Jon Hornstein to Receive the 2026 J.J. Greenberg Memorial Award at JFN International Conference

Jon Hornstein, Managing Director of National Grantmaking at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, to Receive the 2026 J.J. Greenberg Memorial Award at JFN International Conference

Jewish Funders Network (JFN) is pleased to announce that Jon Hornstein, Managing Director of National Grantmaking at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, will be the recipient of the 2026 J.J. Greenberg Memorial Award. The award will be presented on March 16 at the JFN International Conference in San Diego, where leaders from across the philanthropic sector will gather to reflect on the future of Jewish life, leadership, and communal responsibility.

The J.J. Greenberg Memorial Award honors emerging leaders in Jewish philanthropy who embody the values and legacy of J.J. Greenberg by demonstrating exceptional vision, integrity, and commitment to strengthening the Jewish community. Hornstein’s dedication to addressing poverty, strengthening Jewish institutions, and expanding access to communal life reflects those ideals in both principle and practice. He was nominated by Rachel Sumekh, Executive Director of TEN: Together Ending Need, in recognition of his transformative leadership on issues of Jewish poverty, inclusion, and community resilience.

At The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Hornstein leads the U.S. Jewish portfolio, overseeing $20–25 million in annual grants and managing more than 80 grantee relationships. His work focuses on expanding economic stability, improving accessibility, strengthening nonprofit infrastructure, and addressing antisemitism across the Jewish community. He has played a central role in developing large-scale initiatives, including a $12 million accessibility partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp, a $5.7 million technology upgrade initiative for Jewish nonprofits, and sustained investments in combating antisemitism nationwide.

Hornstein was instrumental in establishing TEN: Together Ending Need, a national initiative created in partnership with Jewish Funders Network to raise awareness of Jewish poverty and mobilize philanthropic action. Through his leadership, the field has gained clearer data on the scope of economic insecurity facing Jewish households, with research now showing that nearly 29 percent of Jews in the United States struggle to make ends meet. His efforts have helped shift communal understanding, funding priorities, and strategic responses to this long-overlooked issue.

Colleagues and community leaders consistently highlight Hornstein’s humility, integrity, and relational leadership style. Rabbi Etan Mintz of B’nai Israel Congregation of Baltimore described him as someone whose “inside is like his outside,” praising his ethical character, collaborative spirit, and deep respect for grantee partners. Marisa Hayase, Vice President of Programs at the Weinberg Foundation, emphasized Hornstein’s ability to combine strategic insight with genuine care for the communities served, noting his role in strengthening Jewish nonprofit ecosystems in rural and underserved areas, including Hawaiʻi.

Hornstein has emphasized that his work is grounded in the belief that all people are created b’tzelem elokim, in the image of the divine, and therefore deserve the opportunity to live healthy, dignified, and purposeful lives. He views philanthropy as both a learning process and a moral responsibility, guided by Jewish values that connect study to action and insight to impact.