Humanize Your Hiring Process — Here’s Why and How
Mordy Walfish (COO of Leading Edge), Chronicle of PhilanthropyÂ
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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 5Â
Grantmaking Pros Convening / *The Launch of Reboot Studios
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12
 Israel's Never-Ending Election Cycle / Aspire: JFN's High Holiday Program / Reproductive Health After Roe  Â
SEPTEMBER 19 & BEYOND
*Green Funders Forum Gathering / Impact Investing Roundtable / Israeli Philanthropy Conference / Youth Philanthropy Facilitator Training Â
*new event
NEWSÂ
Mission to Ethiopia & Israel / JFN in the Headlines / Training for Board Members /
NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS
Georgette Bennett Appears with Judy Collins / Job Openings /Â Members in the Headlines
FROM THE FIELD (CURATED ARTICLES)
EVENTS
Unless otherwise indicated, events listed are limited to JFN members and those eligible for JFN membership. Eligible non-members must request permission and can attend a limited number of member events.
View upcoming events on our website
All upcoming events (calendar view)
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening
Online: Wednesday, September 7, 12-1:30 p.m. ET (9-10:30 a.m. PT, 19-20:30 IL)
Join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building. Facilitated by Mike Berkowitz and Jaré Akchin of Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies and Tamar Frydman of JFN.
The Launch of Reboot Studios: A CANVAS Conversation
Online: Thursday, September 8, 2-3 p.m. ET (11 a.m.-12 p.m. PT, 21-22:00 IL)
Reboot, a grantee of Jewish arts and culture funding collaborative CANVAS, has recently taken a bold step forward by launching Reboot Studios — an initiative that made headlines in Hollywood a few weeks ago. Join CANVAS, which is incubated at JFN, for a revealing behind-the-scenes discussion with Reboot CEO David Katznelson and two of the major artists whose projects are among the studio’s first investments: producer/director/writer Joey Soloway, creator of "Transparent," and actor/director William DeMerritt.
Can Israel's Never-Ending Election Cycle Be Halted?
Online: Monday, September 12, 12-1 p.m. ET (9-10 a.m. PT, 19-20:00 IL)
With Israelis heading to the polls for the fifth time in less than four years, what can stop this seemingly endless cycle of elections? Join Israel Democracy Institute President Yohanan Plesner in conversation with IDI experts Dr. Assaf Shapira and Dr. Chen Friedberg as they analyze the current state of the November election and present relatively simple reforms that can bring much-needed stability to the Israeli political system.
Aspire: JFN's Annual High Holidays Gathering
Online: Tuesday, September 13, 12-1 p.m. ET (9-10 a.m. PT, 19-20:00 IL)
Read Rabba Yaffa Epstein & Rabbi David Wolpe's new column in SAPIR
Reproductive Health After the Fall of Roe v. Wade: What Role the Jewish Community Can Play
Online: Wednesday, September 14, 4-5 p.m. ET (1-2 p.m. PT)
Join JFN member Lisa Eisen of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies and Sheila Katz of the National Council of Jewish Women to learn what's next in the struggle to protect reproductive health, and what role the Jewish community and Jewish funders can play. This webinar is spearheaded by several JFN members.
New Year, New Opportunities with Green Funders Forum
Online: Monday, September 19, 12–1:30 p.m. ET (9-10:30 a.m. PT, 19-20:30 IL)
Join JFN's Green Funders Forum for a virtual Rosh Hashanah gathering to discuss what's new in the field. We will spotlight new philanthropic climate initiatives and opportunities for action. More details coming soon!
Impact Investing Roundtable
Online: Tuesday, September 20, 12–1:30 p.m. ET (9-10:30 a.m. PT, 19-20:30 IL)
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring JFN members for shared learning and shared action. Each session is facilitated by JFN Board Member Vanessa Bartram of ZORA Ventures.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
The 2022 Israeli Philanthropy Conference
Tel Aviv: Monday, October 31, 13:30-20:00 IL
This in-person event, held primarily in Hebrew, is a partnership between JFN Israel, Keshet-DAF, Committed to Give, the Forum of Foundations in Israel, and the Institute for Law and Philanthropy at Tel Aviv University.
More details coming soon!
