The listings below cover past JFN events in reverse chronological order, going back to December 2015. For videos of past events, visit the JFN YouTube channel.
Legacy Giving 101: What Is It, and Why Is It Important? (First in a Two-Part Series)

JFN invites you to join us for a two-part virtual series on Legacy Giving. JFN members and experts in Legacy Giving Arlene Schiff of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and Sharleen Wollach of JCF San Diego, will share their insights and lead participants in a meaningful discussion on the topic.
For the first program in this two-part series on September 20, 2023 we will talk about:
- What is Legacy Giving and what is a legacy/planned gift? What is the difference, if any, between legacy and planned giving?
- Why is Legacy Giving important to both the recipient organizations and communities, and to the individuals who make legacy gifts?
Part I: "What is Legacy Giving, and Why Is It Important?"
Speakers:
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Arlene Schiff |
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Sharleen Wollach |
Additional Programs in This Series
- Part II: Tuesday, October 24 at 12:00 pm ET/9:00 am PT/19:00 IL - "Increasing Impact Through Legacy Giving"
In Part II of the Legacy Giving 101 series, we will discuss strategies and tools to enhance and increase our philanthropic impact. Diving deeper into Legacy Giving, we will utilize studies that demonstrate what transformational legacy giving can do for the organizations and communities about which we care the most.
Attendance at session 1 is not mandatory to attend session 2, or vice versa.
Impact Investing Roundtable - 9/19/2023

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Featuring
- Master Class: Greg Neichin, Managing Director, Ceniarth LLC
- Investment Pitch 1: Debra Pell, Values^2
- Investment Pitch 2: SoCo by Shali Shalit Shoval, CEO at Domaine du Castel
Burning Issues: Climate, the State of the Nation, and Local Elections

The climate and environmental crisis requires joint and collaborative efforts.
The meeting will focus on the power of our network to impact, including:
- Update on changes in the field in light of the state of affairs in Israel
- Opportunities on the local level
- Sharing funder and foundation actions
- Small group discussions over funders’ dilemmas
Non-JFN members are welcome; please RSVP to Gil Yaacov [email protected]
The meeting will be held online in Hebrew
Zoom link will be sent upon RSVP
Looking forward to seeing you,
Marla Stein, Sigal Yaniv Feller and Gil Yaacov - Green Funders' Forum
ADL / Twitter / X - Emergency Briefing: What's Really Going On

The Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Jonathan Greenblatt will brief JFN members on the unfolding public dispute between the ADL and Elon Musk over efforts to mitigate antisemitism on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms. As the hashtag #bantheADL trends on X and Musk threatens the ADL with a lawsuit, hear from Greenblatt and ADL's Yaёl Eisenstat about this evolving situation, the broader context of rising antisemitism on social media, and what he anticipates to come.
SPEAKERS
Jonathan Greenblatt
CEO and National Director, ADL - Bio
Yaёl Eisenstat
VP, Center for Technology & Society, ADL - Bio
MODERATOR
Izabella Tabarovsky
Senior Advisor with the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center and a research fellow with the London Center for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and with ISGAP.
Special Briefing - Contingency Plans for the Russian Jewish Community

Join us for an invite-only group for a confidential briefing on contingency plans for the Jewish community of Russia. The recent coup attempt showed how fragile the political reality in Russia is and how easily we may find ourselves in a chaotic situation.
Experts will share an off the record glimpse of what's being planned:
- Are there evacuation plans in place?
- Are local communities nervous?
- What is the Israeli government planning with regards to Russian refugees?
- What happens if foreign NGOs aren’t allowed to operate?
Moderator
Marina Yudborovsky
Chief Executive Officer
Genesis Philanthropy Group
Speakers
Ariel Zwang
Chief Executive Officer
The Joint Distribution Committee
Amira Ahronoviz
Chief Executive Officer
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening - 9/13/23

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Jaré Akchin
Vice President & Executive Coach
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Crime and Violence in Arab Society: Preparing for Philanthropic Action

A special Zoom meeting for members of the Forum of Foundations and JFN-Israel
We will receive snapshot of the reality on the ground and present immediate action steps.
SPEAKERS
Adv. Rada Jaber - Expert on Arab society, law enforcement, violence and crime
Tomer Lotan – Former CEO of the Ministry of National Security and former CEO of “Magen Israel”, the national headquarters for the fight against Covid-19
Adv. Amir Bisharat – Director General of the National Committee of Arab Local Councils in Israel
This event will be held in Hebrew.
To register, please fill out this form.
JFN IL Young Funders Forum meets to Discuss Money Messages

Messages about money, whether they come to us directly or indirectly, and how they inform our attitudes and behaviors.
In an intimate and interactive session we will reflect on the values and messages we heard growing up, and how they inform our choices today. This discussion is designed to facilitate more intentional decisions about giving, saving, and spending money, and to articulate the money messages we convey.
Aspire 2023: JFN's Annual High Holiday Program


Register Below
Aspire 2023: JFN's Annual High Holiday Program


Register Below
Aspire 2023: JFN's Annual High Holiday Program


Register Below
Coffee with Sigal Yaniv Feller, Executive Director of JFN Israel, Hosted by JFN West

Bring a cup of coffee and join JFN West on Zoom and hear from Sigal Yaniv Feller Executive Director of JFN Israel on the topic of family philanthropy. Sigal led the expansion of advisory services and the Center for Family Philanthropy at JFN Israel. Previously, Sigal served as the Founding Director of the Green Environment Fund.
Hosted by:
Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, Senior Director of Philanthropic Engagement and JFN West
Debra Feldstein, JFN West Associate Director
Jewish Grantmaking Professionals in LA (JGPLA) 07/19/2023

Join us IN PERSON in Los Angeles for a JFN-members only lunch!
Wednesday, July 19
12pm - 2:00pm
Our Big Kitchen LA - 8657 W. Pico Blvd.
Join JFN for volunteering to prepare hot meals for those in need + learning about the hunger needs in Los Angeles and beyond.
Israel's Original Constitutional Sin: The JFN/IDI Series

Why doesn’t Israel have a constitution? How did this decision by its founders lead to today’s crisis and is there a constitutional moment in the country’s future?
Join us as we hear from experts from the Israel Democracy Institute.
SPEAKERS
Prof. Suzie Navot, Vice President, Research, IDI
Yohanan Plesner, President, IDI
MODERATOR
Yuval Lion
Fighting Hate in Schools through Novel Holocaust Initiatives

The future of Holocaust education is dependent on the Jewish community’s ability to reach the next generation. This is critical not only for the sake of keeping the memory of the Shoah alive, but also to teach broader messages on coexistence and human rights.
Join us as we learn from two novel initiatives that use the example of the Holocaust to teach children and young adults the importance of fighting against hate and bigotry. We will hear from JFN member Elliott Weinstein and Boaz Dvir of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State, a teacher training program for K-12 educators, as well as Lesly Culp from USC Shoah Foundation, who will speak about the Willesden Project, the upcoming film White Bird, and the continued power of storytelling and testimony as we enter a post-survivor era. Our conversation will be moderated by Danielle Foreman, Chief Program Officer at Koret Foundation.
JFN Member Orientation

Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
Veteran members who are looking for a refresher on member benefits and processes are also welcome to come!
Canadian Funders Forum 7/6/23
JFN IL Arts & Culture Forum: Multiculturalism and Access to the Arts

The JFN Israel’s Art and Culture Forum is pleased to invite you to a learning and inspirational site visit focusing on multiculturalism and access to the Arts in Haifa.
Dr. Tal Feder, a post-doctoral student in the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Technion and a lecturer in the Department of Culture, Creation and Production at Sapir College will open the site visit with a discussion on access to the arts.
Later we will meet with local cultural organizations and artist entrepreneurs, including:
Ayman Nahas actor and artistic director, and Lana Zreik Lahham, actress - The New Sard Theater.
Dege Feder, a multi-disciplinary artist, the director and choreographer of the Beta Dance Troupe
Asaf Ron, CEO of Beit Ha'Gefen- Arab Jewish Cultural Center
Participation fee: 120 NIS
(payment link will be sent by mail upon registration)
The event is intended for funders and foundation professionals and will be held in Hebrew. Please RSVP by June 28th
Optional organized ride from Haifa train station
(Depending on the number of participants)
For more information: Adi Goldner, [email protected].
Countering Antisemitism: Navigating the U.S. Strategy's Strengths and Hurdles

Last month, the Biden Administration released the first-ever U.S National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. This new strategy, which was informed by 1,000+ stakeholders across the country, includes over 100 new actions that Executive Branch agencies have committed to take with a year that aim "to raise awareness of antisemitism and its threat to American democracy, protect Jewish communities, reverse the normalization of antisemitism, and build cross-community solidarity." |
Kas ba Kas: The Humanitarian Plight Facing Jews in Ethiopia

Kas ba Kas (Ethiopian Integration in Israel) Peer Network
There are approximately 13,000 Jews in Ethiopia waiting to go to Israel. Some have been waiting at the Jewish compounds for more than 20 years. Their physical situation is often dire, with little work available to them.
Having discussed their complex political reality in our previous meeting, we now wish to get a better understanding of their physical plight, the humanitarian issues, and needs at play.
Join us as we seek to gain a better understanding of the situation on the ground in Ethiopia vis-à-vis the Jewish community.
SPEAKERS
Jeremy Feit is the volunteer President of SSEJ (Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry) since founding it in 2000. SSEJ’s Founding Honorary Chairman was Elie Wiesel and its current Honorary Chairman is Senator Joseph Lieberman. As President, Jeremy oversees SSEJ’s role as by far the largest provider of aid to the malnourished Jews in Ethiopia. SSEJ distributes over 2.5 million meals a year, runs a school for over 2,500 students and recently opened a medical clinic treating 3,300 children.
Negusi Alemu was born in Northern Ethiopia. After his family made aliyah he was separated from them for many years until Israel finally allowed him to make aliyah as well. He received degrees in Israel where he worked in education before returning to Ethiopia six years ago to run humanitarian programs and the local synagogue.
Dr. Arthur Eidelman trained in pediatrics and neonatology at Yale. He established the first Department of Neonatology in Israel at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center and is considered the “founding father” of neonatal medicine in Israel. Dr. Eidelman chaired the Department of Pediatrics at Shaare Zedek and was a Professor of Pediatrics at Ben Gurion University and Hebrew University. He served as International Editor of the Journal of Perinatology and Editor-in-Chief of the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Dr. Eidelman has extensive experience with the Jewish community in Ethiopia. He led nutritional surveys of the community which resulted in published peer reviewed articles. Dr. Eidelman recently returned from Ethiopia with physicians from Hadassah and Sha'aray Tzedek in conjunction with the opening of the SSEJ clinic serving 3300 Ethiopian Jewish children.
Howard Rieger had a four-decade career as a Jewish community organization professional: 11 years at the Cleveland Jewish Federation, concluding as their Operations Director; 24 years as President/CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, and 5 years as New York City-based President/CEO of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). During his federation tenure, Rieger was actively engaged in fundraising for Operations Moses and Solomon, the latter of which was facilitated by Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Asher Naim, with whom Rieger had a long personal relationship dating back to 1975. While at JFNA, he conceived of and was responsible for launching Operation Promise, which raised millions of dollars to enhance the aliyah and klitah of Ethiopian Jews. In retirement, Rieger has worked to raise funds to sustain the Beta Israel residing in Addis Ababa and Gondar, waiting, sometimes for decades, to join their community in Israel.
MODERATOR
Adina Shapiro is a partner at Israel’s leading law firm Herzog Fox Neeman, specializing in M&A high -tech and cross border transactions. Adina also chairs the firm's diversity committee, co-heads the firms Impact Investing practice. Adina serves on the board of directors of Bader Philanthropies and has founded and headed several associations and other philanthropic activities in both the Jewish and Arab sectors. Among other activities, Adina is an officer of the M&A committee of the International Bar Association, is a member of the Israeli board of the Jewish Funders Network, chairs the board Israeli friends of the Israel Museum and sits on boards of several other public committees. Also served as former board chair of the Jerusalem International YMCA and former chair of the board of Between Heaven and Earth (a Jerusalem based contemporary dance company).
Impact Investing Roundtable - 6/20/2023

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Featuring
Master Class: Innovating for Women's Health Equity - Michal Shalem and Michal Lebenthal Andreson
Investment Pitch 1: Sonia Cummings - ReSeed
Investment Pitch 2: TBA
JFN IL: Gender Giving Forum- Gender Violence in Israeli Society

The Gender Giving Forum invites members of the network to an in-depth learning session on gender violence.
Gender violence is a severe social issue evident across all parts of Israeli society, in which women, children, the family and society as a whole are harmed.
The extent of the phenomenon in Israeli society requires a comprehensive discussion on the social, legal and economic implications.
We will learn about multi-sectoral intervention programs and explore the unique response that the philanthropic community can give in terms of prevention, policy change and eradicating the phenomenon.
Location: Jerusalem
JFN IL: Israel’s State Budget 2023-2024 – What is Important For Us to Understand?

