This important research, developed as part of The Dinah Project, at the Rackman Center, Bar-Ilan University, was recognized for its extensive documentation of atrocities committed on October 7 and its potential to support efforts to pursue justice and accountability.

A Quest for Justice: October 7 and Beyond compiles extensive evidence related to the attacks of October 7 and the crimes that followed. The project was recognized by the selection committee for both the depth of its documentation and the practical ways the research can support legal and policy efforts aimed at prosecuting those responsible. The findings may also contribute to broader global efforts to address similar crimes and strengthen mechanisms for accountability.

Through rigorous evidence collection and analysis, the research provides tools that may assist the Jewish community and the international community in documenting atrocities and pursuing justice for victims.

JFN will be hosting a webinar on May 5, where the researchers will discuss their work and its implications in greater depth. Click here to register.

Click here to read more about this incredible team behind The Dinah Project and groundbreaking research.

For more information about the Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award and the Jewish Funders Network, please visit www.jfunders.org.

Funds available to NGOs helping Israelis deal with emotional and physical trauma will at least double, reflecting growing needs caused by the war with Iran

SAN DIEGO, CA – March 16, 2026 Today, the Jewish Funders Network (JFN) and The Genesis Prize Foundation (GPF) announced a new matching gifts program to support organizations helping to heal Israelis after the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks and the two wars that followed.The Genesis Prize Foundation has committed $1 million to the effort, with members of JFN and other donors expected to contribute at least $1 million more through participation in the match.

When Gal Gadot was announced as the 2026 Genesis Prize Laureate in November, she said, “I am humbled to receive the Genesis Prize and to stand alongside the amazing laureates who came before me. I am a proud Jew and a proud Israeli. I love my country and dedicate this award to the organizations who will help Israel heal and to those incredible people who serve on the front lines of compassion. Israel has endured unimaginable pain. Now we must begin to heal – to rebuild hearts, families, and communities.”

In announcing the matching gifts program, Andres Spokoiny, President and CEO of JFN, said: “Matching gifts are one of the most powerful tools in philanthropy. They inspire new giving, strengthen partnerships, and multiply impact. At a time when Israel’s caregivers are stretched beyond capacity, we must ensure that those who are helping others heal receive the support they need. JFN is proud to steward this collaborative effort, and we call on donors and foundations to join us in meeting these critical needs.”

Conceived by Gal Gadot, the initiative will focus on strengthening Israel’s long-term recovery by investing in the professionals and organizations helping others heal particularly as Israelis work to recover from the trauma of October 7 and navigate the compounded effects of the current conflict with Iran and Hezbollah. Since October 7, Gadot has been a prominent global voice calling for solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people, underscoring the importance of resilience and unity during a time of profound national trauma.

Deep and Prolonged Trauma

Israeli society continues to grapple with deep and prolonged trauma. Thousands of families have been directly affected by violence, displacement, and loss, while communities across the country are navigating sustained stress and uncertainty. Experts warn that the psychological and social consequences will be felt for years.

Long-term recovery depends not only on emergency relief, but on sustained investment in the people doing the healing – therapists treating trauma, educators supporting displaced children, social workers assisting bereaved families, and community leaders holding fragile communities together. Strengthening this human infrastructure is essential to national resilience.

Press Contact:
Ali Karlin, Director of Engagement, The Genesis Prize Foundation m: 267-738-0677 | e: akarlin@genesisprize.org

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.

These Young Adult Initiatives are Part of the “Pioneers of the North” Matching Grant Partnership Deploying $4 million in Philanthropic Support

The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (Israel) and Jewish Federation Los Angeles, in partnership with the Jewish Funders Network, announced the award of $2 million in support to 24 young adult initiatives as part of the “Pioneers of the North” matching grant program. Designed to empower young adult leadership, foster local entrepreneurship, and create high-quality employment opportunities for young people, the program unlocked an additional $2 million in support from JFN members, creating a total investment of $4 million in the field.

Elli Booch, Director of Philanthropy at the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, shared, “The selected initiatives are generating real impact, from strengthening communities of young pioneers, through building local leadership, to creating new opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and shared living. Young people are the primary engine for rebuilding the region and laying the foundation for hope and resilience.”

Aaron Goldberg, Jewish Federation Los Angeles Senior VP and Director of its Israel Office, added, “In the wake of October 7, the Jewish community of Los Angeles mobilized in an unprecedented manner to support Israel. Two years later, strengthening Israel’s North remains a shared priority, and young adults are critical to that future. These initiatives will serve as a catalyst for growth and resilience, and we are proud to partner with the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation and the Jewish Funders Network to bring about this reality.”

Selected grantees Include:

• Dror Israel
• Kedma
• Maoz
• HeHalutz
• Matzpinim
• Shitim Institute
• Habayta- Back to Galilee
• Mefalsei Nativ
• Tozeret Haaretz
• Tzedek Centers
• Bait Balev Metula
• Tsofen-Tashbik
• Basecamp
• Appleseeds
• Tarbut Movement
• Hamiffal-New Spirit
• Itworks
• Hinenu
• Yozma-Leidud Hitchadshut Calcalit
• Bnei Makom Community Network
• Varda Institute – community building
• Link 20
• Ambassadors of the North
• Young Adults of Zar’it

If you'd like to learn more, contact Anat Danis.

Adina Poupko, Executive Director of the Natan Fund, is the recipient of the 2025 JJ Greenberg Memorial Award. This prestigious award honors young leaders in Jewish philanthropy who demonstrate extraordinary leadership, vision, and commitment to the values that defined J.J. Greenberg’s legacy.

