Highlights from the 2025 JFN International Conference

We’ve only just said goodbye after an inspiring three days together in Nashville, but we’re already reflecting on the powerful moments and conversations we shared—and looking forward to what’s next.

More than 650 funders, partners, and changemakers from across the Jewish world gathered for JFN’s 2025 International Conference. It was an opportunity to step back, connect, and chart the course forward for our community and the causes we care about.

Throughout the three days, we carved out time for meaningful networking—whether you were a principal funder, a grantmaking professional, or someone looking to spark new collaborations. We shared challenges, compared strategies, and found strength in each other’s experiences.

The conference opened with a thought-provoking and rousing panel featuring Van Jones, Brianna Wu, and Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, moderated by former White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz. Together, they explored how we can lead with courage and integrity at times of polarization and uncertainty.

Day Two featured a moving conversation between Krista Tippett and Yossi Klein Halevi, offering wisdom on faith, meaning, and a way to find answers to the greatest issues facing the Jewish community today. We also heard from a dynamic panel of young Israeli philanthropists, who are reshaping the future of giving in Israel.

JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny closed our final plenary with a powerful call to action, reminding us of philanthropy’s unique role in bringing light into a complicated world. We were also deeply moved by the words of Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose courage and hope continue to inspire all of us.

The energy in Nashville was palpable. We left with new ideas, new partners, and renewed determination.

We’ll be sharing stories, photos, and videos from the Conference in the coming weeks. And if you weren’t able to join us this year, mark your calendar: JFN’s next International Conference is March 15-17, 2026 in San Diego.

Jewish Funders Network Confab Kicks Off in Music City

At Jewish Funders Network Conference, Jon and Rachel Goldberg-Polin Consider What Comes Next for Them

Wednesday, May 7 | Zoom
12:00-1:00pm ET | 9:00am-10:00am PT | 7:00pm-8:00pm IT

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Keren Fraiman, Dean and Chief Academic Officer at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, about this innovative research, recognized for its critical contributions to understanding and addressing challenges in Jewish education.

Barriers to Entry: Exploring Educator Reticence for Engaging with the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict sheds light on the complexities educators face when teaching about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through a mixed-methods approach involving workshops and interviews with experienced educators, she identified key barriers—including knowledge gaps, emotional challenges, pedagogical hurdles, and communal pressures. Her findings offer actionable strategies to support educators in navigating these obstacles with confidence, an area of increasing urgency following the events of October 7, 2023.