This meeting will be held in Hebrew.
JFN and the Forum of Foundations in Israel invite you to a professional briefing on zoom with Nir Kaidar, Director General of the Taub Center and former Head of the Strategic and Economic Planning at the Ministry of Health and Senior Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs.
Nir will present us with an analysis of the current budget from a socioeconomic perspective and will discuss the implications, challenges, and opportunities of the budget on philanthropy and civil society, followed by a Q&A.
In the second part of the meeting, Michal Argaman-Ron, Adv. Leader of Policy Research Program at the Institute for Law and Philanthropy, will address the implications of the proposed taxation law targeting foreign funding for NGOs - should it be proposed again.
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening - 6/14/23

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Jaré Akchin
Vice President & Executive Coach
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Climate Philanthropy in Action - 1st Site Visit

ًWhat’s the connection between Shoresh Sandals, solar energy, and philanthropy-government-business partnership?
The Green Funders’ Forum (GFF) is pleased to invite you to a series of learning and inspirational site visits on climate philanthropy.
The first site visit will take place on TUESDAY | June 13 | 8:30 am - 6:30 pm IL
RSVP here
The site visit includes:
- Start Up Nature- rewilding nature to adapt to climate change and generate local economy.
- 100% solar Shoresh Sandal factory, and a discussion on the unique philanthropy-government-business partnerships in transitioning to clean energy.
- Lunch hosted by JFN member Yoki Gill
Organized ride from Tel Aviv (optional ride from Jerusalem depending on the number of participants)
The site visit will be held in Hebrew and is open to funders and foundation professionals upon RSVP until June 8.
Space is limited and will be on a first-come basis.
Participation Fee: 100 NIS
RSVP here
A Morning Reading of Ethical Tribing with Joanna Landau in New York

We are proud to share a new, international best-seller by JFN member Joanna Landau: "Ethical Tribing: Connecting the Next Generation to Israel in the Digital Era." The book focuses on how to successfully counter one of the greatest threats facing the Jewish people: a younger generation that is becoming increasingly disconnected to their Jewish identity and Israel; and how to address this through social media and digital influencers.
Joanna Landau is Chair of the Board of Vibe Israel, the nonprofit she founded that pioneered harnessing the power of digital influencers to share Israel’s story with the world. She is on a book tour throughout the US, including stops in the cities below.
To join this event, or any of the events listed below, please contact Becca Hurowitz at [email protected].
- June 1, 6:30 pm, Beverly Hills, CA
- June 3, 5-7 pm, Chicago, IL
- June 6, 5-7 pm, Toronto, ON
Matters of the Art at Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Please join us for CANVAS's first IN-PERSON Matters of the Art gathering in Boston on June 8 from 2:00-5:00pm EDT
This event is invitation only.
Matters of the Art at Museum of Fine Arts Boston
We’ll sample the best of Jewish arts and culture from Boston, presented by JArts (Jewish Arts Collaborative) and CJP (Combined Jewish Philanthropies) who have combined forces to make their city a leader in the sector with their Arts and Culture Community Grants and the Community Creative Fellowship. In addition, we will be treated to a private tour of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Judaica Collection at the MFA Boston.
Guest Artists:
Musician Guy Mendilow
Literary performer, actor & educator, Regie Gibson
Dancer and choreographer Rachel Linsky
Guest Presenters:
Museum of Fine Arts Boston Director Matthew Teitelbaum
Jewish Arts Collaborative Executive Director Laura Conrad Mandel
Combined Jewish Philanthropies CEO Rabbi Marc Baker
Combined Jewish Philanthropies Director of Arts & Culture Sophie Krentzman
This fun and inspiring opportunity to join the CANVAS community in-person is co-sponsored by:
About CANVAS
CANVAS is a collaborative fund dedicated to elevating the ecosystem of Jewish arts and culture. This work is done through strategic grantmaking, field advocacy, and immersive educational opportunities for funders of the arts and those who would like to be. Matters of the Art is a CANVAS/JFN funder group dedicated to exploring trends, opportunities, and gaps in the field of Jewish arts and culture.
Sign up here for the CANVAS Compendium, a weekly newsletter on Jewish arts and culture.
Innovation Diplomacy Through Climate Tech: A Conversation With Avi Hasson, Start Up Nation Central

Please join us for cocktails and conversation with Avi Hasson, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, on Wednesday, June 7th. Avi will explore latest developments in Israeli climate tech and its role in establishing and solidifying the Abraham Accords. Avi, a titan of Israeli high tech, will share insights on how innovations in climate and sustainability have helped advance relations with Israel’s new regional allies over the common cause of combatting climate change. Avi will be in conversation with Carly Maisel, Global CEO of the Kirsh Foundation.
RSVP by Friday, June 2
Location: New York City, venue to be provided after RSVPing.
With three decades worth of tech industry leadership experience from both the private and public sectors, Avi Hasson steers Start-Up Nation Central’s strategy and day-to-day activities. Before joining Start-Up Nation Central, Avi spent more than a decade as an early-stage investor at venture capital firms Gemini Israel Funds and Emerge, identifying promising startups and helping them scale. Between 2011 and 2017 Avi served as Chief Scientist at Israel's Ministry of Economy and Industry and as the Founding Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), a key government driver of Israel’s tech explosion over the past decade. In addition to sitting on the board of Tower Semiconductor (which Intel recently announced it would be acquiring), nowadays he shares his deep knowledge of the Israeli innovation ecosystem as a board member of organizations such as Sheba Medical Center and SpaceIL. Avi completed his B.A. in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies and his MBA at Tel Aviv University.
Carly Maisel is the Global CEO of the Kirsh Foundation. The Foundation works to build a better society by lifting people up, helping them to be self-sufficient and building culturally rich and tolerant communities. Notable initiatives include Shine A Light, raising awareness about antisemitism in the United States and Canada; increasing access to solar power and clean water in sub-Saharan Africa; microfinance programs in Israel; and bridge-building efforts to bring together partners across cultures and geographies.
Carly has served as a trusted senior advisor to global leaders in philanthropy, business, governance and advocacy. Prior to joining Kirsh Philanthropies, Carly served as Director of Communications and Philanthropy at the Tamares Group; Head of Communications at Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM); and Public Affairs Advisor to Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor at the Israeli Embassy in the UK.
Carly serves on the Advisory Board of the Community Security Service (CSS) which focuses on efforts to strengthen the security of the Jewish Community in America; on the Board of Israel- based start-up Dreame; and as co-chair of the Advisors’ Committee for UJIA’s Social Impact Investment Initiative (Si3).
Carly is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development and holds a BA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
JFN IL Young Funders Forum Meets Qudra's Young Funders

JFN’s Young Funders Forum invites its members to a meeting with the young funders of Qudra – Arab Philanthropists Network, to get acquainted and to catch up.
*The meeting will be held in Hebrew.
Location: Tel Aviv
Mindfulness & Wellness Peer Network: Initial Meeting

You are invited to join us for an initial meeting to gauge interest in starting a peer network dedicated to mindfulness and wellness at JFN. At this meeting, we will begin to unearth our common needs, identify shared goals, and brainstorm topics we might like to explore together.
Growing Up with Wealth & Giving in the Family - Succession Planning

In a safe and intimate space, we will deal with core issues relating to giving families with respect to next gen engagement and succession planning.
Location: Home of Yovel Recanati, Herzliya. Exact address will be sent upon registration.
The event is for funders only and will be held in Hebrew.
Speaker: Dr. Tamar Milo
Canadian Funders Forum 5/29/23
JCF MW: Special Briefing with The Jewish Agency for Israel on The Law of Return - 5/24/23

Enacted in 1950, the Law of Return is a fundamental aspect of Israel's immigration policy, ensuring that every Jew has the right to make Aliyah and become a citizen of the State of Israel. Recently, some members of the new Israeli governing coalition have voiced strong opposition to a key clause of the law. This clause extends the right of immigration to include the grandchildren of Jews, as well as their spouses.
As the global representative of Jews and convener of the international Jewish community, The Jewish Agency for Israel remains steadfast in preserving the long-standing status quo on issues affecting global Jewry, including potential changes to the "grandchild" clause in the Law of Return. Restricting the law as proposed could significantly impact many prospective immigrants to Israel and carry far-reaching implications for the entire Jewish community.
To gain a deeper understanding of the Law of Return's history and the potential consequences of the suggested amendments, we invite you to attend this special briefing led by Mark Wilf, Chair of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog, Chair of the Executive of The Jewish Agency, and Prof. Yedidia Stern, President & CEO of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI). We look forward to your attendance and participation.
MODERATOR
Merav Livneh-Dill, Director of Interfaces and Synergy - Strategy, Planning & Content Unit, Jewish Agency for Israel.
Special Briefing with The Jewish Agency for Israel on The Law of Return - 5/24/23

Enacted in 1950, the Law of Return is a fundamental aspect of Israel's immigration policy, ensuring that every Jew has the right to make Aliyah and become a citizen of the State of Israel. Recently, some members of the new Israeli governing coalition have voiced strong opposition to a key clause of the law. This clause extends the right of immigration to include the grandchildren of Jews, as well as their spouses.
As the global representative of Jews and convener of the international Jewish community, The Jewish Agency for Israel remains steadfast in preserving the long-standing status quo on issues affecting global Jewry, including potential changes to the "grandchild" clause in the Law of Return. Restricting the law as proposed could significantly impact many prospective immigrants to Israel and carry far-reaching implications for the entire Jewish community.
To gain a deeper understanding of the Law of Return's history and the potential consequences of the suggested amendments, we invite you to attend this special briefing led by Mark Wilf, Chair of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog, Chair of the Executive of The Jewish Agency, and Prof. Yedidia Stern, President & CEO of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI). We look forward to your attendance and participation.
MODERATOR
Merav Livneh-Dill, Director of Interfaces and Synergy - Strategy, Planning & Content Unit, Jewish Agency for Israel.
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening - 5/17/23

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Jaré Akchin
Vice President & Executive Coach
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
JFN IL Center for Family Philanthropy - Family Volunteer Day

The Center for Family Philanthropy is happy to invite JFN members, together with their families, to a family volunteer day.
Together with “Venatata” we will establish a therapeutic garden for the children of the boarding school.
The activity will be suitable for all ages and will enable a hands-on and enriching experience of giving.
* The event is intended for Funders and their families only.
Location: “Hakfar Hayarok”, Ramat Hasharon
Impact Investing Roundtable - 5/2/2023

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Featuring
Master Class: Oren Kaplun - The Creation of Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's Fossil Free Index
Investment Pitch 1: Galia Kut - MindTension
Investment Pitch 2: Josh Cohen - Shift One
Celebrating 75 years of philanthropy in the State of Israel

The Ruderman Family Foundation and the Jewish Funders Network are pleased to invite you to a special event celebrating 75 years of philanthropy in the State of Israel.
Join us for a festive sea-view lunch and a unique opportunity to meet friends near and far. We will gather for an exclusive reception, a peek into the future of Israel through AI technology, followed by an uplifting musical performance.
-This invitation is personal-
Space is limited, please RSVP by April 17th.
*The event is coordinated and synchronized with the GA opening event times
Fighting Online Hate

Join us for an informative webinar on combating online hate, where experts in the field will discuss the critical importance of tackling hate speech and harmful content on digital platforms.
During the session, JFN members will gain insights into the latest trends and tactics used by perpetrators of online hate, as well as explore effective strategies for countering hate speech and promoting tolerance and diversity.
This webinar is a must-attend for anyone who is concerned about the rising tide of antisemitism, online and in the world, the impact of online hate, and who interested in finding practical solutions to combat this pervasive issue.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from top experts in the field and learn how you can play a role in promoting a safer and more inclusive online community.
Speakers
Mark Ginsberg
The Coalition for a Safer Web
Imran Ahmed
Center for Countering Digital Hate
Moderator
Aviva Klompas
Boundless Israel
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening - 4/19/23

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Jaré Akchin
Vice President & Executive Coach
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
A Conversation with the winner of the 2023 Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award (ERA)

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Arielle Levites, Managing Director of Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education (CASJE). Dr. Levites and CASJE’s team were honored for their landmark study of a field critical to the success of a broad swath of Jewish programming. CASJE’s Career Trajectories of Jewish Educators in the United States research provides applicable knowledge about the recruitment, retention, and professional development of Jewish educators.
Learn about this landmark study for the field of Jewish education. CASJE researched the pipeline and career arcs of frontline Jewish educators, creating usable knowledge to enable more people and organizations to strengthen Jewish education and better support educators’ professional journeys.
CASJE explains what market forces have devalued formal preparation of Jewish educators and shines light on a downward shift in what employers are looking for in classroom teachers and other educators.
Watch Dr. Levites accepting the award at the JFN 2023 International Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rg3Eg5qhq4&t=601s
Law of Return Briefing with Mark Wilf
The Law of Return is one of the pillars of the state of Israel. It posits that everyone who has one Jewish grandparent has the right to immigrate to Israel and receive citizenship.
Some members of the new Israeli governing coalition have raised strong opposition to the “grandfather clause” and recognizing conversions that are not performed by Orthodox rabbis.
If this law changes and is more restrictive, then it will have a direct impact on many would be immigrants, especially from the Former Soviet Union. If the status quo on conversion is affected, there could be a major impact on the North American Jewish community.
The Jewish Agency, as the main historical conduit for Aliyah, is in the forefront of the negotiations about this issue. Come to this private briefing during the JFN Conference to learn about these negotiations from Mark Wilf, Charmain of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency in conversation with Jeff Schoenfeld.
JFN 2023 International Conference

REGISTRATION IS OPEN - Click here to visit our conference website.
Learn about sponsorship opportunities. Please email any questions to [email protected].
JFN's International Conference is open to JFN members and those eligible for membership. Learn about past JFN International Conferences.
Meeting Points – Members of the Global JFN Network Discuss the State of Affairs in Israel

1 pm EST | 10am PST
The Israeli society as well as the American society are finding themselves shaken by great, deep social processes that challenge philanthropy to rethink the models through which it can influence and create tangible change. As there are parallels between occurrences in the two societies, a joint discussion in which network members can listen to and consult with one another can be of great value.
This interactive meeting will enable an open dialogue and personal discussions around our thoughts, concerns and ideas for both members on the Israeli Israel and abroad in light of the current crisis in Israel. The joint discussion will enable mutual learning from funders from the US that have recently dealt with political and social crises that have influenced American society.
*The meeting will be held in English
Small-Staffed Foundations Peer Learning & Support Group - 3/8/23

JFN’s Grantmaking Professional Exchange is excited to invite you to our newest Peer Learning and Support Group (PLSG), focusing on professionals in small-staffed foundations! PLSGs provide opportunities for colleagues in the field to learn together, discuss areas of common interest, and support one another through challenges and opportunities.
Staff at small foundations are constantly asked to wear a variety of hats. We believe there is something to learn from peers in similar organizational structures and that building a community can provide a dynamic and valuable space for networking, professional growth, and learning. For this PLSG, we loosely define “small-staffed foundations” as those with fewer than five team members. If you have questions about how you or your foundation might fit into this group, please contact Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu at [email protected].
Israeli delegation to 2023 JFN Intl. Conference in Phoenix : Orientation meeting

Networking and Orientation Meeting for the Israeli delegation to the 2023 JFN International Conference in Phoenix
Join us to meet others Israeli JFN members attending the conference, discover how to navigate through the diverse conference content and learn hands-on communication strategies that will help you make the best out of the conference experience.
Communication coach Helen Gottstein from Loud And Clear Training will be our special guest.
JFN IL Young Funders' Forum: Civil Society and the role of philanthropy as we face current challenges in Israel
JFN’s Young Funders’ Forum is convening to discuss the current challenges and enable open dialogue in a safe space during these turbulent times.
Further details will follow.
The Road to Reproductive Rights: Perspectives from Movement Leaders