Established by J.J.’s family, friends, and colleagues, the award is presented annually to a foundation professional under the age of 40 who exemplifies Jewish values through leadership and innovation. The 2025 award was presented at the JFN International Conference in Nashville.

As Executive Director of the Natan Fund, Poupko has led with creativity and vision, overseeing the foundation’s operations, grantmaking, and member engagement while building partnerships that amplify impact. Her leadership has been especially notable following the events of October 7, 2023, when she swiftly mobilized resources, launched grant initiatives, and created opportunities for grassroots organizations to address urgent challenges.

Felicia Herman, Managing Director of the Maimonides Fund, highlighted Poupko’s exceptional character:

"Adina brings the same deep commitment and joie-de-vivre to her work that characterized J.J. completely. Like J.J., she is a modern Orthodox Jew who is entirely engaged with the non-Jewish world, seamlessly blending Jewish commitment with American cultural savvy. She is endlessly creative, emotionally intelligent, and she fundamentally understands that our work is in service of strengthening the Jewish people."

David Rittberg, Senior Director at Schusterman Family Philanthropies, also praised her leadership:

"Adina is a natural relationship builder and connector. Her humor, curiosity, intelligence, and boundless kindness make her a joy to be around. She has raised the standard of excellence in our field and continues to inspire her colleagues with her authentic, joyful approach to being an extraordinary leader."

For more information about the JJ Greenberg Memorial Award and the Jewish Funders Network, please visit www.jfunders.org.

The Jewish Funders Network (JFN) was pleased to announce that the research project Barriers to Entry: Exploring Educator Reticence for Engaging with the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award (ERA). Led by Dr. Keren Fraiman, Dean and Chief Academic Officer at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, this innovative research was recognized for its critical contributions to understanding and addressing challenges in Jewish education.

Established by Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG) in memory of their late CEO and President Ilia Salita z”l, the award, now given by the Maimonides Fund, grants $15,000 annually to innovative and practical research that addresses contemporary Jewish issues. The 2025 award was presented at the JFN International Conference in Nashville.

Dr. Fraiman’s research 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.

Her work has already impacted educational programming and policy, with presentations across major organizations such as Hillel International, the iCenter, and the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Professor Jon A. Levisohn of Brandeis University emphasized the significance of the research, stating:

“Through her careful analysis, we now understand not just that Israel education is hard—we knew that—but more precisely how it is hard. This is what good scholarship does; it makes our understanding more precise and rigorous. And in that way, good scholarship is fundamental for any intervention that hopes to make a difference.”

Learn more about Barriers to Entry: Exploring Educator Reticence for Engaging with the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict on May 7th at 12:00pm ET.

For more information about the Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award and the Jewish Funders Network, please visit www.jfunders.org.

The Ilia Salita ERA, established by Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG) in memory of their late CEO and President Ilia Salita z”l, awards $15,000 annually to an innovative, accessible research project thatdirectly bears on modern Jewish life and the Jewish communal space.

The award was presented at the JFN International Conference in Tel Aviv, where Dr. Zakai accepted in absentia. Dr. Zakai's study offers critical insights into how young Jewish children in the United States perceive and understand Israel, filling a significant gap in current knowledge. Her longitudinal research, which focuses on children from kindergarten through middle school, has been pivotal in shaping educational approaches and understanding the evolving perceptions of Israel among American Jewish youth.

Dr. Zakai's project stood out among a pool of highly competitive applicants for its practical implications, exceptional research methodology, and vital subject matter. Her book, entitled My Second-Favorite Country: How American Jewish Children Think about Israel, was published by NYU Press and has been acclaimed for its insightful analysis and profound impact on both Jewish education policy and practice.

Professor Jon A. Levisohn, the Director of the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University, lauded the project: “Prior to this project, lots of educators and policymakers had opinions about what children have the capacity to know and think about Israel... Dr. Zakai’s project subjected those assumptions to critical examination, and developed a foundation for the development of better and stronger educational interventions."

In addition to the monetary award, Dr. Zakai discussed her study on a JFN-hosted webinar, especially meant for funders and Jewish professionals.

For more information about the Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award and the Jewish Funders Network, please visit www.jfunders.org.

Watch Kenter's acceptance speech here.

Kenter, a 40-year-old lawyer-turned-philanthropic professional, is responsible for all of Maimonides Fund’s work in Jewish Life and Learning. He holds a lead role in the Fund’s work in not-for-profit mergers and the development of new entities. He held significant responsibility for an emergency loan fund administered by the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund at the height of the pandemic.

“Doron doesn't need to be the center of attention. But when he chimes in, people listen. He speaks with wisdom, care, and humor. He is usually more eager to learn than to teach, but he is also an excellent teacher, examining problems and opportunities from a different angle and perspective than most of us,” said Mark Charendoff, President of Maimonides Fund. “His deep commitments as a Conservative Jew and his background as an attorney combine to make him sharp, detail-oriented, and informed by Jewish history and wisdom. Like JJ did, Doron also prefers collaboration, always seeking out the ideas and input of grantees, colleagues, and thought leaders. He cares for his colleagues, the field, and the past, present and future of the Jewish people.”

The JJ Greenberg Memorial Award was established by his family, friends and colleagues in memory of Jonathan Joseph Greenberg, a young leader in the Jewish philanthropic community who passed away in 2002 when he was just 36. The award is given annually to a rising leader who embodies Greenberg's spirit of leadership and dedication to the Jewish community. 

Kenter was presented with the award at the JFN International Conference in Phoenix today. The conference brings together hundreds of Jewish philanthropic leaders from around the world to discuss pressing issues facing the Jewish community and to share innovative ideas and strategies for creating positive change.