Honeycomb Facilitator Training
New York & Online: November 9-10
Attendees will walk away with curriculum, tools, and skills that will enable them to enhance existing Jewish youth philanthropy programs, start one in their own community or seamlessly use philanthropy in their general teen programming. Designed for youth educators, lay leaders, and Jewish organizational professionals interested in building the next generation of changemakers, the training can be joined in-person or online.
A JFN program, Honeycomb is the leading resource for Jewish youth philanthropy.
Open to all!
NEWS
Mission to Ethiopia & Israel November 14-17
The Jewish Agency for Israel, the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, and JFN invite funders to a unique and historic mission.
The story of Ethiopian Jewry has three significant elements – a rich history in Ethiopia, the waves of Aliyah which began in significant numbers in the mid-1980s with Operation Moses, and finally, settlement in Israel. This mission will help us understand how these elements weave together.
This trip is open exclusively to funders to explore our unique role in addressing the challenge of Ethiopian Aliyah and integration into Israel. We will consider what unique opportunities exist for funders in this challenging realm.
In an article about impact investing going mainstream, eJewish Philanthropy's Lev Gringauz noted that "impact" can be defined in different ways and quoted JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny: “For some [private] foundations, investing in Israel will be considered impact because it helps Israel. Others are going to tell you no, just investing in say, Waze or Mobileye is not really impact…there’s not any tradeoff between profit and philanthropic impact.” The article also addressed how two JFN members that offer donor-advised funds (DAFs) -- Jewish Communal Fund of New York and the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego -- are offering impact investing opportunities for their DAF account holders. On a related note, eJP this week wrote about efforts to require investment firms to disclose how they assign environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings to companies.
>>Read JFN's "Guide to Jewish Impact Investing"
>>Attend JFN's next Impact Investing Roundtable session.
Training Opportunity for Board Members
Through in-person and virtual learning experiences, both new and experienced board members will gain the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their roles and the leadership skills their organizations need in the future. Along with comprehensive learning with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management and practitioners from the Jewish nonprofit sector, participants connect and collaborate with other volunteer leaders from across North America.
Applications are due September 12.
MEMBER NEWS
Georgette Bennett: TED, Judy Collins, and More
JFN's immediate past board chair Georgette Bennett appeared with singer-songwriter-activist Judy Collins this week in an American Jewish Archives program about American Jews and refugees (the topic of her recent book, "Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By"). Earlier this year, Georgette gave a mainstage talk about peace-building at the TED 2022: A New Era gathering in Vancouver. Her new book, "Religicide," co-authored with Nobel Peace Laureate Jerry White will be out in November and is available for pre-order on Amazon.Â
Job Openings
The Hadassah Foundation is hiring a Manager of Programs and Communications and a part-time Administrative Assistant. Maimonides Fund is hiring a Director of Special Initiatives, a newly created position that will serve as an in-house consultant to Maimonides Fund's board and program staff, providing the research and strategy necessary to develop new programs and initiatives.Â
In addition, Honeycomb, a program of JFN, is hiring a Community and Special Projects Manager.
 Members in the Headlines
An innovative Boston tavern/beit midrash funded by JFN members Jim Joseph Foundation, Maimonides Fund, One8 Foundation, Natan, the Aviv Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and others, has been featured in JTA and Jewish Insider. As the JTA article explains, Lehrhaus, the brainchild of Rabbi Charlie Schwartz and Sefaria cofounder Joshua Foer, will be a space for traditional paired study of the Talmud and other Jewish texts but will also offer "a full menu of food and drinks inspired by flavors from across the Jewish Diaspora."
Share YOUR News
Share your news, job postings, and non-fundraising events with the more than 4,500 people who receive this newsletter! Submit for consideration two or three sentences, an image, and any relevant links to JFN Communications Director Julie Wiener at [email protected]. We only publish items from current JFN members.
FROM THE FIELD
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The Importance of Childcare and Early Learning Investments
Ilana Dvorin Friedman, eJewish Philanthropy
Charities That Don’t Embrace Common Financial Norms Tend to Outperform Their Peers
George Mitchell, Chronicle of Philanthropy
Do You Think Retaining Employees is Expensive? Churn is Worse
Marc Pitman, Nonprofit PRO