A group of philanthropists concerned about the Dobbs decision came together last summer. Since then Judy Freidman in LA, and Rebecca Shafron from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies have agreed to chair our Reproductive Healthcare Group. They have put together a new learning session for this group. As attacks on gender and reproductive equity continue, hear from leaders at NARAL, If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice, and the National Network of Abortion Funds. During this panel, they will discuss the road ahead for reproductive rights, the strategies to protect abortion care, and how we can get involved.
Speakers | ||
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Oriaku Njoku |
Mini Timmaraju President, NARAL |
Jill E. Adams Executive Director, If/When/How |
Moderator
Lisa Eisen
Co-President, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
This event is part of an ongoing series of Gender Lens Giving Group events. Help us keep the momentum going at the JFN International Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, March 19-21 And beyond. Upcoming Gender Lens Giving Group sessions will include:
- JFN Conference Plenary: "Philanthropy Through a Gender Lens" featuring Stacy Schusterman, Chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Tegan Acton, President & Co-Chair of Sunlight Giving, and moderated by Jeannie Infante Sager, Director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
- JFN Conference Gender Lens Giving Group Networking Session
- Ongoing peer network events post-conference
Democracy in Israel - 2/28/23

Israel is in the midst of its biggest constitutional crisis in a generation (or even longer). The new Israeli government judicial reform program, which, among a myriad of other changes, includes weakening the Supreme Court and changing the way judges are chosen, looks to alter the very balance of power between the functions of state. This has led to widespread, ongoing mass protests throughout the country.
Join us on Tuesday, February 28th at 12pm - 1pm ET (9am -10am PT, 7pm-8pm IT) to discuss the consequences of the new Israeli government’s initiatives, the consequences they pose for Israeli society, and what role we should play in the face of these initiatives.
Speakers
David Horovitz
Founding Editor, Times of Israel
Orni Petruschka
High-Tech Entrepreneur and Philanthropic Leader
Before the event, please listen to my interview with Yohanan Plesner, Director of the Israel Democracy Institute, on the subject of these anti-democratic initiatives.
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JFN IL: Gender Giving Forum: Gathering focusing on social change and women's rights

Join us on a journey as we visit the Social Space, formerly the Pussycat strip club in Kikar Atarim and now a space for learning, discourse, raising awareness and reflecting on the present status of women in society.
As part of the tour, we will get a glimpse into the world of women in prostitution, hear testimony from a prostitution survivor and hold a discussion about philanthropy through a gender lens.
This is an opportunity for us, a community that supports and strengthens civil society, to come together and delve deeper into the issue of women at risk and examine together our role at this time.
The Dialogue Clause: For or Against? Tools for engaging in intense disagreements over the interpretation of reality.

The meeting will be led by Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth, director of Mosaica which engages in mediation, community dialogue as well as “insider mediation” between extremes. He is also a lecturer of crisis management, conflict resolution and negotiation.
We will receive practical tools for engaging in intense disagreements over the interpretation of reality, in order to advance listening and enable conversation between network members that are interested in a joint discussion on the role of philanthropy and the solutions it can initiate.
In these days in particular, our diverse network is a unique arena that extends an invitation to members who wish to obtain dialogue practices that are sensitive to different points of view. The meeting will offer opportunities to learn modes for dealing with conflicts of identities without deepening existing gaps. The meeting is designed to assist you in interfaces within the philanthropic community, in your different capacities as leaders and in your work with the organizations supported by you.
*The meeting will be held in Hebrew.
Impact Investing Roundtable - 1/17/23

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers:
- Alina Shkolnikov, Chief Strategy Officer, Joblio: How the S in ESG Can Help Address Modern Slavery
- Nermine Rubin, Chief Executive Officer, Water 4 Mercy: Investing in Africa's Agricultural Value Chains, Generating Revenue and Impact
- Astorre Moderna, General Partner, Terra VP: Intuition Robotics
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Impact Investing Roundtable - 2/21/23

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Featuring
Master Class - Ethy Levy, Managing Partner at Kinneret Impact Ventures - Dilemmas of an Impact Investor
Investment Pitch #1 - Vanessa Bartram, Managing Partner at ZORA Ventures - Rewind (Joined by Ram Amar, CEO/Founder)
Investment Pitch #2 - Debra Fine, Founder and Chair at Fine Capital Partners - Hebrew Free Loan Society (Joined by Rabbi David Rosenn, President and CEO)
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening - 2/15/23

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Jaré Akchin
Vice President & Executive Coach
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Developing a Collective Strategy on Ethiopian Aliyah

This past November, in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Goodman Foundation, JFN brought a mission of funders to Ethiopia to visit the families of Ethiopian Israelis and other Ethiopian Jews awaiting aliyah and to accompany some of them on their journey to Israel. It was a powerful experience, and JFN is committed to providing opportunities for our members to continue to explore our unique role in addressing the challenge of Ethiopian aliyah and integration in Israel. We are creating a peer network to help you learn more about the various issues at play and the many avenues and opportunities that exist for funders to drive impact in this challenging realm.
The first session of the new Ethiopian-Israeli Peer Network will be on Thursday, February 9, 12:00-1:00pm EST. For this session, JFN is pleased to partner with UJA-Federation of New York to discuss one such avenue of impact and action: a collective advocacy strategy in Israel around Ethiopian aliyah.
Background
In November 2022, led by UJA, the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel passed a resolution urging the Government of Israel to take action around a 2021 commitment to continue the implementation of the Tzur Israel Operation and to provide clarity for the thousands of Ethiopians living in limbo in the Addis Ababa and Gondar compounds. In this discussion, UJA will present the history and goals of the JAFI resolution passed in November, an update on engagement with the new Israeli government, and some ideas for collective action from funders. There will also be room to hear from our mission participants and for attendees to share questions and ideas around this issue.
Speakers:
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Pnina Tamano-Shata is an Israeli lawyer, journalist, and politician. She is the first Ethiopian-born woman to enter the Knesset (in 2013) and first Ethiopian-born government minister after being appointed Minister of Immigrant Absorption (2020). In June 2021, Tamanu-Shata was awarded the Magen Begin Prize for Israeli Leadership.
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Micha Feldmann has worked for the Jewish Agency and other organizations and government entities on immigration and absorption since 1970. As Israel’s Consul to Ethiopia, he was one of the key architects of 1991’s Operation Solomon that succeeded in bringing 14,310 Ethiopian Jews out of besieged Addis Ababa in one weekend.
He currently serves as the director of the Ethiopian department within SELAH – Israel Crisis Management Center, an organization that helps Israeli immigrants from Ethiopia and the FSU.
- Itzik Shmuli is an Israeli politician who served as the Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Services and as a Member of the Knesset; formerly chairman of National Union of Israeli Students, and one of the leaders of the 2011 Israeli social justice protests. He currently serves as UJA-Federation of New York's Director-General in its Israel office.
Meet impala - a powerful, new platform for JFN members and their grantees

Do you ever wish you could have easier access to data on philanthropic foundations and nonprofits to make more informed decisions about your grantmaking or fundraising?
The Jewish Funders Network invites you to an exclusive webinar with impala, a groundbreaking new platform built by Israeli, Ukrainian, and American social entrepreneurs that provides free access to the profiles of every funder and nonprofit in the US: grants given & received, impact, people, financials and much more.
Why should you join this event?
Help usher in a new era of digital transformation and collaboration across the Jewish philanthropic sector.
- Learn about this exciting new resource that’s free for all JFN members and their grantees.
- See how you can use impala to transform your strategic grantmaking, support your grantees, boost fundraising, and foster collaboration.
- Hear from leading grantmakers in JFN about their experience working with impala
Why is impala offering free access?
impala is providing free, premium access to its entire platform for 24 months, thanks to the generous support of the Jim Joseph Foundation, Glazer Foundation, DARE Foundation, and Marcia Riklis.
This initiative is part of impala and JFN’s shared commitment to democratize access to the data, insights, and relationships that Jewish changemakers need to maximize their impact in America, Israel, and beyond. By unlocking critical social impact data that has long been stuck behind paywalls and uniting the Jewish philanthropic sector on one platform, impala is extending the frontier of innovation, equity, and impact for all.
What can you do on impala?
A lot. Here are a few highlights:
- For everyone: Explore the profiles of any nonprofit and foundation in the U.S and analyze any nonprofit ecosystem, anywhere in the country - explore who’s involved, how the grantmakers and grantseekers compare, key funding and financial trends, and more.
- For funders: Conduct essential due diligence on potential grantees, evaluate the financial health of grantees in your portfolio, and compare your grantmaking to that of your peers.
- For nonprofits: Build smarter prospect lists pinpointing who gives to the same nonprofits and causes as your existing funders as well as who is giving to nonprofits like you.
Want to learn more?
Visit impala.digital/JFN for FAQ answers and further details.
Contact [email protected] with any questions.
US and Israeli Elections: Implications on Climate Change - a special Tu B’shvat Brienfing

Join JFN’s Green Funders’ Forum for a critical conversation on climate change challenges and opportunities following the recent Israeli and US elections.
Tuesday, Feb 7 | 12 pm - 1.30 pm ET | 9 am - 10:30 am PT | 7 pm - 8.30 pm IL
This program will be held online in English.
Speakers include:
Former MK Rachel Azaria, Life & Environment, Chair. Rachel will analyze the opportunities and challenges facing the new Israeli government and Knesset regarding climate and the environment. She will begin her remarks with an inspiring message for Tu B’shvat.
Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, Dayenu, Founder & CEO. Jennie will share insights on the recent US midterm elections vis-a-vis climate, recent findings on Jewish foundations and their investments in fossil fuels, and she will offer a call for action for Tu B’shvat.
JFN members RSVP or email [email protected]
non-JFN members are welcome; RSVP to Gil Yaacov [email protected]
A zoom link will be sent upon RSVP
We look forward to seeing you!
Marla Stein, Sigal Yaniv Feller and Gil Yaacov
Green Funders' Forum team
Conference Sneak Peak for JFN in the West 01/30/23

Join a sneak preview of the big event that we’re offering exclusively to JFN members in the west on the evening of January 30th from 5:30-6:15pmPT.
In this virtual “taste of the conference” program you will hear a preview from a plenary speaker’s keynote, get a taste of the challenges and opportunities that will be presented in a climate workshop by an expert in the field and have the opportunity to experience some of the “networking in the hallways” well before our March conference.
We hope you will RSVP below and join us for this exclusive SNEAK PREVIEW for JFN members in the West.
And don’t forget to register for the conference. Early-bird rates end on January 31.
JFN IL’s Winter Membership Event: sneak preview of “UNCHARITABLE”

JFN’S WINTER MEMBERSHIP EVENT
A festive membership gathering
followed by an exclusive pre-release screening
of the international thought-provoking film:
UNCHARITABLE
Introduces a radical new way of thinking about giving.
Based on Dan Pallotta's record-breaking Ted Talk on the subject that has inspired changemakers globally, Uncharitable demands that charities be freed from traditional constraints, so that they can truly change the world.
No topic is more crucial as we confront an increasingly unstable world with the growing revelation that we’re all interconnected and that our fate lies in how much we are willing to invest in positive change.
Watch the trailer
Location:
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Kaufman Hall.
Entry through the old main entrance to the museum.
Program:
6:30 pm Networking and refreshments
7:15 Opening remarks
7:30 UNCHARITABLE screening
9:00 How does this relate to me? An open conversation, sharing thoughts on the relevance of the film to our philanthropic work
9:30 Dessert and some more schmoozing
please RSVP by 22.1.2023
San Diego Funders Gathering

Jewish Funders Network Invites San Diego Jewish Funders to an intimate gathering and light dinner with Andres Spokoiny, President & CEO of JFN, & Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, Senior Director of Philanthropic Engagement & JFN West.
We look forward to sharing a “Taste of JFN” in advance of the 2023 JFN International Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. Please join us to learn how the JFN network provides a valuable resource for highly strategic and impactful philanthropy.
The reception will take place on Thursday, January 26th 2023 from 6:30-8:30pm at the home of Jerri-Ann and Gary Jacobs (address provided upon RSVP). A light dinner will be served.
Please RSVP by January 17th.
This event is in partnership with:
JCF NY: Confronting Contemporary Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial through the Arts

With the rise in antisemitism, the increase in Holocaust denial and distortion, and the appalling lack of knowledge of the Holocaust, it is imperative to honor the past, shape the present, and empower the future by all means possible. A leader on this critical issue, The Defiant Requiem Foundation promotes Holocaust education and remembrance uniquely focused on the story of Jewish prisoners at the Theresienstadt concentration camp, who courageously defied the Nazis with art and music.
Leading up to International Holocaust Remembrance Day, join us for a conversation with Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, Board Chair of the Defiant Requiem Foundation, in conversation with Murry Sidlin, Alexandra Zapruder, and a Defiant Requiem Teaching Ambassador. Their conversation will focus on how music and art can serve as a catalyst to fight contemporary antisemitism and Holocaust denial, and how funders can make change on this critical issue.
Speakers:
Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat
Board Chair, The Defiant Requiem Foundation
Chair of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (at the appointment of President Biden in 2021)
Special Adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Holocaust Issues
Murry Sidlin
President and Artistic Director, The Defiant Requiem Foundation
Alexandra Zapruder
Education Director, The Defiant Requiem Foundation, and author of "Salvaged Pages"
Defiant Requiem Teaching Ambassador
Details TBD
Confronting Contemporary Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial through the Arts

With the rise in antisemitism, the increase in Holocaust denial and distortion, and the appalling lack of knowledge of the Holocaust, it is imperative to honor the past, shape the present, and empower the future by all means possible. A leader on this critical issue, The Defiant Requiem Foundation promotes Holocaust education and remembrance uniquely focused on the story of Jewish prisoners at the Theresienstadt concentration camp, who courageously defied the Nazis with art and music.
Leading up to International Holocaust Remembrance Day, join us for a conversation with Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, Board Chair of the Defiant Requiem Foundation, in conversation with Murry Sidlin, Alexandra Zapruder, and Colleen Tambuscio. Their conversation will focus on how music and art can serve as a catalyst to fight contemporary antisemitism and Holocaust denial, and how funders can make change on this critical issue.
Speakers:
Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat
Board Chair, The Defiant Requiem Foundation
Chair of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (at the appointment of President Biden in 2021)
Special Adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Holocaust Issues
Murry Sidlin
President and Artistic Director, The Defiant Requiem Foundation
Alexandra Zapruder
Education Director, The Defiant Requiem Foundation, and author of "Salvaged Pages"
Colleen Tambuscio
Defiant Requiem Teaching Ambassador
Subjects: English, Modern World History, Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Behavior, and Contemporary Genocide at New Milford High School
Policy Change Workshop 2: From Theory to Practice