Learn more at www.jfunders.org/jj

Major Jewish organizations are coming together to launch this coalition that recognizes the existential threat and moral urgency of climate change and are committed to taking action.

To date, 20 major national and international Jewish organizations have signed onto the Coalition Founding Statement, demonstrating broad consensus that the Jewish community is ready and capable of taking collective climate action. We invite and encourage you to become a member of this Coalition too. 

In the coming weeks and months, you will be hearing more about JFN's specific climate plan. Long-term, as part of the Coalition, JFN and the North American Jewish community will mobilize our collective power in order to combat the worst effects of climate change.

Coalition efforts are being led by Hazon and will include resource mobilization, identifying replicable ideas, and accelerating the pace of change. Learn more and see the list of signatories here.

"We're excited to be part of this much-needed communal response to climate change, and we're looking forward to working both internally, and with our many members, to reduce our carbon footprint and build a better future," said JFN Executive Vice President Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu.

JFN also addresses climate change by offering free consultations to funders seeking advice on environmental funding and through its Green Funders Forum, a forum made up of funders and professionals at philanthropic foundations who share a common interest in environmental issues. Attend Green Funders Forum's next program on Monday, September 19, at 12 p.m. ET.  The Forum meets four to six times a year, bringing together dozens of funders and foundation representatives from Israel and overseas with experts from academia, the government, and the philanthropy sector for sessions of learning, sharing, consultation, and skill-building in various subjects related to environmental protection in Israel and beyond. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your environmental funding, email gil@jfunders.org.

Watch Green Funders Forum videos here.

Read an article in eJewish Philanthropy about the coalition here.

PALM BEACH, Fla., March 28 — Jewish Funders Network today awarded the 2022 JJ Greenberg Memorial Award to Tova Katz of The One8 Foundation at its international conference in Palm Beach, Fla.

Katz is the 19th recipient of the annual award, which honors foundation professionals age 40 and under who are engaged in grantmaking and have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in Jewish philanthropy.

Watch Katz's acceptance speech here.

As Senior Portfolio Manager at One8, Katz is responsible for sourcing, supporting and managing the Foundation’s Israel Engagement and Jewish Life portfolios, made up primarily of North American-based grantees. She works closely with the leadership teams of her grantees, providing strategic planning and ongoing advisory support. Katz has led the foundation’s research in the area of Israel educational travel for non-Jews, which has resulted in market sizing and best practices used throughout the community. As part of her thought leadership on the area of trips, Katz has supported the convening of organizations and the measurement of trip results.

Katz “deeply believes in leaders ‘on the ground’ and works closely to help empower them to realize their vision,” said Faith Leener, the Founding Executive Director of Base, a program of Moishe House and grantee of One8. “She is a deep thinker and asks probing questions, but she always does this with humility, assuming the best intent of others … Tova treats her grantee partners with deep respect and fosters trust that allows for better work.”

Leener, who nominated Katz for the JJ Greenberg Award, described her as a “true steward of the foundation’s philanthropy. She is incredibly thorough in her research and due diligence and only takes projects on that she is willing to go to bat for 100 percent.”

Ethan Felson, who worked with Katz first when he was a staff member at the Jewish Council of Public Affairs and now as Executive Director of A Wider Bridge, a pro-Israel LGBTQ organization that is a One8 grantee, praised her for her warmth, strategic thinking, and dedication. Katz “has helped me refine and define our mission, articulate a clearer vision, and help us secure resources to reach transformational goals,” Felson said. “She thinks big – and helps others achieve big.”

Katz has served at One8 for almost 10 years. Before joining the foundation, she worked as Associate Program Manager at the Foundation for Jewish Camp. She earned an MBA from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and a BA in history from Columbia University. She is also a Wexner Graduate Fellow and Davidson Scholar. Katz lives in Brookline, Mass., with her husband and four children. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, cheering on her beloved Patriots and Bruins teams, and playing late-night ice hockey.

“I am humbled and deeply honored to receive this year’s JJ Greenberg Memorial Award,” Katz said. “JJ was a relationship builder who made every person he encountered feel truly seen and heard. In the Jewish philanthropic sector, relationships form the cornerstone of our work, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are rooted in trust, genuine curiosity, and empathy. I’ve learned that the chavruta-style relationship modeled in the Talmud, where both parties feel encouraged, challenged, and elevated through honest, open dialogue, can lead to incredible insights and collaborations, propelling our organizations and communities to new heights.”

About the Award

The JJ Greenberg Memorial Award was created and endowed by his family, friends and colleagues as a memorial for Jonathan Joseph Greenberg following his untimely death in a traffic accident in 2002, when he was just 36. The Award is presented annually to a foundation professional engaged in grantmaking, age 40 or under, who, like JJ, has exemplified through words and deeds the highest of Jewish values and the relentless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life. Learn more at www.jfunders.org/jj

Horowitz, age 37, is the 18th recipient of the annual award, which honors foundation professionals age 40 and under who are engaged in grantmaking and have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in Jewish philanthropy.

Watch the award ceremony here.

As director of National and Democracy Initiatives at The Klarman Family Foundation, Horowitz oversees the planning and implementation of the Foundation’s goals in its democracy work, national Jewish portfolio, and other national-level work. As a senior member of the Foundation's program team, Jonathan collaborates on a broad range of issues across all of the Foundation’s funding areas. He also serves on the cross-organizational managers team, where he helps to plan and improve organization-wide learning and development efforts

In his role, Horowitz works to strengthen democracy across several key pillars, among them trust, equal protection, accountability, and community.

