JFN ANNOUNCES PLANS TO OPEN ISRAEL OFFICE

philanthropy network expands its location to Jerusalem

New York—April 3, 2008:  The Jewish Funders Network announced today its plan to open an Israel branch of its office. The decision, made as a result of a request made by a group of Israel-based funders, will allow JFN to better meet the needs of its growing membership in Israel.

“Our ability to open an office in this location marks a new stage of maturity for the Israeli philanthropic community.  It will offer a place for Israel based funders to come together to compare experience, access information, and create partnerships,” said JFN President Mark Charendoff

The organization set a new record of attendance this week at its annual conference which happened to be held this year in Jerusalem.  Members from the US, Canada, Israel, the former Soviet Union, Europe, South Africa and Australia convened for several days of meetings as well as to make visits to the sites of dozens of Israeli-based philanthropic projects.

The strong turnout is just one reason Israeli JFN members believe that a Jerusalem-based office will be able to support significant new growth and partnerships between funders within and outside of Israel.  Members are located in the former Soviet Union, Europe, South Africa and Australia as well as in the U.S. and Israel.

“There has been marked growth in Israeli philanthropy over the last ten years,” said JFN Member, Oudi Recanati, “we are now able to help ourselves and to support projects dear to us on our own and in partnership with other funders worldwide. My hope is that the opening of this office will bring further cooperation between Israelis and the rest of the Jewish world around the pleasures of giving and helping.”

The Jewish Funders Network (JFN) is an international organization of foundations, philanthropies, and funders dedicated to advancing the quality and growth of philanthropy rooted in Jewish values. JFN’s members include independent philanthropists, foundation trustees and foundation professionals.

As the number of Jewish foundations and individual funders has grown – more than doubling in total assets over the past seven years to approximately $30 billion in the United States alone – so has the need for a dynamic international network of philanthropic leaders. With its unrivalled network and ever-growing store of knowledge, JFN provides funders with the means to enhance their intellectual capital, energize their giving, and form powerful new collaborations.

JFN is not a grantmaking organization and has no political agenda or affiliation.