Please note that this workshop is on Thursday, January 26.
A two-part practical workshop on Policy Change as a tool in your philanthropic toolbox.
Special guest speaker, journalist Aviv Lavie.
We are pleased to invite JFN members to a two-part workshop on how Philanthropy can incorporate policy change advocacy as an effective lever for achieving broad social impact.
The workshops will be led by the JFN team and Tali Nir.
Please plan to attend both sessions, as they form one unit. Spaces are limited!
*The meetings will be held in Hebrew
Phoenix Funders Gathering

Jewish Funders Network Invites Phoenix Jewish Funders for Wine and Dessert with Andres Spokoiny, President & CEO of JFN, & Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, Senior Director of Philanthropic Engagement & JFN West.
We look forward to sharing a “Taste of JFN” over wine and dessert in advance of the 2023 JFN International Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. Please join us to learn how the JFN network provides a valuable resource for highly strategic and impactful philanthropy.
The reception will take place on Wednesday, January 25th 2023 at 7:00pm at the home of Stacie Brockman Chernikoff and Jay Chernikoff (address provided upon RSVP).
Please RSVP by January 16th.
Exploring Trust-Based Philanthropy in the Jewish Community

Trust-based philanthropy has been gaining momentum as an approach that alleviates power imbalances toward a more just and equitable nonprofit sector. While it is most associated with unrestricted grants and streamlined applications and reports, it is much greater than the sum of these practices. Fundamentally, trust-based philanthropy flips the script on the compliance-oriented culture of traditional philanthropy so that nonprofits have the agency and opportunity to achieve their goals. Many of the core values of trust-based philanthropy are aligned with Jewish values of tzedakah and chesed. But what does it look like to embody these values in our day-to-day work? What’s in it for grantmaking practitioners to invest the time and energy it takes to fully embody a trust-based approach?
Join us for an engaging discussion with the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Fineshriber Family Foundation, and American Jewish World Service as we explore these questions, hear about what it looks like to operationalize trust-based values, and leave you with a renewed sense of understanding of the promise and potential of trust-based philanthropy.
Speakers:
Shaady Salehi
Executive Director, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
Beth Tigay
Executive Director, Fineshriber Family Foundation
Shari Turitz
Vice President for Programs, American Jewish World Service
This webinar is presented by GrantED, a project of Jewish Funders Network that works to strengthen relationships between grantmakers and grantseekers in the Jewish community. To learn more, visit www.jgranted.org.
Tucson Funders Cocktail Reception

Jewish Funders Network Invites Tucson Jewish Funders to a Cocktail Reception with Andres Spokoiny, President & CEO of JFN, & Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, Senior Director of Philanthropic Engagement & JFN West.
We look forward to sharing a “Taste of JFN” over cocktails in advance of the 2023 JFN International Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. Please join us to learn how the JFN network provides a valuable resource for highly strategic and impactful philanthropy.
The reception will take place on Tuesday, January 24th 2023 from 5:00-6:30pm at the home of Anne & David Hameroff (address provided upon RSVP).
Please RSVP by January 15th.
JFN Event: Jewish Grantmaking Professionals in LA (JGPLA) 01/20/23

Join us IN PERSON in Los Angeles for a JFN-members only lunch!
Friday, January 20
12pm - 1:30pm
Canter's Deli @ 419 N. Fairfax
We will catch up and informally share updates, and discuss our goals and intentions for 2023. Please RSVP by January 18 and direct any questions to [email protected].
Canadian Funders Forum 1/19/23
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening - 1/18/23

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Jaré Akchin
Vice President & Executive Coach
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Impact Investing Roundtable - 1/17/23

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers:
- Alina Shkolnikov, Chief Strategy Officer, Joblio: How the S in ESG Can Help Address Modern Slavery
- Nermine Rubin, Chief Executive Officer, Water 4 Mercy: Investing in Africa's Agricultural Value Chains, Generating Revenue and Impact
- Astorre Moderna, General Partner, Terra VP: Intuition Robotics
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
HOLLYWOODLAND: Behind the Scenes of the Academy Museum's New Exhibition Highlighting the Jewish Founders of Hollywood

Join CANVAS for an off-the-record conversation with the makhers and makers behind the forthcoming Hollywoodland exhibition at the Academy of Motion Pictures Museum in Los Angeles on January 12, 2023 at 11amPT/2pmET.
Hollywoodland, opening in November 2023, will trace the history of filmmaking in Los Angeles back to its roots at the beginning of the 20th century, illustrating how and why the city became the world capital of cinema that it still is today. With a focus on the predominantly Jewish founders of the early Hollywood studio system, the exhibition will delve into how their personal narratives shaped the distinct characteristics of the movies their respective studios produced, and contextualize the role of antisemitism in motivating their visionary efforts.
We will be joined by Dara Jaffe, Associate Curator at the Academy Museum, who told The New York Times: "We want to answer the question of: Why Los Angeles?"..."Why is this the place where the world capital of cinema blossomed? It's not a coincidence that many of the founders are predominantly Jewish. It's a specifically Jewish story, and a specifically Jewish immigrant story."
Image Courtesy of the Margaret Herrick Library.
About CANVAS
CANVAS is a collaborative fund dedicated to elevating the ecosystem of Jewish arts and culture. This work is done through strategic grantmaking, field advocacy, and immersive educational opportunities for funders of the arts and those who would like to be. Matters of the Art is a CANVAS/JFN funder group dedicated to exploring trends, opportunities, and gaps in the field of Jewish arts and culture.
Sign up here for the CANVAS Compendium, a weekly newsletter on Jewish arts and culture.
Policy Change Workshop 1: A Window to Broad Social Impact

A two-part practical workshop on Policy Change as a tool in your philanthropic toolbox.
We are pleased to invite JFN members to a two-part workshop on how Philanthropy can incorporate policy change advocacy as an effective lever for achieving broad social impact.
The workshops will be led by the JFN team and Tali Nir.
Please plan to attend both sessions, as they form one unit. Spaces are limited!
*The meetings will be held in Hebrew
Small-Staffed Foundations Peer Learning & Support Group - 1/11/23

JFN’s Grantmaking Professional Exchange is excited to invite you to our newest Peer Learning and Support Group (PLSG), focusing on professionals in small-staffed foundations! PLSGs provide opportunities for colleagues in the field to learn together, discuss areas of common interest, and support one another through challenges and opportunities.
Staff at small foundations are constantly asked to wear a variety of hats. We believe there is something to learn from peers in similar organizational structures and that building a community can provide a dynamic and valuable space for networking, professional growth, and learning. For this PLSG, we loosely define “small-staffed foundations” as those with fewer than five team members. If you have questions about how you or your foundation might fit into this group, please contact Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu at [email protected].
New Member Orientation - 12/21/22

Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other new members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
JFN IL: Young Funders Forum - Leadership, trust, philanthropy and everything in between: how do you navigate a changing world?
JFN’s Young Funder’s Forum is coming together in these turbulent times to speak with Dr. Yoav Heller, former CEO of Maoz and currently founder and chairman of the Q4 Israeli Movement. Yoav will lead us in a conversation focusing on the major changes the world and Israel are facing and how we can develop trust as an anchor in our families, communities and society at large.
We will discuss the role of leadership in trust building, its challenges and opportunities to bring about social change.
We will meet at 10am at the new Social Space in Old Yaffo for a light breakfast and time to network and connect.
Canadian Funders Forum 12/15/22
Impact Investing Roundtable - 12/13/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Karina Totah
Founder, Nevit
Master Class: Paving my Path as an Impact Investor: A 10 Year Journey
Raissa Hacohen
Managing Partner, HUR Partners
Investment Pitch 1: Fresh Fund
Gabrielle Charnas
Senior Advisor, Weave Impact
Investment Pitch 2: Canadian Hadassah WIZO - Gender Lens Fund
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Impacting Climate Change Post-Elections

NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. We will announce a new date when it is rescheduled.
Join the Green Funders Forum for a de-brief on the implications, challenges and opportunities following the UN summit on climate in Egypt (COP27), Israeli elections, and US mid-term elections.
This program will be held online in English.
Jewish Funders Network in Seattle!

Please join us for this unique opportunity to learn about the expansive opportunities JFN offers, connect with other members of our Jewish philanthropic community, and meet with Andres Spokoiny, JFN’s CEO, and Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, Director of JFN West.
JFN works with Jewish funders, at the individual and collective levels, to improve the quality of their giving and maximize their impact as they make the change they want to see in the world. JFN leverages the power and the creativity of networks to produce change in the Jewish world.
For more information or questions, please contact Debra Feldstein, Associate Director of JFN West, at [email protected].
Sponsored by:
Connie Kanter & Samis Foundation
Jewish Funders Network in Denver!

Please join us for this unique opportunity to learn about the expansive opportunities JFN offers, connect with other members of our Jewish philanthropic community, and meet with Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, Director of JFN West, and Debra Feldstein, Associate Director of JFN West.
JFN works with Jewish funders, at the individual and collective levels, to improve the quality of their giving and maximize their impact as they make the change they want to see in the world. JFN leverages the power and the creativity of networks to produce change in the Jewish world.
For more information or questions, please contact Debra Feldstein, Associate Director of JFN West, at [email protected].
Hosted by:
Lindy Eichenbaum Lent & Sarah Indyk
Rose Community Foundation
Amy Kaufman
Israel Investment Advisors
Shira & Marty Zimmerman
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 12/7

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
At this month's meeting, we will continue exploring external and uncontrollable factors that impact our giving strategies, processes, and practices. This month we will focus on giving during times of economic turmoil. We will be joined by Benita Kline, Founder and Vice President of Leventhal Kline Management, Inc. Benita will share lessons for philanthropy from the 2008 financial crisis and how they might help us navigate the uncertainties of today.
Speaker:
Benita Kline
Founder and Vice President of Leventhal Kline Management, Inc.
Facilitator:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Israel’s New Government: What to Expect from Netanyahu's Coalition with the Ultra-Orthodox and Religious Right

Israel’s new government has been sworn in and it seems that the electoral crisis of the last four years has come to an end. The last election saw the rise of the National Religious Party and the two ultra-Orthodox parties and their representatives are expected to hold key positions in the new cabinet.
Join Israel Democracy Institute President Yohanan Plesner and Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, Director of IDI’s Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society, in conversation with Dr. Jesse Ferris, Vice President of Strategy, as they analyze what led to this election result and what it may mean for Israel’s future.
Speakers:
Yohanan Plesner
President, Israel Democracy Institute
Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz
Director, Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society, Israel Democracy Institute
Dr. Jesse Ferris
Vice President of Strategy, Israel Democracy Institute
Canadian Funders Forum 11/17/22
What’s A Jewish Funder To Do About The Climate Crisis?!

NOTE: This is an in-person-only event at the IKAR Event Space. (1729 S. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA)
JFN West and Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action Present:
What’s A Jewish Funder To Do About The Climate Crisis?!
Please join us for an important conversation about how Jewish funders of all sizes and interest areas can be part of building a more just, livable, and sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come.
With questions or for more information, please contact Debra Feldstein, Associate Director of JFN West, at [email protected].
Cosponsors:
Lisa and Maury Friedman Foundation
Green Funders Forum, JFN's largest peer network, provides the philanthropic community with knowledge, tools, inspiration, and opportunities to act strategically and collaboratively around issues of the environment and climate change. It offers a range of programming, as well as free consulting. Learn more here.
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 11/16/22

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Impact Investing Roundtable 11/15/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Daniel Rueven
Masterclass: "Adventures in Regenerative Agriculture"
JFN Member
Sarah and Daniel Rueven Foundation
Nicky Newfield
Masterclass: "Growing Impact Ecosystems with Philanthropy"
JFN Member
Glatt Charitable Trust
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Mission to Ethiopia and Israel

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.
(Photo by Maxim Dinshtein for the Jewish Agency for Israel)
Text Study as an Act of Creativity: A CANVAS Conversation

Can engaging with Jewish texts fuel your creative process? That's the central premise behind CANVAS grantee LABA’s Jewish artist fellowship program, and a question we will put to the test together during our next Matters of the Art session.
Please join us for an illuminating, hands-on investigation of a traditional text with LABA director Ronit Muszkatblit and renowned author and teacher Ruby Namdar. We’ll also welcome two LABA fellows who will share work inspired by this unique and reverential process.
Speakers:
Ruby Namdar is an Israeli writer. His novel "The Ruined House" won the Sapir Prize, Israel’s most prestigious literary award. He currently teaches Jewish literature in New York.
Ronit Muszkatblit is a multidisciplinary, award-winning theater director. She is the founding director of LABA Global and leads the Arts & Culture program at the 14th Street Y.
Rachel Libeskind is an artist and a thinker whose work focuses on shifting perspectives of history. She is a LABA alum and currently the Creative Director of LABA Berlin.
Ben Kaplan is a writer, educator, and opera librettist based in New York City.
About CANVAS
CANVAS is a collaborative fund dedicated to elevating the ecosystem of Jewish arts and culture. This work is done through strategic grantmaking, field advocacy, and immersive educational opportunities for funders of the arts and those who would like to be. Matters of the Art is a CANVAS/JFN funder group dedicated to exploring trends, opportunities, and gaps in the field of Jewish arts and culture.
Sign up here for the CANVAS Compendium, a weekly newsletter on Jewish arts and culture.
Small-Staffed Foundations Peer Learning & Support Group - 11/9/22

JFN’s Grantmaking Professional Exchange is excited to invite you to our newest Peer Learning and Support Group (PLSG), focusing on professionals in small-staffed foundations! PLSGs provide opportunities for colleagues in the field to learn together, discuss areas of common interest, and support one another through challenges and opportunities.
Staff at small foundations are constantly asked to wear a variety of hats. We believe there is something to learn from peers in similar organizational structures and that building a community can provide a dynamic and valuable space for networking, professional growth, and learning. For this PLSG, we loosely define “small-staffed foundations” as those with fewer than five team members. If you have questions about how you or your foundation might fit into this group, please contact Tamar Frydman at [email protected].
Josh Hoffman, Executive Director of The Sephardic Foundation on Aging, and our colleagues at Third Plateau will co-lead November’s meeting. Each session of the PLSG will be co-facilitated by one of the group's members.
Youth Philanthropy Facilitator Training