“Jonathan is a deep and continuous learner who immerses himself in new issues, drawing on his professional and personal experiences within the Jewish and corporate philanthropic worlds, while also reflecting on the Foundation’s core values and history,” said Beth Klarman, president of The Klarman Family Foundation.

“Without ever putting himself at the center, Jonathan fosters connections, shares generously, invites involvement in collaborative efforts, and seeks to broaden the perspectives at the table,” Klarman added.

Stefanie Rhodes, CEO of the Slingshot Fund, a Jewish nonprofit on whose board Horowitz serves, praised Horowitz for his “ability to toggle between the micro and the macro, to hold empathy for the grantee while maintaining rigor for the grant.”

Gali Cooks, CEO of Leading Edge, is a grantee of The Klarman Family Foundation, but she met Horowitz earlier in his career. "Early on, you could tell that Jonathan is a generational talent - thoughtful and strategic, politically savvy and whip-smart, warm and wise beyond his years... and FUNNY,” she said. “As I've watched him over the years, I have learned a great deal from his insights and posture of curiosity.”

Idana Goldberg, chief program officer of The Russell Berrie Foundation and a longstanding colleague of Horowitz said, “Jonathan's integrity leads him to demand that our Jewish community be the best that it can be. With kindness and patience, he holds people and institutions to these standards, building on the numerous deep, warm, and trusted relationships that he forms.”

“Jonathan skillfully advances the work without dominating, always acknowledging the contribution
of others,” she added.

Jonathan lives in Cambridge, Mass., and grew up in Silver Spring, Md. In addition to his volunteer service for Slingshot, Horowitz also serves on the board of UpStart. Prior to joining The Klarman Family Foundation as a senior program officer in 2016, Horowitz was a vice president of global philanthropy at JP Morgan Chase & Co, managing the firm’s New York metropolitan area grantmaking in the fields of financial empowerment and economic development. Before that, he was a program manager at JFN. Horowitz earned an MPA from New York University and a BA from Brandeis University.

“I am humbled to accept this award that honors the memory of JJ Greenberg,” Horowitz said. “JJ demonstrated that we must work toward expanding who belongs, who is heard, and who is seen as b’tzelem Elokim (in the divine image) within our civic and social fabrics. How we do this work is as important as its substance. Choose proximity and trusting relationships over intellectual distance. Choose humility and vulnerability over certainty. Provide long-term unrestricted capital. Value pluralism while holding steadfast to principles.”

About the Award

The JJ Greenberg Memorial Award was created and endowed by his family, friends and colleagues as a memorial for Jonathan Joseph Greenberg following his untimely death in a traffic accident in 2002, when he was just 36. The Award is presented annually to a foundation professional engaged in grantmaking, age 40 or under, who, like JJ, has exemplified through words and deeds the highest of Jewish values and the relentless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life. Learn more at www.jfunders.org/jj

While best known for its popular PJ Library program of distributing free books to Jewish children, the Springfield, Mass., foundation has impacted Jewish life just as dramatically with Life & Legacy, a groundbreaking fundraising initiative with 63 philanthropic partners in Jewish communities throughout North America.

Scroll down to watch a video of the award presentation and a discussion about Life & Legacy.

Launched in 2012, HGF’s Life & Legacy envisions a future of vibrant, well-funded Jewish organizations and communities, with endowment funding available to provide critical support. Through Life & Legacy, HGF and its partners seek to capture the opportunity available to the Jewish community from the tremendous generational wealth transfer currently occurring.

Over the course of a four-year partnership, Life & Legacy provides training, support, and monetary incentives to motivate Jewish organizations to secure after-lifetime commitments, often referred to as “planned giving” or “legacy giving,” from their most loyal donors in order to build their endowments.

The program’s top goals and priorities are to 1) transform the philanthropic culture of the North American Jewish community so that legacy giving becomes the norm; 2) incorporate legacy giving and strong stewardship practices into Jewish organizational culture; 3) develop camaraderie and respect among Jewish organizations to share the goal of legacy building for the entire community; and 4) provide all donors with the opportunity to be philanthropists by giving them the chance to do something significant for valued organizations that they might never have thought possible.

Key to the program’s success is its use of incentive grants that motivate organizations to have legacy conversations with their most loyal donors and encourages donors to make commitments and legally formalize them in a timely way.

Life & Legacy is “one of the most incredible collaborative programs in modern Jewish times,” says Gideon Bernstein, chair of one of the partners, the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County, in California.

“It has not only been successful for its almost $1 billion of documented future gifts for endowing our communities, nor the vast engagement on a local level in over 60 cities, but it has also created an unexpected byproduct of deep collaboration amongst local community organizations who previously ‘competed’ or didn’t communicate; mutual support between Jewish community foundations and federations across the country; the seeding of new creative scalable initiatives in various communities and most notably becoming a program that helped make Jewish community foundations become much more relevant to their donor bases.”

“With this prize, the funder community recognizes that collaboration is an essential feature of an effective Jewish philanthropic field,” says JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. “We face complex challenges that nobody can solve on their own; that’s why much of our work at JFN is geared toward encouraging partnerships among funders. Life & Legacy is a role model, an inspirational story of funders building long-term, multi-pronged collaborations to address critical issues in the community.”

The Shapiro Prize, awarded biennially by Jewish Funders Network, recognizes alliances of forward-thinking Jewish funders who collaborate to have an impact in their chosen fields of interest. It was established in honor of a JFN founding board member, Sidney Shapiro, who died in 2007, and who was regarded as one of the leading lights of American Jewish philanthropy. Among his many endeavors, he served as executive director of the Boston-based Levinson Foundation, and was a funder for Lilith magazine and the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education. An award with Shapiro’s name has been given by JFN since 1997. The prize was formerly called the Sidney Shapiro Tzedakah Award.

