University. She has received many awards throughout her career, including the Mass Nonprofit Network Excellence Award in Collaboration and the Mass Unsung Heroines Award. She is a former board president at Girls Inc. and Lynn Community Development Corporation and a former board member for Lynn YMCA and Project Cope.

Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community.