Learn. Practice. Skill-up. Join Honeycomb's Facilitator Training this November!
Don't miss out on this comprehensive training! Attendees will walk away with curriculum, tools and skills which 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.
This unique experience is designed for youth educators, lay leaders, and Jewish organizational professionals who are interested in building the next generation of changemakers -- all are welcome!
A JFN program, Honeycomb is the leading resource for Jewish youth philanthropy.
JFN Israel: Jerusalem Meet-Up with JFN Executive Vice President Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu
Join us for a festive evening as we host Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu, JFN Executive Vice President, in her inaugural visit to Israel.
JFN members invited to a tour of the new Sigalit Landau Exhibit at the Israel Museum -the Burning Sea and dinner.
JFN IL Site-Visit to Rahat: Culture as an Engine of Urban Growth
JFN Arts and Culture Forum is pleased to invite you to an educational site-visit to Rahat, and an introduction to the cultural activity of the city and its complexities.
We will visit new cultural initiatives and meet with cultural organizations’ managers and local cultural leadership. Join us for a conversation on investment in culture as part of the municipal strategy for social, economic, and touristic development of the city.
*The program will be held in Hebrew.
Independent arrival or carpool.
Spaces are limited!
The 2022 Israeli Philanthropy Conference

Save the Date!
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.
Open to JFN members and those eligible for JFN membership.
More details coming soon!
Walk the Talk - Activism, Youth & Climate: A Morning of Inspiration and Action
Let's make it count!
*The event is open to the philanthropic community and family members, and will be held in Hebrew
New Law, New Opportunity: Ensuring Israelis with Disabilities Can Obtain and Retain Employment

The Knesset recently passed the groundbreaking "Social Services Law for People with Disabilities," which aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities in a variety of ways. Among its many other benefits, the new law will open the door for increased employment and job training opportunities for people with disabilities, and it will create new opportunities for funders to engage in this field and in public-private partnerships in innovative ways.
In this webinar, we'll hear from Ayala Davidowitz from the Joint Distribution Committee who will brief us on the massive new opportunities this law makes possible. Reuben D. Rotman of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies will highlight NJHSA's recent study on best practice models in disability employment, as well as the launch of Project EM: Empowering and Employing our Community, a network providing jobseekers with all the assistance, resources, and tools they need to find work. We will learn from Erin Riehle about Project Search, a proven global cohort-based employment model that is poised to help Israelis thrive, as well as from Orly Fruchter, who will speak about the Azrieli Foundation's work in this arena. Most importantly, we will see how the new law enables multiple government ministries to work with service providers, philanthropy, employers, self-advocates, and other stakeholders to reduce poverty and advance opportunities in Israel.
Accessibility Note: Zoom captions will be turned on.
Speakers
Ayala Davidowitz
Head of Strategic Partnerships, External Relations, and Resource Development
JDC Israel Unlimited
Shalom Elcott
Philanthropy curator
Orly Fruchter
Manager, Neurodiverse Initiatives
The Azrieli Foundation
Erin Riehle, RN, MSN
Director, Project Search
Reuben D. Rotman
President & CEO, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Moderator
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi
Co-Founder, Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund (a DAF)
Dyslexic/ADHD
Impact Investing Roundtable 10/25/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Shaun Abrahamson
Managing Director, Third Sphere
"Why Climate VC is Very Different from Traditional VC"
Avi Deutsch
Principal, Vodia Capital
Circ
Sari Miller
JFN Member and CEO, Sarjay, Inc.
GinaLife
Dr. Inbal Zafir-Lavie
CEO and Co-Founder, GinaLife
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
How to Make Day School Affordable for All

Is it possible? Can day schools become truly affordable for all families hoping to give their children a holistic Jewish educational experience? Join us for an exploration of new tuition models and structures that are being created to accommodate a wider range of family incomes, and what role funders can play in making these work. We'll focus on two specific models, one being used by schools in Atlanta and the other by a school in Los Angeles, and hear what impact they are having.
Speakers:
Amanda Abrams
Executive Director, Zalik Foundation in Atlanta
Dr. Steven Lorch
Head of School, Kadima Day School
Shawn Evanheim
Trustee, Kadima Day School
Moderator:
Paul Bernstein
CEO, Prizmah
Canadian Funders Forum 10/20/22
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 10/19/22

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Jewish Artists as Communal Leaders: The Case for Investing in This Untapped Resource

This session of CANVAS' Matters of the Art will focus on initiatives designed to support the development of artists and creatives as leaders not just in the Jewish arts and culture field, but also in the Jewish community and beyond. There are a number of initiatives under development in this area, including at the foundations and organizations represented by our speakers. We hope you'll join us for this fascinating conversation illustrating how investing in creative leaders can provide powerful opportunities to support thriving Jewish communities.
Speakers
Eva Heinstein
Senior Research Fellow, Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation
Rabbi Adina Allen
Co-Founder & Creative Director, Jewish Studio Project
Rabbi Kendell Pinkney
Founding Artistic Director, The Workshop
Rabbi Matt Green
Director, New Jewish Culture Fellowship
About CANVAS
CANVAS is a collaborative fund dedicated to elevating the ecosystem of Jewish arts and culture. This work is done through strategic grantmaking, field advocacy, and immersive educational opportunities for funders of the arts and those who would like to be. Matters of the Art is a CANVAS/JFN funder group dedicated to exploring trends, opportunities, and gaps in the field of Jewish arts and culture.
Sign up here for the CANVAS Compendium, a weekly newsletter on Jewish arts and culture.
Small-Staff Foundations Peer Learning & Support Group - 9/29/22

JFN’s Grantmaking Professional Exchange is excited to invite you to our newest Peer Learning and Support Group (PLSG), focusing on professionals in small-staffed foundations! PLSGs provide opportunities for colleagues in the field to learn together, discuss areas of common interest, and support one another through challenges and opportunities.
Staff at small foundations are constantly asked to wear a variety of hats. We believe there is something to learn from peers in similar organizational structures and that building a community can provide a dynamic and valuable space for networking, professional growth, and learning.
We hope you will join us for this introductory session. Our partner, Third Plateau, will facilitate the conversation and help develop a structure for how this group can work together in the future. For this PLSG, we loosely define “small-staffed foundations” as those with fewer than five team members. If you have questions about how you or your foundation might fit into this group, please contact Tamar Frydman at [email protected].
What Jewish Texts Teach Us About Our Obligations to the Most Vulnerable
Judaism’s texts offer significant wisdom about economic cycles, the causes of inequality, and our obligations to each other. A key component of the shmita year, which we are concluding, is to serve the needs of those in poverty.
Join the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty, just days before the High Holidays commence, for a high-level exploration of Jewish teachings on addressing poverty and serving those who struggle with it, both inside and outside the Jewish community.
The session will be led by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and author of "There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice Through Jewish Law and Tradition."
Speakers:
Rabbi Jill Jacobs
CEO, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
More speakers to be announced.
Impact Investing Roundtable 9/20/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Mark Gelfand
Founder, STEMpower.org
Gideon Stein, PhD
Director, Pashdor Impact Investments
Co-Founder, Value² Responsible Investment Fund
More speakers to be announced.
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
New Year, New Opportunities : Green Funders Forum

12-1:30 p.m. ET | 9-10:30 a.m. PT | 7-8:30 p.m. IL
Join JFN's Green Funders Forum for a virtual Rosh Hashanah gathering to discuss new philanthropic initiatives and opportunities for action on climate change and the environment.
Funders will share new opportunities to act:
- New opportunities to collaborate with other Jewish organizations
- The Israeli Climate Forum Initiatives, established by President Herzog
- Adapting Israeli cities to climate change
- Funders collaborative efforts on advocacy, education, Arab society, and more!
Online (In English)
RSVP below or by email: [email protected]
Facilitated Funders-Non-Profit Leaders Conversation Series - Israel, Part 2
Join a small group of Funders and Non-Profit Leaders for a practical two-part, in-person workshop, designed to foster opportunities for deeper understanding, communication, and learning with one another. Our hope is that as a result of these conversations, participants will:
- Gain a better understanding of the assumptions and perspectives that play a role in the relationship
- Engage in non-transactional dialogue with the other
- Feel more confident in speaking more candidly with the other
- Deepen the mutual understanding of healthy work processes between Funders and non-profit organizations
- Design principles for optimal work as a partnership
This is session 2. Please plan to attend both sessions as they build off each other. Spaces are limited!
*The meetings will be held in-person in Hebrew and are intended for an Israeli audience*
JFN Israel - "Al hadvash ve al haoketz" - the Young Funders Forum opens the New Year
Young Funders Forum opens the New Year with an experiential meeting in Jerusalem.
Canadian Funders Forum 9/15/22
Reproductive Health After the Fall of Roe v. Wade: What Role the Jewish Community Can Play

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for states to outlaw abortion, has sent shockwaves throughout the U.S. and beyond. Learn how this happened, what is next in the struggle to provide reproductive rights and protect reproductive health, and what role the Jewish community and Jewish funders can play.
Speakers
Sheila Katz, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women
Lisa Eisen, Co-President, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Aspire 2022
- Read Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbi David Wolpe's latest column in SAPIR.
- JFN members: Order your free print copy of SAPIR.
- Watch videos from Aspire 2021 and Aspire 2020.
Can Israel’s Never-Ending Election Cycle Be Halted?

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.
Yohanan Plesner
President, Israel Democracy Institute
Dr. Assaf Shapira
Director, Political Reform Program
Dr. Chen Friedberg
Research Fellow, Political Reform Program
The Launch of Reboot Studios: A CANVAS Conversation

CANVAS grantee Reboot has recently taken a bold step forward by launching Reboot Studios — an initiative that made headlines in Hollywood a few weeks ago. We are delighted to introduce you to some of the leading lights behind this project and explore how the CANVAS funder collaborative (incubated at Jewish Funders Network) evaluates and supports creative enterprises like this one.
Please join us 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 DeMeritt.
About Reboot
For more than 20 years, Reboot has positioned itself squarely at the nexus of modern Jewish culture and American popular culture. This innovative think-tank and incubator, responsible for Saturday Night Seder, Sukkah City, DAWN, the National Day of Unplugging, and dozens of other Jewish projects, has broken barriers and animated generations of Jews and non-Jews to rethink what Jewish looks like.
Sign up for the CANVAS Compendium, a weekly newsletter on Jewish arts and culture.
JFN Israel: Center for Family Philanthropy - Family values in Israeli philanthropic families
How do you pass on the values of giving to the next generation?
We invite you to a fascinating lecture on how the values of giving are passed from generation to generation among philanthropic families in Israel. Prof. Michal Almog-Bar will discuss the main findings of the research conducted by the Hebrew University Center for the Study of Civil Society and Philanthropy, as well as practical ways to instill giving in the family.
12:00pm EDT, 09:00am PDT
Facilitated Funders-Non Profit Leaders Conversation Series - Israel, Part 1
Join a small group of Funders and Non-Profit Leaders for a practical two-part, in-person workshop, designed to foster opportunities for deeper understanding, communication, and learning with one another. Our hope is that as a result of these conversations, participants will:
- Gain a better understanding of the assumptions and perspectives that play a role in the relationship
- Engage in non-transactional dialogue with the other
- Feel more confident in speaking more candidly with the other
- Deepen the mutual understanding of healthy work processes between Funders and non-profit organizations
- Design principles for optimal work as a partnership
This is session 1. Please plan to attend both sessions as they build off each other. Spaces are limited!
*The meetings will be held in-person in Hebrew and are intended for an Israeli audience*
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 9/7/22

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
JFN Israel Center for Family Philanthropy - family volunteering day at the Israeli Center for Guide Dogs
We invite you to join us for a family volunteering day at the Israeli Center for Guide Dogs
Children and adults of all ages are welcome!
Places are limited; please ensure your spot by registering
Canadian Funders Forum 8/18/22
Small-Staffed Foundations: Intro Session
The Fall of Roe v Wade: How it Happened, How the U.S. Jewish Community is Responding & What It Means for Israel
Special joint session of the Forum of Foundations in Israel and JFN-Israel led by the FFI ISRAEL GENDER JUSTICE GROUP
27.7.2022 4-5:30 p.m. IL - Online
The Fall of Roe v Wade: How it Happened, How the U.S. Jewish Community is Responding & What It Means for Israel
We invite the Israeli philanthropic community to hear from leaders driving US Jewish institutional involvement in the struggle for reproductive rights and consider the implications for us in Israel.
Speakers:
Sheila Katz, CEO National Council of Jewish Women
Lisa Eisen, Co-President, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Anat Thon Ashkenazi, Director of the Center for Democratic Values and Institutions at the Israel Democracy Institute.
The US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturns Roe v Wade and paves the way for US states to outlaw abortion, has sent shockwaves throughout the US and beyond. Reversing achievements for gender justice that seemed immutable, the decision is a manifestation of larger anti-democratic processes that are being felt around the world including and especially here in Israel.
Canadian Funders Forum 7/21/22
From Findings to Funding Cohort 2: Session 3
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 7/13/22

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Jaré Akchin
Vice President
Jewish Community Impact, Third Plateau
Impact Investing Roundtable 7/12/22

Time: 12-1 pm ET/9-10 am PT/19:00-20:00 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Uriel Klar
Director, PLANETech
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
New Member Orientation - 07/06/22

Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Executive Vice President, Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu and JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other new members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
Facilitated Grantmaker-Grantseeker Conversation Series - Israel
From Findings to Funding Cohort 2: Session 2
Participatory Grantmaking in Action

Participatory grantmaking (PGM) is an approach to bridging the gap between grantmakers and those they serve, by including and/or empowering the people affected by funding decisions to participate in the decision-making. Join us for an engaging conversation with Kim Newstadt, Director of Research & Learning at the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, Aaron Shield, community memberfrom the Reflect Cincy Committee, and Aleeza Lubin, Managing Director, Program Operations at UpStart, about how they have put the principles of PGM into practice in their grantmaking. We will also learn some key takeaways for grantmakers and grantseekers who are interested in exploring this new model.
Read JFN's new guidebook: "Participatory Grantmaking in the Jewish Community and Beyond."
Speakers:
Kim Newstadt
Director of Research & Learning
Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati
Aaron Shield
Community member, Reflect Cincy Committee
Aleeza Lubin
Managing Director, Program Operations
UpStart
Facilitator:
Jaré Akchin
Vice President for Jewish Community Impact
Third Plateau
This webinar is presented by GrantED, a joint project of Jewish Funders Network and UpStart that works to strengthen relationships between grantmakers and grantseekers in the Jewish community. To learn more, visit www.jgranted.org.
Impact Investing Roundtable 6/20/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Itzik Frid
Managing Partner and CEO, Takwin
Bolstering Arab entrepreneurship in Israel
Adam Hirsch
COO & CFO, The Russell Berrie Foundation
Michael Lustig
JFN Member & Impact Investor
Orri Avraham
CEO of Wishingwell
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Canadian Funders Forum 6/16/22
The philanthropic community meets the Israeli First Lady
Warming Up - A Joint Summer Event for the Philanthropic Community in Israel
with
First Lady Michal Herzog
Featuring The Israeli Climate Change Forum
The event includes speakers, panel discussions, group discussions, and networking.
Speakers
First Lady Michal Herzog
Dr. Tali Yariv Mashal
Executive Director of the Beracha Foundation
Chair of the Forum of Foundations in Israel
Dr. Dov Khenin
Chair of The Israeli Climate Change Forum, Former MK
Ram Amar
JFN Member, Founder of the NZO Initiative, Impact Investor
JFN members - please RSVP below
Non-JFN members please email: [email protected]
*The event will be held in Hebrew | The number of participants is limited
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 6/15