Jewish Funders Network is the global networking organization for Jewish philanthropists, with members in 13 countries worldwide and offices in New York, Israel, and Los Angeles. JFN members’ annual charitable giving is estimated at over $1 billion. JFN grows the size and impact of Jewish philanthropy by connecting funders, empowering individual excellence, and catalyzing collective action. JFN works for a vibrant, meaningful, inclusive, interconnected, creative, and compassionate world.

Learn more about Life & Legacy at jewishlifelegacy.org
Learn more about Jewish Funders Network at jfunders.org

Congratulations to the 15 NGOs, from a variety of areas, including the Arab society, regional entrepreneurship development, impact real estate, and agricultural and food technology, that benefited from the matching grants. Among the winning projects are:

• ALYNovation, a project bringing together entrepreneurs, inventors, and rehabilitation specialists to develop — and then globally market — technology enabling children with special needs to be more independent and participate fully in society.

• A joint project of the Pears Program for Global Innovation and IsraAID, the Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid encouraging Israeli companies to develop affordable, durable, and sustainable innovations in the fields of water, sanitation, hygiene technology, and education technology and field test them in IsraAID’s humanitarian and long-term development operations around the globe.

We want to thank the 22 generous funders who participated in this initiative, including 18 who, as a result of this initiative, made their first-ever gift to an NGO in this sector, and another four who significantly increased their gifts. Of the donors, 12 are Israeli, and 11 are new JFN members!

The Israel impact ecosystem matching grants initiative is JFN’s 19th matching grant initiative since 2004; altogether, these initiatives, in fields ranging from Jewish day schools to women’s empowerment, have generated over $100 million in new philanthropic dollars.

In addition to featuring insights from leading voices in both general and Jewish philanthropy – including Dr. Una Osili (Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy and Associate Dean for Research and International Programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy) and Rachel Levin (President of Fundamental Inc and Executive Director of Righteous Persons Foundation, and co-founder of Reboot) – our sessions and breakout groups gave us a chance to discuss strategies for responding to ongoing crises, including the pandemic, while also prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We also got a chance to try out a new interactive conference platform that enabled us to get to know each other in small-group video chats around a virtual campfire. We’ll be fine-tuning this technology and figuring out new and creative ways to use it at future events, including at our International Conference this March.

Watch conference videos below. And thank you so much to all the speakers, participants, and sponsors who made this event so successful! We’re looking forward to creating more opportunities in the coming year to continue the important conversations we started this week.

The above playlist includes the opening plenary; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Jewish Philanthropy in the West; Strategies for Supporting Jewish Organizations in the New Normal; Panic, Pivot & Transformation: What the Golden Calf Can Teach Us in the Pandemic.

Jewish Funders Network mourns the untimely passing of our board member Ilia Salita. (Donate to the Ilia Salita Memorial Fund here.)

Ilia, the president and CEO of Genesis Philanthropy Group, died today of cancer.

Ilia worked until the very last moment and, as late as last week, he was in contact with us about post-pandemic ideas. He bore his illness with stoicism and grace. To the end, he was unassumingly heroic and generous, never surrendering to self-pity or pessimism. He kept his illness quiet, because he didn’t want this to define him.

A beloved friend and supporter of JFN, Ilia was always ready and eager to help, always advocating for us, and always an example of the type of philanthropy we promote: strategic, kind, mentschy and collaborative.

Community was Ilia's life’s work. He wanted everybody to discover what he had discovered: that there’s joy and depth in being Jewish, even if you grew up far away from our tradition. That enthusiasm animated his work at the helm of the Genesis Philanthropy Group, which became, under his leadership, a strong force for good. In his work, he married the rigor of the engineer to the passion of the activist, and he covered it all with a layer of kindness and good humor.

After graduating from Moscow State University, Ilia started his career in academia before moving into philanthropy, ultimately joining Genesis Philanthropy Group, where he led a significant and highly regarded expansion of the foundation’s work. His leadership touched the lives of countless people across three continents, inspiring the young and supporting the most vulnerable among us.

Ilia is survived by his wife, Irina; his two sons, Joshua and Robert; and his father, Mikhail.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Jewish Studies Department at Ilia's alma mater, Moscow State University (MSU). Checks should be made payable to Jewish Funders Network, with a memo saying “Ilia Salita Memorial Fund.” (Mail to: Jewish Funders Network, 150 West 30th St., Suite 900, New York, NY 10001) Donate by credit card here.

May Ilia's family and all those who loved him be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Listen to Ilia Salita in this 2019 podcast interview with JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny.

Triebwasser, age 38, is the 17th recipient of the annual award, which honors foundation professionals engaged in grantmaking, 40 and under, who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in Jewish philanthropy.

Triebwasser joined the Righteous Persons Foundation in 2016, following more than a decade in the field of journalism. Founded by Steven Spielberg in 1995, the Righteous Persons Foundation has made more than $100 million in grants, funding innovative approaches that help bridge the divide between people of different backgrounds; galvanize the power of the arts, media, and storytelling; preserve Jewish history and traditions and make them accessible for generations to come; build on the Jewish value of justice to inspire social activism; and ensure that the moral lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten.

At Righteous Persons, Triebwasser’s work includes designing and implementing the foundation’s grantmaking and communications strategies, developing and maintaining relationships with grantees and funding partners, and working closely with grantees to design strategic programming, evaluate impact, and think through project and field-related challenges.

“Shayna Triebwasser is a model Jewish foundation professional,” said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, one of the foundation’s grantees, adding that she is “one of the most thoughtful and humble professionals I have ever worked with.”