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
How Grandparents Can Create a Family Culture of Tzedakah

Online: 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT
How do we encourage our grandkids to be generous, to give of what they own, and to be aware of the needs of others? By creating a culture of tzedakah in our families. Join JFN's Honeycomb and The Jewish Grandparents network for a session that will help you connect with your grandchildren in meaningful and interactive ways through the act of Tzedakah.
In this session we will:
• Explore giving and family heritage through traditional Jewish texts that enrich our understanding of the world today.
• Experience interactive family activities such as conversation starters and playing cards that explore Jewish values and social justice.
• Emphasize the unique role grandparents can play in creating a family culture of giving.
A program of JFN, Honeycomb is the leading resource for engaging the next generation in Jewish philanthropy.
Open to all!
Impact Investing Roundtable 5/23/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Yakir Segev
CEO, Kulam
Nisan Zeevi
Vice President, Margalit Startup City
Hana Rais
Financial Unit Coordinator, JVP
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Rest and Rejuvenation: The Importance of Sabbaticals in the Jewish Nonprofit Sector

Join GrantED to learn more about the importance of sabbaticals in the Jewish nonprofit sector, and how grantmakers and grantseekers can work together to build in opportunities for rest and rejuvenation that will strengthen communal leaders and our sector. This webinar will be moderated by the team from R&R: Rest of Our Lives, Josh Feldman, and Rachel Zieleniec. Featured speakers will include Claire Peeps of The Durfee Foundation, a leader in sabbatical support, and Sabbatical Award recipient: Stephanie Klasky-Gamer of LA Family Housing.
Speakers:
Claire Peeps
Executive Director, The Durfee Foundation
Stephanie Klasky-Gamer
President and CEO, LA Family Housing
Rachel Zieleniec
Program Director, Rest of Our Lives
Facilitator:
Josh Feldman
Founder, R&R: The Rest of Our Lives
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 5/18

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
Senior Program Officer at the Ford Foundation.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
"Antisemitic Attitudes across the Ideological Spectrum": A Conversation with Dr. Eitan Hersh, 2022 Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award Winner

The Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award (ERA) is inspired by Ilia Salita z"l and Ilia's passion for informed, data-driven philanthropy. The first recipient of the award is the study "Antisemitic Attitudes across the Ideological Spectrum" by Dr. Eitan Hersh.
Join us for a dynamic conversation with Dr. Eitan Hersh who will present his award-winning research and the key findings of his research, as well as how these findings have the potential to impact the Jewish community and inform your funding strategies.
Speakers:
Dr. Eitan Hersh
Associate Professor of Political Science, Tufts University
Karyn Cohen
Director, One8 Foundation
From Findings to Funding Cohort 2: Session 1
JFN IL Membership Event & Farewell to Maya Natan
We are delighted to have you with us at JFN's membership event where we will bid farewell and express our gratitude to Maya Natan, Founding Director of JFN Israel
Join us for a festive networking event to mark the 13th anniversary of our JFN IL community and its' impact on creating impactful strategic philanthropy in Israel.
* The event will be held in Hebrew
Be the Change: A CANVAS Conversation with Ruth Messinger, Caron Tabb, and Jewish Arts Collaborative

How did a legendary Jewish activist influence a Jewish artist to launch a national art project rooted in the Jewish tradition of tzedakah? Learn the answer to that question and many more! Please join us for this revealing and inspiring CANVAS conversation with Ruth Messinger, Caron Tabb, and Jewish Arts Collaborative.
Be the Change is a 2022-2023 art and activism initiative inspired by the Jewish tenet of justice and drawing from the ritualistic Jewish tzedakah box. Taking place in Boston, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, and online, Be the Change will help viewers connect to issues of injustice and empower them to become agents of change.
Through the intersection of art and action, Be the Change aims to rally the community at large towards justice and to lower barriers to enable us all to be agents of change in tangible ways around real local issues.
Three cities.
18 pieces (chai = life) of public art by local emergent artists. 30+ community partnerships.
One big year of change.
Project Roots:
Be the Change is inspired by two pieces in artist Caron Tabb’s 2021 show, Humanity is Not a Spectator Sport. When seeking to create a show that would allow all to engage with justice through the art, Caron connected with Ruth Messinger, Founding President of the American Jewish World Service.
Ruth’s dream? A giant tzedakah box outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art featuring the phrase “BE THE CHANGE.” Thanks to Ruth's vision, inspiration, and partnership, Be the Change is the first national public art project led by JArts.
Speakers:
Caron Tabb was born in apartheid South Africa, raised on a farm in Israel from the age of 8, and has lived in the U.S. for the last 20 years. After years of working in the nonprofit world, she turned her focus to art. These key biographical elements and her passion for social justice issues deeply impact her artistic practice. In addition to traditional painting and photography, she incorporates many found objects and unconventional materials into her work. Her conceptual mixed-media and installation pieces address issues of social inequality, racial justice, and feminism as seen through the lens of her deep Jewish identity. Caron has shown her work at the MFA, Boston, the Beacon Gallery, the Rukus Pop-Up gallery, and Hebrew College. Caron is a Rothko Chapel fellow and sits on the board of the Jewish Arts Collaborative.
The IDF’s Biggest Challenge

As Israel celebrates its 74th birthday, we take pride in the remarkable success story of the IDF, which secured Israel’s independence and continues to guarantee its survival today. But the military is changing rapidly: in today’s "Startup Nation," cyber warriors are fast replacing foot soldiers on the front lines of the modern battlefield. At the same time, Israeli society is changing in ways that threaten the IDF’s future ability to protect the country. Alarmingly, less than half of Israeli 18-year-olds currently serve in the "people’s army," and the current model of service is clearly unsustainable. Yet what can replace it?
Join IDI experts for a fascinating discussion on the changing relationship between the army and society in Israel and their implications for Israel’s security and its democracy.
Speakers:
Prof. Amichai Cohen
Senior Fellow, The Amnon Lipkin-Shahak Program on National Security and Democracy
Yohanan Plesner
President, Israel Democracy Institute
Moderator:
Dr. Idit Shafran Gittleman
Director, Military and Society Program
Be the Story: Creating Inspired Philanthropy

Storytelling is the most powerful tool to create change. Together, in this inspiring and interactive in-person gathering, we will take a deep dive into the process of storytelling as a powerful philanthropic tool, guided by Andy Goodman of the Goodman Center.
Our presenters will also include writer and director Ezra Edmond, creator of "Blewish," and filmmaker Roberta Grossman, Producing Director of the Jewish Story Partners, among others.
More details here!
JFN West: Be the Story Gathering
JFN IL Young Funders Forum: "Medor Ledor"- leadership, philanthropy & family
Join us as we celebrate the arrival of spring for a morning of great people, good food and an open conversation
with Sigal Yaniv Feller, Executive director, JFN Israel.
Improving Organizational Health for Greater Impact

A healthy organization is not only more sustainable and impactful, but it is also a better place to work. Join GrantED to learn about how grantmakers and grantseekers can partner to improve organizational health, and in turn strengthen the Jewish communal field. Consultant Amy Tobin will share recommendations for aligning values, culture, capacity, and priorities so that organizations are better equipped to positively impact their communities. You will hear from Idit Klein, President and CEO of Keshet, and Liana Krupp, President and Trustee of the Krupp Family Foundation, who will reflect on their own grantseeker/grantmaker partnership and how they collaborate to prioritize organizational health.
Speakers:
Amy Tobin
Consultant, Organizational Development
Idit Klein
President & CEO, Keshet
Liana Krupp
President & Trustee, Krupp Family Foundation
Postcards to a Little Boy: A Kindertransport Story

Tuesday, April 26 from 11am-12pm ET | 8-9am PT | 18:00-19:00 Israel
Henry Foner (Heinz Lichtwitz) was only 6 years old when he left Germany without his family to escape the terror of the Third Reich. He was one of 10,000 Jewish children who was rescued on the Kindertransport program which sent the children to live in safety with families in England. From the moment they parted, Max Lichtwitz, Henry's father, sent him colorful postcards -- initially in German, and later in English when Henry no longer remembered his native tongue -- illustrated with humorous drawings and charming pictures and containing a short, loving message. The postcards were later featured in a book published by Yad Vashem Publications.
We welcome you to join us as Maya Foner, Director of Programs at JFN Israel, speaks with her father, Dr. Henry Foner, about his personal story in a special program for Yom HaShoah. They will be joined by JFN member Martin Herskovitz, creator of "Creating Memory," a free, arts-based initiative for Holocaust education that uses the creative arts and exploration of relatable themes to connect students to the Holocaust in new ways.
Speakers:
Dr. Henry Foner
Author, Postcards to a Little Boy: A Kindertransport Story
Martin Herskovitz
Project Creator, Creating Memory: An arts-based initiative in Holocaust education
Moderator:
Maya Foner
Director of Programs, JFN Israel
Impact Investing Roundtable 4/25/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 IST
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Mike Berman
Investor, Kedma Solar
Arieh Doobov
Director, Israeli Taskforce on Sustainable International Development
Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research
Seth Merrin
Co-Chair, Jewish Development Finance Organization
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 4/13

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Speakers:
To be announced.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
test sarit
Andrés Spokoiny |
Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu |
Senior Staff
Seth Brown |
Ari Rudolph |
Mara Silvers |
Sigal Yaniv Feller |
Tzivia Schwartz Getzug |
U.S. Staff
Hannah Bloom-Hirschberg |
Beth Cooper Benjamin |
Merav David |
Marnie Dubow Executive Assitant/Office Manager |
Debra Feldstein |
Brad Garoon |
Nora Gaughn |
Sarah Horowitz |
Ronit Segal |
Rachel Sumekh |
Talia Topper |
Israel Staff
Sharon Dwek |
Maya Foner |
Maya Golan |
Sarit Lior |
Reut Stoller |
Gil Yaacov |
Honeycomb
Danielle Segal |
Sarah Ruderman |
Matthew Bergman |
National PAG Post-Con 2022
CEO Lunch

At this invitation-only, in-person event just before the kickoff of JFN's 2022 International Conference, you’ll have the opportunity for a rich discussion on leadership challenges of the post-pandemic period.
Ron Ashkenas, a leadership consultant who has worked with both corporations and nonprofit organizations, will facilitate the conversation. His clients have included J.P Morgan Chase, Cisco Systems, The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Pfizer, Merck, The World Bank, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Zurich Financial Services, ConAgra Foods, Applied Materials, Visiting Nurse Services of New York, Thomson Reuters, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Stanford University Hospital. Ron was part of the original team that collaborated with then-CEO Jack Welch to develop GE's Work-Out approach for creating a faster, simpler, and more nimble organization. Lately, he’s been working with the Robin Hood Foundation and its grantees, as well as advising Leading Edge. He’s also a leading Harvard Business Review writer.
The pandemic, and the uncertainty we are still experiencing, has upended many of our traditional notions of leadership; so we want to focus on what type of leadership we need – both in our foundations and in our grantees – to face the challenges and leverage the opportunities that we confront. How to deal with a transformed workplace? How to understand the changes around us? How to implement the structural changes that our community needs? How to be bold and decisive in the face of uncertainty? And what are our own personal and professional dilemmas given the uniqueness of our role?
The session will offer us a framework to understand those challenges but, most importantly, will include an interactive part in which we’ll be able to debate and discuss from our own professional perspectives.
Please note that to attend this lunch, you must RSVP here AND register for the conference.
JFN 2022 International Conference

JFN's first fully in-person international conference since 2019 will be at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach, Fla., from March 27-29, and is focusing on the theme of "Reconnecting & Resilience."
PLEASE NOTE: We are thrilled to have you join us at the conference, but as of March 9, we are no longer able to assist with any hotel bookings, as rooms are completely sold out.
Speakers include Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum, former Ambassador Dennis Ross, author Casper ter Kulle, author/sociologist Richard Florida, and Jewish studies professor Ilana Horwitz. All registrants must show proof of Covid vaccination, including booster.
Learn more on the conference website.
JFN 2022 Chair's Reception

Join us for a special VIP reception for JFN board members and conference sponsors. Mingle with friends before the conference kicks into high gear. Drinks and light refreshments will be served.
The location will be announced soon. All food will be kosher.
JFN IL Orientation meeting: Israeli delegation to Palm Beach
Networking and Orientation Meeting for the Israeli delegation to the 2022 JFN International Conference in Palm Beach
Join us to discover how to navigate through the diverse conference content to create the most meaningful participation experience for you!
Meet your fellow JFN members attending the conference, and get a glimpse into the burning issues currently on the agenda of American Jewry.
Special guest speaker: Moshe Samuels, the creator, and writer of “The New Jew,“ an Israeli TV documentary series about American Jews and Judaism.
FAMILY | POLITICS | ART: A Conversation About Division and Healing with Photographer Gillian Laub

Join CANVAS this week for a special session of Matters of the Art, this Thursday at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT, 19:00 IL) with photographer Gillian Laub.
CANVAS is a Jewish arts and culture funding collaborative incubated at Jewish Funders Network, and Matters of the Art is a CANVAS/JFN funder group dedicated to exploring trends, opportunities, and gaps in the field of Jewish arts and culture.
At this week's session, Gillian will talk about her recent book "Family Matters," one of the most bracing and important photo memoirs of the decade. It’s a deeply personal work that chronicles 20 years in the artist’s family — their distinctly Jewish sensibilities, their successful rise in business, and the profound rifts that tore them apart during the Trump years. The work has won universal acclaim, has been featured as an exhibition at the International Center of Photography, in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and in CANVAS's newsletter, CANVAS Compendium.
CANVAS' goal is to elevate the finest creativity our community has to offer. Gillian’s "Family Matters" has the power to elevate us all. We hope you’ll take some time to explore the work and its impact with us.
Exploring Participatory Grantmaking in the Jewish Community

Participatory grantmaking (PGM) is an approach to bridging the gap between grantmakers and those they serve, by including and/or empowering the people affected by funding decisions to participate in the decision-making. To mark the release of JFN's forthcoming guidebook, "Exploring Participatory Grantmaking in the Jewish Community and Beyond," grantmakers and grantseekers are invited to join GrantEd in conversation with Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies to learn about this increasingly popular philanthropic tool and its applicability in the Jewish community.
Speakers:
Jaré Akchin
Vice President for Jewish Community Impact, Third Plateau
Ariel Platt
Director, Third Plateau
Lani Santo
Chief Executive Officer, Footsteps
More presenters to be announced.
This webinar is presented by GrantED, a joint project of Jewish Funders Network and UpStart that works to strengthen relationships between grantmakers and grantseekers in the Jewish community. To learn more, visit www.jgranted.org.
The Art of Storytelling: Our Personal Exodus Narratives

Please note: this program is open to JFN West members only.
Storytelling is the overarching theme for JFN West programming in 2022. Our May 9-10 JFN West convening will be focused on building these skills with expert storytellers and facilitators. As an exciting introduction to the theme, we invite you to join us and theatre dybbuk for "The Art of Storytelling: Our Personal Exodus Narratives."
Using the Exodus narrative as a point of inspiration, all participants will develop their own unique stories, aligning themes from these stories with their philanthropy and the impact they wish to have on the world. This is your chance to begin to hone your storytelling skills in order to inspire others to more and better philanthropy!
Speaker:
Aaron Henne
Artistic Director, theater dybbuk
JFN IL Young Funders Forum - From Noise to Voice
מיכל קורמר נבו היא פרופ' לעבודה סוציאלית שמובילה גישה חדשנית ופורצת דרך בהסתכלות על היבטי עוני בישראל ובעולם.
מחקרה עוסק בהסתכלות מחודשת על עוני ובאימפקט הרב שיש בשיתוף המוטבים בתהליכי קבלת החלטות, בכדי להיטיב עם אוכלוסיית הקצה ולייצר שינוי מהותי.
זוהי הזדמנות ייחודית לכל מי שמוביל שינוי חברתי בישראל להיחשף לגישה חדשנית שנוגעת לאוכלוסיות יעד שונות ומגוונות.
שימו לב- המפגש יתקיים בזום, ביום שני, 7 במרץ 2022, בשעה 18:00 .
המפגש יאפשר לנו להכיר את הגישה שפיתחה קורמר נבו - נדון בגישות שונות לשיתוף אוכלוסיות היעד בתהליכי קבלת ההחלטות במסגרת תהליכי הנתינה,
ונבחן כיצד ניתן להכיל את גישה זו בקרב קהלי היעד השונים והמגוונים למענם פועלים חברי וחברות הרשת.
מצפים לראותכם!
The meeting will take place virtually
Think Tank for foundation CEO’s
Join us in shaping the future of JFN Israel
Times are changing; The ongoing pandemic has altered life as we knew it, generated new routines, and created considerable transformations while impacting the social field and all levels of philanthropic work.
Change is also an opportunity for growth and renewal. Therefore, for the second time since the founding of JFN Israel and with new management at the helm, we invite our members to come together, to listen, think and gain a deeper mutual understanding of your foundation’s evolving needs. Through your foundation’s philanthropic journey, we hope to harvest insights on how the philanthropic community in Israel and globally can be meaningful to you and to the network.
We invite you to join us for this special meeting for foundations’ representors and CEOs, generously hosted by EDRF. The think tank process will provide an empowering opportunity to sound your voice, as you take part in ushering JFN Israel into its next chapter.
JFN West: Coffee with Jim Heeger

This is part of "Coffee with...," a series designed to provide a unique opportunity for JFN West members to engage in small-group conversation with and among JFN leaders and members.
After a long career as a CEO and senior software executive in Silicon Valley, Jim Heeger now works full-time as a board member of Jewish nonprofit organizations. Currently, he serves as the Board Chair of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, having joined that board in 2012. He believes in the power of Jewish camp to create young, committed, joyful Jews. He has also been a past Chair of the Advisory Board of his local camp, URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif., overseeing a $23 million renovation of its facilities.
Jim is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Moishe House, the Immediate Past Chair of the San Francisco Jewish Federation, and a board member of the Jewish Federations of North America. He has also been President of Hillel at Stanford, Senior Vice-chair of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and President of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. He earned an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and a BS in management from MIT. Jim lives in Palo Alto, Calif., and Lenox, Mass., with his wife Daryl Messinger who is a past Chair of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).
Exclusive Briefing with JDC on the Situation in Ukraine

Please note that the information shared in this webinar is strictly confidential.
As the crisis in Ukraine continues to build, the Ukrainian people—including the Jewish community there—face grave dangers and challenges.
Join us for an exclusive briefing with Stefan Oscar from JFN member organization the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) on the overall situation in Ukraine, JDC's past work in the country, and responses during the current crisis.
Speakers:
Stefan Oscar
JDC FSU Executive Director
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 8
Sustainability Diagnostic Tool: A New Way to Collaboratively Measure Impact

Join GrantED to learn about the "Sustainability Diagnostic Tool": a new tool created by the Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative Powered by Jewish Federations of North America to support both grantmakers and grantseekers in determining a program's impact and success. The tool, adapted especially for GrantED by Sara Allen (Executive Director, Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative) and Aaron Saxe (Senior Program Officer, Jim Joseph Foundation) to increase the usage of the tool beyond the teen engagement space. This webinar is a great opportunity for both grantseekers and grantmakers to learn how to collaboratively evaluate programs and determine improvements to create an even deeper impact on the Jewish community.
Speakers:
Sara Allen
Executive Director
Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative
Rebecca Weinstock
Director of Partnerships and Grants
The Associated
Sam Kahan Strakes
Co-Managing Senior Director
4Front
Moderator:
Wayne Green
Executive Director
Honeycomb
The Impact of Megagifts on Philanthropy

In June 2021, philanthropists MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett announced an unprecedented $2.7 billion in gifts to 286 high-impact organizations working for social change in historically underfunded and overlooked communities. Repair the World and HIAS were two of the recipients of these transformational, unsolicited and unrestricted grants — and the implications are profound for both organizations.
Join us for a conversation with Kate Belza O'Bannon (Chief Strategy Officer, Repair the World) and Melanie Nezer (Senior Vice President, Global Public Affairs, HIAS) on how they are navigating the benefits and challenges of receiving a once-in-a-lifetime megagift, how they are maintaining and strengthening their relationships with existing donors, and what funders can learn about the role such donations can play in achieving their strategic and philanthropic goals. This conversation will be moderated by Kathy Reich (Director, Building Institutions and Networks, Ford Foundation).
Speakers:
Kate Belza O'Bannon
Chief Strategy Officer
Repair the World
Melanie Nezer
Senior Vice President, Global Public Affairs
HIAS
Moderator:
Kathy Reich
Director, Building Institutions and Networks
Ford Foundation
JFN 101: Orientation for New Members and Anyone Wanting a Refresher

12-1 pm ET/ 9-10 am PT/ 7-8 pm IL
Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
All JFN members, new and old, are welcome!
JFN IL: Think Tank hosted by Adina Shapiro
Join us in shaping the future of JFN Israel
Times are changing; The ongoing pandemic has altered life as we knew it, generated new routines, and created considerable transformations while impacting the social field and all levels of philanthropic work.
Change is also an opportunity for growth and renewal. Therefore, for the second time since the founding of JFN Israel and with new management at the helm, we invite our members to come together, to listen, think and gain a deeper mutual understanding of your evolving needs. Through your philanthropic journey, we hope to harvest insights on how the philanthropic community in Israel and globally can be meaningful to you and to the network.
We invite you to join us for one of several meetings generously hosted by JFN members. The think tank process will provide an empowering opportunity to sound your voice, as you take part in ushering JFN Israel into its next chapter.
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 7
JFN IL: Think Tank hosted by Miki Lion
Join us in shaping the future of JFN Israel
Times are changing; The ongoing pandemic has altered life as we knew it, generated new routines, and created considerable transformations while impacting the social field and all levels of philanthropic work.
Change is also an opportunity for growth and renewal. Therefore, for the second time since the founding of JFN Israel and with new management at the helm, we invite our members to come together, to listen, think and gain a deeper mutual understanding of your evolving needs. Through your philanthropic journey, we hope to harvest insights on how the philanthropic community in Israel and globally can be meaningful to you and to the network.
We invite you to join us for one of several meetings generously hosted by JFN members. The think tank process will provide an empowering opportunity to sound your voice, as you take part in ushering JFN Israel into its next chapter.
Climate Change and Us: Where Do We Go from Here? (Fifth in a Five-Part Series)

19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
It’s not just about the weather — the growing climate emergency presents a serious risk to the pursuit of all philanthropic aims. All aspects of society will be affected and we can use our philanthropy to make a difference. We have less than 10 years to act, and all funders -- whatever their mission and field of expertise — can have an immense potential for positive impact. It’s time to plan our role as individual philanthropists and collectively - We owe it to future generations.
Join JFN’s Green Funders Forum for “Global Warning: Climate Change and Jewish Philanthropy,” a five-part series. This is particularly timely in light of November’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Session 5 - Climate Change and Us: An Interactive Discussion on the Role of Jewish Philanthropy to Impact Climate Change
Monday, February 14, (19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT)
An interactive discussion on the role of the Jewish philanthropic community: What can we do, individually and collectively?
We encourage you to review the recording and presentations from the previous session on Practical Steps for Philanthropy to Impact Climate Change.
Participants are eligible for a free consultation meeting - please email [email protected] for more details.
Green Funders Forum is a JFN peer network that brings together dozens of funders and foundation representatives from Israel and throughout the Jewish world with experts from academia, the government, and the philanthropic sector for learning, sharing, consultation, and skill-building in various subjects related to environmental protection in Israel. Watch Green Funders Forum videos here.
This event is open to all funders.
If you would like to participate but are not a JFN member, please email [email protected].
How to Respond to the Delegitimization of Israel on College Campuses

The delegitimization of Israel on college campuses has a silencing effect and creates a hostile environment in which Jewish students and faculty members are sometimes afraid to express their identity and support for Israel. Non-Jewish students and faculty are not always well educated about the Middle East, and often prefer to avoid a toxic discussion. Join us for a panel discussion featuring two experts who will provide complementary perspectives and approaches to addressing this challenge, as well as Lauren Rutkin of the Geller Family Foundation, which funds in this space:
Speakers:
Dr. Shahar Sadeh
Director of Strategic Affairs
Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
Megan Nathan
Managing Director
Israel on Campus Coalition
Moderator:
Lauren Rutkin
Geller Family Foundation
JFN Webinar: How to Respond to the Delegitimization of Israel on College Campuses

The delegitimization of Israel on college campuses has a silencing effect and creates a hostile environment in which Jewish students and faculty members are sometimes afraid to express their identity and support for Israel. Non-Jewish students and faculty are not always well educated about the Middle East, and often prefer to avoid a toxic discussion. Join us for a panel discussion featuring two experts who will provide complementary perspectives and approaches to addressing this challenge, as well as Lauren Rutkin of the Geller Family Foundation, which funds in this space:
Dr. Shahar Sadeh
Faculty Engagement Program Director
Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
Megan Nathan
Managing Director
Israel on Campus Coalition
Moderator:
Lauren Rutkin
Geller Family Foundation
Canadian Funders Forum 2/10/22
JFN IL: Think Tank hosted by Sara Sela
Join us in shaping the future of JFN Israel
Times are changing; The ongoing pandemic has altered life as we knew it, generated new routines, and created considerable transformations while impacting the social field and all levels of philanthropic work.
Change is also an opportunity for growth and renewal. Therefore, for the second time since the founding of JFN Israel and with new management at the helm, we invite our members to come together, to listen, think and gain a deeper mutual understanding of your evolving needs. Through your philanthropic journey, we hope to harvest insights on how the philanthropic community in Israel and globally can be meaningful to you and to the network.
We invite you to join us for one of several meetings generously hosted by JFN members. The think tank process will provide an empowering opportunity to sound your voice, as you take part in ushering JFN Israel into its next chapter.
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 2/9

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building. This month we will be joined by David Ehrlichman, author of the new book "Impact Networks," for a session focused on how to build networks–including our own grantmaking professional community–to have impact in the world.
Speaker:
David Ehrlichman
Author, "Impact Networks"
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 6
JFN IL: Think Tank hosted by Shawna Goodman
Join us in shaping the future of JFN Israel
Times are changing; The ongoing pandemic has altered life as we knew it, generated new routines, and created considerable transformations while impacting the social field and all levels of philanthropic work.
Change is also an opportunity for growth and renewal. Therefore, for the second time since the founding of JFN Israel and with new management at the helm, we invite our members to come together, to listen, think and gain a deeper mutual understanding of your evolving needs. Through your philanthropic journey, we hope to harvest insights on how the philanthropic community in Israel and globally can be meaningful to you and to the network.
We invite you to join us for one of several meetings generously hosted by JFN members. The think tank process will provide an empowering opportunity to sound your voice, as you take part in ushering JFN Israel into its next chapter.
Ethics of Power: Session 3
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 5
Israel’s ‘Selfie’ – The 2021 Israeli Democracy Index

Yohanan Plesner, President of the Israel Democracy Institute, and Prof. Tamar Hermann, Director of Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research, will discuss the exclusive data in the 2021 Israeli Democracy Index presented to President Isaac Herzog earlier this month. Published annually since 2003, the Democracy Index provides an in-depth assessment of Israeli democracy based on a comprehensive survey of public opinion. The Index’s analysis of survey findings creates a database for informed decision-making among policymakers seeking to strengthen Israeli democracy and preserve the country’s unique Jewish character.
Speakers
Yohanan Plesner
President
Israel Democracy Institute
Prof. Tamar Hermann
Director of Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research
Israel Democracy Institute
Moderator
Dr. Jesse Ferris
Vice President of Strategy
Israel Democracy Institute
The Protective Power of Community Connection

Who struggled the most in the Jewish community at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic? Join the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty and the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis for a data-centered conversation on the financial and material hardships experienced by members of the Jewish American community. First, we will hear from experts in the field on the pandemic's economic impact and who in Jewish communities struggled the most. Then, we will discuss the surprising and powerful effect that staying connected through Jewish community networks has in supporting both mental and financial well-being. Integrating data and theory, we’ll learn how the Jewish community has kept us feeling connected and supported through the pandemic, and learn how we can ensure others do not get left behind.
Speakers:
Michal Grinstein-Weiss
Director, Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis
Carol Graham
Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
More to be confirmed
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor, The Bridgespan Group
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 4
How to Best Prepare for an Evaluation as a Grantmaker or Grantseeker