Rachel Levin, the executive director of the Righteous Persons Foundation, described Triebwasser as “deeply, unabashedly, consistently, wholeheartedly kind.”

“She fundamentally believes in everyone’s human dignity and treats people accordingly – from the teacher who is writing to request funds for a school trip to the head of a major national Jewish organization.”

Levin praised Triebwasser’s “brilliance, warmth, creativity, grasp of complex issues” and “fearlessness,” adding that Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw often tell her that they “can’t imagine doing this work without” Triebwasser.

“I am deeply honored to receive this year’s JJ Greenberg Memorial Award. Working with and alongside our foundation’s many incredible partners, I’m constantly reminded of the power of curiosity and compassion. Those who knew and loved JJ know that he had both in spades, and I will always take great meaning and inspiration from being recognized in his name—especially at an unprecedented time such as this, when empathy is needed more than ever, and when being in real relationship is critical to individual, communal, and social change.”

Before joining Righteous Persons, Triebwasser was senior editor of Los Angeles magazine, where she focused on the people and issues shaping the future of Los Angeles. Triebwasser has a bachelor’s degree in American literature from the University of California, Los Angeles.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jason, and their children Levi (6 years old) and Tova (3).

About the Award

The JJ Greenberg Memorial Award was created and endowed by his family, friends and colleagues as a memorial for Jonathan Joseph Greenberg following his untimely death in a traffic accident in 2002, when he was just 36. The Award is presented annually to a foundation professional engaged in grantmaking, age 40 or under, who, like JJ, has exemplified through words and deeds the highest of Jewish values and the relentless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life. Learn more at www.jfunders.org/jj

About Jewish Funders Network

Jewish Funders Network is the global networking organization for Jewish philanthropists, with members in 14 countries worldwide and offices in New York, Israel, and Los Angeles. JFN members’ annual charitable giving is estimated at over $1 billion. JFN is a community that grows the size and impact of Jewish philanthropy. We connect funders together, empower individual excellence, and catalyze collective action. We work for a vibrant, meaningful, inclusive, interconnected, creative, and compassionate world. Learn more at www.jfunders.org 

Jewish Funders Network awarded the 2019 JJ Greenberg Memorial Award to David Rittberg, Director of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation's U.S. Jewish grantmaking portfolio, in a ceremony on March 18th at the 2019 JFN International Conference in San Francisco.

View video of Rittberg accepting the award >>

Rittberg, age 38, is the 16th recipient of the annual award, which honors foundation professionals engaged in grantmaking, 40 and under, who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in Jewish philanthropy.

"In 2017, as Houston was reeling from Hurricane Harvey, David jumped on a plane to support Repair the World, the Houston JCC, and the local community in mobilizing volunteers to aid in disaster relief," said Lynn Schusterman, Chair Emerita of the Foundation bearing her name. "Three years prior, during Operation Protective Edge, David made a similar decision. Grantees were grappling with how to continue their programs in Israel and communicate with participants' families as the conflict unfolded. Without hesitation, David booked a ticket to Israel, where he developed response plans, called parents, and served as support staff for our partners."

Stacy Schusterman, Chair of the Foundation, praised "David's utter dedication to the Jewish people" as well as his humility, energy, and warmth. "He is also," she noted, "a fierce advocate for respectful, effective grantmaking."

Felicia Herman, Executive Director of Natan, said that "David has a profound emotional intelligence and empathy: he cares about everyone involved in his work, whether they are the funders he loyally represents, funding partners, nonprofit professionals, or program participants."

"There's a particular phrase David uses," said Yoni Heilman, CEO of TAMID Group, "which epitomizes the way he approaches grantmaking. It comes out when I'm sharing a new idea: I pause to look at David, expecting him to question, to reflect, to shift the conversation. He speaks two words: 'Say more.' In that moment, no two words could be more powerful. They make space for the other; they encourage without distracting. They demonstrate an awareness of the complicated relationship between grantmaker and grantee, but cut through it to bring out the best in the other."

In his current work, Rittberg advises Lynn and Stacy Schusterman on how to best leverage their investments in existing organizations and take new initiatives to scale, and spends much of his time working directly with organization staff and board members to help build their team’s capacity, develop long-term strategy, and grow as integral players in common ecosystems. Previous positions include Executive Director at the Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU and Hillel work at The University of Arizona and Stanford.

An avid guitarist, Rittberg grew up dreaming of rock stardom. "I dreamed of following in the footsteps of Jerry Garcia and Duane Allman," said Rittberg. "Decades later, I have yet to play Madison Square Garden, but I'm using the lessons I learned as a young musician to guide me. Great improvisational music is a conversation, and to really connect with your audience and bandmates, you have to listen more than you play. As a foundation professional, I approach my work with the knowledge that the answers to our most pressing questions lie with our grantee partners and the constituencies they serve."

About the Award

The JJ Greenberg Memorial Award was created and endowed by his family, friends and colleagues as a memorial for Jonathan Joseph Greenberg following his untimely death in a traffic accident in 2002, when he was just 36. The Award is presented annually to a foundation professional engaged in grantmaking, age 40 or under, who, like JJ, has exemplified through words and deeds the highest of Jewish values and the relentless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life. Learn more at www.jfunders.org/jj

About Jewish Funders Network

Jewish Funders Network is the global networking organization for Jewish philanthropists, with members in 14 countries worldwide and offices in New York, Israel, and Los Angeles. JFN members’ annual charitable giving is estimated at over $1 billion. JFN is a community that grows the size and impact of Jewish philanthropy. We connect funders together, empower individual excellence, and catalyze collective action. We work for a vibrant, meaningful, inclusive, interconnected, creative, and compassionate world. Learn more at www.jfunders.org 

Braier, Director of Pears Foundation, wins award honoring young foundation professionals.

Jewish Funders Network awarded the 2018 JJ Greenberg Memorial Award to Amy Braier, Director of the London-based Pears Foundation, in a ceremony on March 15th at the 2018 JFN International Conference in Tel Aviv. Braier is the 15th recipient (and the first recipient based in the UK) of the annual award, which honors foundation professionals engaged in grantmaking, 40 and under, who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in Jewish philanthropy.

“When Amy Braier started at Pears Foundation over 10 years ago, we were still in the early years of developing a strategy and structure,” said Sir Trevor Pears, the foundation’s Executive Chair and Trustee. “Amy built the professional infrastructure and identified some of the key areas that we would ultimately pursue in terms of our grantmaking priorities.” Sir Trevor also praised her leadership skills, personal commitment, and vision. “Amy’s contribution is immeasurable. I am so glad it has been recognised in this way, as her quiet and humble manner means she rarely receives the accolades that she very much deserves.”

“Amy embodies grace, intelligence, and thoughtful Jewish values,” adds Sally Berkovic, CEO of Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe. “I have seen her challenge ‘accepted wisdoms’ and provoke discussion in a constructive way that demonstrates that Amy  is not subject to peer pressure.” Berkovic adds, “What I admire about Amy is her ability to do this in the most unassuming and modest way, which suggests a strong inner sense of self and a quiet confidence.”

Amy Braier joined Pears Foundation in 2007 as its Deputy Director, and was promoted to Director in 2012. As well as overseeing the Foundation’s grant-making and operations she leads on its Holocaust education and higher education work, helping to establish the University College London Centre for Holocaust Education, the Pears Institute for the Study of Antisemitism and the UK Task Force on issues relating to Arab citizens of Israel.

Amy has a first-class degree in Classics from the University of Cambridge and a professional background in policy and public affairs at the Parliamentary Committee against Antisemitism and the Greater London Authority. She also has a been a trustee of Limmud and Holocaust Memorial Day.

The JJ Greenberg Memorial Award was created and endowed by his family, friends and colleagues as a memorial for Jonathan Joseph Greenberg following his untimely death in a traffic accident in 2002, when he was just 36. The Award is presented annually to a foundation professional engaged in grantmaking, age 40 or under, who, like JJ, has exemplified through words and deeds the highest of Jewish values and the relentless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life. Learn more at www.jfunders.org/jj

Founded in 2008, the SVF includes a mix of Federations, private foundations, and individual donors working and learning together. With all participants making substantially equivalent contributions and having an equal voice in all decisions, the SVF has developed a participatory and collaborative process that has dramatically amplified the impact of its participants’ philanthropy. Its open and transparent allocations process, guided by a clear overall vision and mission, has allowed the SVF to continually attract new partners to support efforts to create a truly equal and inclusive shared society in Israel.

 “What makes the SVF partnership successful is how different funders, with a broad range of political and policy perspectives, have come together to form a harmonious ensemble,” says Wendy Rudolph, co-chair of the Social Venture Fund. “We share an overarching commitment to the mission of building shared society, but within that mission, each of the partners is actively engaged in shaping the planning, allocations, and evaluation that are the nitty-gritty work of good philanthropy.  We know that we make better decisions when we listen to and learn from each other—rather than just following any one voice.”

Josh Arnow, the SVF’s other co-chair, agrees. “Working together, as a group of roughly 20 partners each year, supported by Batya Kallus, a very talented staff person on the ground in Israel, enables us to be exposed to a depth of knowledge and experience combined with a range of funding opportunities that would be difficult for a single funder to replicate on their own. Every member brings its own knowledge, perspectives and resources to the table: several of us are making multiple trips to Israel every year, gathering new insights and discovering new potential grantees to share with the group, others strengthen connections with the government and local municipalities, while others assist in strategy development or evaluation methods. In this way the SVF as a whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.”

“With this prize the funder community recognizes that collaboration is an essential feature of an effective Jewish philanthropic field,” says JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. “We all tend to think a lot about what funders’ goals are, but neglect the study of how funders can work together on process and structure success. At JFN, we’re committed to calling attention to the most innovative partnerships that are already happening in the Jewish community.”

The Social Venture Fund’s current partners include: Alan B. Slifka Foundation, Alisa and Dan Doctoroff, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Philanthropies, Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation, Fohs Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, DC, Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, Robert and Joshua Arnow, The Klarman Family Foundation, The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, The Morningstar Foundation, The Moses Feldman Family Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, Thomases Family Endowment of Youngstown, Ohio, Wendy S. Rudolph, Gandyr Foundation, The Schocken Foundation, the Rothschild Caesarea Foundation, and UJA-Federation of New York.

The Shapiro Prize, awarded biennially by Jewish Funders Network, recognizes alliances of forward-thinking Jewish funders who collaborate to have an impact in their chosen fields of interest. It was established in honor of a JFN founding board member, Sidney Shapiro, who died in 2007, and who was regarded as one of the leading lights of American Jewish philanthropy. Among his many endeavors, he served as executive director of the Boston-based Levinson Foundation, and was a funder for Lilith magazine and the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education. An award with Shapiro’s name has been given by JFN since 1997. The prize was formerly called the Sidney Shapiro Tzedakah Award.

Shahaf focuses its philanthropy on decreasing inequality in Israeli society by empowering the “young mission driven communities” movement, in which groups of young adults settle permanently in towns and neighborhoods in Israel’s social and geographic periphery and commit to living active community lives. Their activities include joint study, sharing a social vision, and working together to lead significant and long-term change, with the goal of creating equality of opportunity. “These young activists push for change in areas such as education, welfare, and the environment,” explains Dr. Haia Jamshy, CEO of Shahaf Foundation. “Local residents often join their efforts and together they work to transform cities and fringe neighborhoods, and make them a better place to live.”

More than 200 young communities, including more than 10,000 young adults, are active in over 80 urban locations throughout Israel, representing a wide spectrum of sectors of Israeli society, including graduates of pioneering youth movements; religious Zionist young adults; immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union; and young adults from the Jewish and Arab sectors who grew up in disadvantaged towns and chose to build communities in their hometowns.

“What makes this partnership unique and successful is how many players come together to form a harmonious ensemble,” says Shlomit de Vries, CEO of the Ted Arison Family Foundation, a member of the Shahaf partnership. “The lay-leadership, together with the professional staff led by Dr. Haia Jamshy, make this large partnership work. All the partners are actively engaged in constant planning and evaluation. Pooling resources means each philanthropic investment is leveraged. Overhead and administrative costs can be decreased, maximizing the efficiency of our social investment.”

Tova Dorfman, CEO of the Steinhardt Family Foundation, Israel—another Shahaf partner—agrees. “As a partner, we’re a part of something which we don’t believe could’ve been done by a sole foundation or philanthropist,” she says. “Each partner brings to the table a different point of view, a different direction, a different influence on the movement. This was crucial in creating the pluralism of this movement where religious, secular, olim, veterans, Jews, Arabs, Druze, and Bedouins join forces and find their shared social values. Each partner also bring its own strengths to the table: some develop good connections with the government, others assist in evaluation methods or financial tools, some are connected to youth movements and others to Ethiopian olim. Others connect with the right NGOs in the field, with local municipalities, and more.”

Shahaf's partners include: The Naor Foundation, The Ted Arison Family Foundation, The Gandyr Foundation, Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, The Morningstar Foundation, The Russell Berrie Foundation, The United Jewish Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Mario Segal, The Steinhardt Family Foundation, Israel, UJA-Federation of New York, Yad Hanadiv, Shaul and Batia Shani, The Rashi Foundation, The Ness Foundation, The Jewish Agency for Israel, and other anonymous partners.

Each Shapiro Prize is presented by the previous winner, and the 2016 prize was presented by Elisa Spungen Bildner and Rob Bildner, two of the 2014 Shapiro Prize winners. In addition to the Bildners, the 2014 winning partnership also included the Wexner Foundation and the Samuel Bronfman Foundation, who partnered with the Bildners to create the Foundation for Jewish Camp. “This award is about moving the field forward, and encouraging all Jewish philanthropists to question the unspoken assumption that independent decision-making and ‘going it alone’ are the same thing,” explains Spungen Bildner. “In these complicated times, we need collaboration now more than ever.”

“This prize asks the community to stop and recognize that collaboration is an essential feature of an effective Jewish philanthropic community,” says JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. “We all tend to think a lot about what funders’ goals are, but neglect the study of how funders can work together on process and structure success. At JFN, we’re committed to calling attention to the most innovative partnerships that are already happening in the Jewish community, like the 2014 winners who create the Foundation for Jewish Camp, and like the diverse and global group that created the Shahaf Foundation whom we’re honoring this year.”

The Shapiro Prize, awarded biennially by JFN, recognizes alliances of forward-thinking Jewish funders who collaborate to have an impact in their chosen fields of interest. It was established in honor of a JFN founding board member, Sidney Shapiro, who died in 2007, and who was regarded as one of the leading lights of American Jewish philanthropy. Among his many endeavors, he served as executive director of the Boston-based Levinson Foundation, and was a funder for Lilith magazine and the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education. An award with Shapiro’s name has been given by JFN since 1997. The prize was formerly called the Sidney Shapiro Tzedakah Award.

“This is an excellent example of how a consortium of funders can achieve a dramatic and lasting impact that a single funder could not have achieved alone,” said Andrés Spokoiny, JFN President and CEO. “Thanks to the funders’ joint thinking and efforts thousands of children each year experience the joy of camp and have a richer and more meaningful camp experience.”

The new prize recognizes alliances of forward-thinking Jewish funders who collaborate to achieve broader impact in their chosen fields of interest. It was presented Sunday at the annual JFN conference in Miami Beach.

Until FJC was founded in1998 by Elisa Spungen Bildner and her husband Robert Bildner, Jewish camps ran independently or within their religious movements. The Bildners envisioned collaborating with other funders, and received support from The Samuel Bronfman Foundation and The Wexner Foundation.

“We are beyond grateful to the Wexners and the Samuel Bronfman Foundation for their faith in the Foundation for Jewish Camp some 16 years ago,” said Elisa Spungen Bildner, a JFN board member and former JFN chair. “We hope that they, like those we collaborate with now, and those we hope will join us in the future, experience the thrill of knowing that they have had a positive imprimatur on the shape of Jewish life.”

The creation of FJC expanded support for the field and brought long-term vitality to more camps and their programming.

“We are thrilled about JFN's recognition of our leadership in creating the Foundation," Robert Bildner said. "The Foundation's efforts have resulted in over $250 million of investment in the field of Jewish camp, transforming the field.”

Sidney Shapiro was a founding JFN Board member whose philanthropy was characterized as being responsive to pressing societal needs. Shapiro, who died in 2007, served as executive director of the Levinson Foundation, and was an early funder of Lilith magazine, the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education and the chavurah movement.

An award in Shapiro’s name has been given by JFN since 1997, and was previously called the Sidney Shapiro Tzedakah Award.