Join GrantED for an engaging webinar about how to best prepare for an evaluation for both grantmakers and grantseekers. This webinar will provide concrete tools, tips, and tricks for both grantseekers and grantmakers to transparently share information, discuss challenges, and create a plan for the most impact. After the webinar, participants will be given a tool to help support this work.
Speakers
Dr. Wendy Rosov
Founder & Principal, Rosov Consulting
Mike Boberg
Director of Impact Assessment, Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati
Marie Krulewitch-Browne
Executive and Artistic Director, ish
JFN Event: How to Respond to the Delegitimization of Israel on College Campuses

NOTE: This webinar has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 10th. Please register here.
The delegitimization of Israel on college campuses has a silencing effect and creates a hostile environment in which Jewish students and faculty members are sometimes afraid to express their identity and support for Israel. Non-Jewish students and faculty are not always well educated about the Middle East, and often prefer to avoid a toxic discussion. Join us for a panel discussion featuring two experts who will provide complementary perspectives and approaches to addressing this challenge, as well as Lauren Rutkin of the Geller Family Foundation, which funds in this space:
Speakers:
Dr. Shahar Sadeh
Director of Strategic Affairs
Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
Megan Nathan
Managing Director
Israel on Campus Coalition
Moderator:
Lauren Rutkin
Geller Family Foundation
JFN IL Membership Event & Farewell to Maya Natan - postponed!
the event is postponed!
We are delighted to have you with us at JFN's membership event where we will bid farewell and express our gratitude to Maya Natan, Founding Director of JFN Israel
Join us for a festive networking event to mark the 13th anniversary of our JFN IL community and its' impact on creating impactful strategic philanthropy in Israel.
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 3
Impact Investing Roundtable 1/13/22

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/19:00-20:30 ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Sandrine Montsma
Managing Partner, Bridges Israel
Marcia Riklis
Chair, JFN Board of Directors
Adam Bendell
CEO, Toniic
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 1/12

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 2
Aging in Israel: Challenges, Opportunities, and Philanthropic Initiatives

12-1:30 p.m. ET/ 9-10:30 a.m. PT/ 19:00-20:30 IL
Join us as we discuss the current status of Israel's older adult population, glimpse into the future, and explore effective philanthropic efforts.
Keynote Speaker Yossi Heymann (CEO, JDC-Israel ESHEL) will provide an up-to-date overview of the field of aging in Israel, sharing data, future projections, large-scale initiatives, and government and civil society work in this field.
JFN members Joseph Gitler, Astorre Modena, and Claims Conference will share their philanthropic prototypes of engagement as well as COVID lessons learned.
The session will offer the opportunity for an open funders’ conversation to explore our relationship with aging on both the personal and philanthropic levels.
Canadian Funders Forum 1/10/22
Philanthropic Responses, Lessons and Opportunities (Fourth in a Five-Part Series)

19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
It’s not just about the weather — the growing climate emergency presents a serious risk to the pursuit of all philanthropic aims. All aspects of society will be affected and we can use our philanthropy to make a difference. We have less than 10 years to act, and all funders -- whatever their mission and field of expertise — can have an immense potential for positive impact. It’s time to plan our role as individual philanthropists and collectively - We owe it to future generations.
Join JFN’s Green Funders Forum for “Global Warning: Climate Change and Jewish Philanthropy,” a five-part series. This is particularly timely in light of November’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Participants will be eligible for a free consultation meeting to explore personal philanthropic strategies around this issue.
Participants are encouraged -- although not required -- to attend the entire five-part series.
Session 4 - Philanthropic Responses, Lessons, and Opportunities
Monday, January 10, (19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT)
Explore interesting and innovative models of philanthropic responses to climate change.
Speakers
Benjamin Bellegy
Executive Director
Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS)
Tali Yariv-Mashal, PhD
Chair, Forum of Foundations in Israel
Director, the Beracha Foundation
Gideon Stein, PhD
Director, Pashdor Impact Investments
Co-Founder, Value² Responsible Investment Fund
Green Funders Forum is a JFN peer network that brings together dozens of funders and foundation representatives from Israel and throughout the Jewish world with experts from academia, the government, and the philanthropic sector for learning, sharing, consultation, and skill-building in various subjects related to environmental protection in Israel. Watch Green Funders Forum videos here.
This event is open to all funders.
If you would like to participate but are not a JFN member, please email [email protected].
Upcoming sessions in the series:
(Speakers and other details coming soon)
Climate Change and Us: Where Do We Go from Here?
Monday, February 14
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Ethics of Power: Session 2
Certificate in Jewish Impact Investing Course: Session 1
Coffee with Andres 12/20
JFN Israel – Jerusalem Meetup

Join us for a fun evening as we deepen connections with the Jerusalem JFN community and an opportunity to meet Sigal Yaniv-Feller the incoming Executive Director of JFN Israel.
Generously hosted by Dr. Karen Friedman and Prof. Yedidia Stern
The Protective Power of Community Connection

UPDATE: We will be re-scheduling this program for a new date in January. Stay tuned for more information soon!
Who struggled the most in the Jewish community at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic? Join the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty and the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis for a data-centered conversation on the financial and material hardships experienced by members of the Jewish American community. First, we will hear from experts in the field on the pandemic's economic impact and who in Jewish communities struggled the most. Then, we will discuss the surprising and powerful effect that staying connected through Jewish community networks has in supporting both mental and financial well-being. Integrating data and theory, we’ll learn how the Jewish community has kept us feeling connected and supported through the pandemic, and learn how we can ensure others do not get left behind.
Speakers:
Michal Grinstein-Weiss
Director, Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis
Carol Graham
Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
More to be confirmed
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor, The Bridgespan Group
Coffee with Rebecca 12.15.21
Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators (Third in a Three-Part Series) - JCF MW

12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
JFN and CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) present the three-part webinar series: "Career Trajectories of Jewish Educators: Key Findings for the Funding Community."
Join CASJE’s managing director, Dr. Arielle Levites, members of the Career Trajectories research team, and funders in the space of Jewish education for a high-level presentation of key findings and a facilitated discussion foregrounding the unique questions, concerns, and opportunities of the funding community to translate research into practice and policy. These webinars will be of interest to foundations that support both Jewish and general education. You can sign up for an individual session, or register for all three.
Supply and Demand: Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators
Tuesday, December 14 from 12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
Speakers:
Stacie Cherner
Director of Learning and Evaluation
Jim Joseph Foundation
Arielle Levites, PhD
Managing Director, CASJE- Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education
Alex Pomson, PhD
Principal and Managing Director, Rosov Consulting
Additional Sessions in This Series
- Session 1: Monday, October 18 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator
- Session 2: Monday, November 15 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Should I Stay or Should I Go?: The Journeys of Jewish Educators
Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators (Third in a Three-Part Series)

12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
JFN and CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) present the three-part webinar series: "Career Trajectories of Jewish Educators: Key Findings for the Funding Community."
Join CASJE’s managing director, Dr. Arielle Levites, members of the Career Trajectories research team, and funders in the space of Jewish education for a high-level presentation of key findings and a facilitated discussion foregrounding the unique questions, concerns, and opportunities of the funding community to translate research into practice and policy. These webinars will be of interest to foundations that support both Jewish and general education. You can sign up for an individual session, or register for all three.
Supply and Demand: Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators
Tuesday, December 14 from 12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
Speakers:
Stacie Cherner
Director of Learning and Evaluation
Jim Joseph Foundation
Arielle Levites, PhD
Managing Director, CASJE- Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education
Alex Pomson, PhD
Principal and Managing Director, Rosov Consulting
Additional Sessions in This Series
- Session 1: Monday, October 18 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator
- Session 2: Monday, November 15 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Should I Stay or Should I Go?: The Journeys of Jewish Educators
Civil Society’s Game-Changing Strategies (Third in a Five-Part Series)

19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
It’s not just about the weather — the growing climate emergency presents a serious risk to the pursuit of all philanthropic aims. All aspects of society will be affected and we can use our philanthropy to make a difference. We have less than 10 years to act, and all funders -- whatever their mission and field of expertise — can have an immense potential for positive impact. It’s time to plan our role as individual philanthropists and collectively - We owe it to future generations.
Join JFN’s Green Funders Forum for “Global Warning: Climate Change and Jewish Philanthropy,” a five-part series. This is particularly timely in light of November’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Participants will be eligible for a free consultation meeting to explore personal philanthropic strategies around this issue.
Participants are encouraged -- although not required -- to attend the entire five-part series.
Session 3 - Civil Society’s Game-Changing Strategies
Monday, December 13, (19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 p.m. ET, 9-10:30 a.m. PT)
From youth activism to shareholder activism, join us to explore inspiring game-changing strategies of leading NGOs and the diversity of needed actions.
Speakers
Moran Diment
Professional Development Manager
Life and Environment (the umbrella organization for Israeli environmental NGOs)
Yossi Cadan (Canada)
Senior Strategist
The Sunrise Project
Naomi Rozenberg
Activist (age 14)
Youth for Climate
Green Funders Forum is a JFN peer network that brings together dozens of funders and foundation representatives from Israel and throughout the Jewish world with experts from academia, the government, and the philanthropic sector for learning, sharing, consultation, and skill-building in various subjects related to environmental protection in Israel. Watch Green Funders Forum videos here.
This event is open to all funders.
If you would like to participate but are not a JFN member, please email [email protected].
Upcoming sessions in the series:
(Speakers and other details coming soon)
Philanthropic Responses, Lessons & Opportunities to Have a Positive Impact on Climate Change
Monday, January 10
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Climate Change and Us: Where Do We Go from Here?
Monday, February 14
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Giving through a Gender Lens

We're sorry, but this event is sold out!
How can we as funders increase gender equality in Israel’s social sector?
Join us as we explore power, identity and learn the impact of giving through a gender lens
Hosted by Dafna Meitar-Nechmad
Ethics of Power: Session 1
The Ethics of Power: A Four-Part Series for Funders

Jewish communal leadership aspires to the highest ethical standards, and yet, not infrequently, these aspirations go unmet. In part, this is because the Jewish community mirrors the same inequities around gender, race and class, and the scandal and misuse of power. The gaps between our values and our actions challenge the moral integrity of our communities. Yet at the same time, for some, the fear of yielding power bravely and responsibility – to set out a vision or to make commitments to values and actions – can often lead to inertia and paralysis.
This four-part seminar, which is cohort-based and open to principle funders and their families, will explore the ethics of power, what it means to have power and wield it ethically, and how, as a community, we navigate the way change and loss emerges when power relationships change.
These key questions will be explored throughout this four-part series:
- What are different currencies of power?
- How do we navigate change and loss?
- How do we navigate between moral imperatives and moral concerns?
- What is the relationship between charisma and corruption?
This series is open to principal funders and their families. Please note that this series is a cohort-based learning experience and full participation in all four sessions is encouraged in order to ensure the highest-quality experience for all participants. The first three sessions will be held via Zoom, and the fourth will take place in person at the JFN International Conference in Palm Beach, Fla.
Session Dates & Speakers:
Session 1 (Virtual):
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 from 12-1:30pm ET / 9-10:30am PT / 19:00-20:30 Israel
Mijal Bitton
Scholar in Residence
Session 2 (Virtual):
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 from 12-1:30pm ET / 9-10:30am PT / 19:00-20:30 Israel
Elana Stein Hain
Director of Faculty and Senior Fellow
Session 3 (Virtual):
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 from 12-1:30pm ET / 9-10:30am PT / 19:00-20:30 Israel
Mishael Zion
Faculty in Residence, Bay Area
Session 4 (In-Person):
March 2022 at JFN Conference (March 27-29, 2022 in Florida)
Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer
President of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America
Impact Investing Roundtable 12/7/21

Time: 12-1 pm ET/9-10 am PT/7-8 pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
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.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Enroll in JFN's Certificate Course in Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Vanessa Kacherginsky
Israel Forum for Impact Economy
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
From Findings to Funding: Session 3
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening 12/1

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals where we will come together for shared learning and community-building.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Senior Director, Programs
Jewish Funders Network
National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty: Funder Peer Network
Coffee with Andres 11/23
JFN 101: Orientation for New Members and Anyone Wanting a Refresher

12-1 pm ET/ 9-10 am PT/ 7-8 pm IL
Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
All JFN members, new and old, are welcome!
Divisions in the Religious Zionist Sector and the Battle Over Israel’s Jewish Identity

19:00-20:00 IL/ 12-1 pm ET/ 9:00-10:00 am PT
How are monumental changes taking place in Israel’s Religious Zionist sector affecting the Jewish community in Israel and abroad? What role can funders play to influence the outcome of these developments?
Israeli journalist and author Yair Ettinger will provide a glimpse into his book, "Unraveled" (published in Hebrew as "Prumim"). An English version of the book will be published in the coming year.
In his book, Yair argues that while the Religious Zionist community has become an integral part of Israel's leadership in a variety of sectors, and while it continues to grow in strength and confidence, its religious and ideological glue is disintegrating. Ideological unrest and conflicts on a historical scale divide the sector.
In this open conversation, Yair will describe the controversies that have shaken up the Religious Zionist sector and Modern Orthodoxy, including changes in the status of women and the status of rabbis.
JFN members Ruthi Saragosti and David Roth will share their philanthropic approaches to this sector, followed by a discussion about the importance/relevance of investing in this area of giving.
Speakers
Yair Ettinger
Israeli journalist and author of Unraveled
Ruthi Saragosti
Planning Director, Israel
UJA Federation of New York
David Roth
Executive Director
Yoreinu Foundation
Coffee with Rebecca_11_17
Unprecedented New Findings on Jews with Disabilities: What Does It Mean for the Future?

1-2 p.m. ET/ 10-11 a.m. PT/ 20:00-21:00 Israel
Join us for an exclusive presentation and facilitated discussion as we dive into the results of three major new studies on Jewish disability inclusion in the workforce. We will discuss:
- Successful models from Jewish human service agencies for increasing employment for people with disabilities;
- What Leading Edge has learned about Jews and others with disabilities who work at Jewish organizations and where progress has been made;
- Findings from RespectAbility's major study on the inclusion of Jews with disabilities inside Jewish groups;
- Big picture takeaways on where we go from here so that Jews and others with disabilities can thrive both inside and out of Jewish institutions.
This presentation will be live-captioned, and there will be an American Sign Language interpreter present as well.
Speakers
Gali Cooks
President & CEO
Leading Edge
Reuben D. Rotman
President & CEO
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Meagan Buren
President
Buren Research and Communications, LLC
Jennifer Mizrahi
President
RespectAbility
Matan A. Koch (Moderator)
Director of RespectAbility California & Jewish Leadership
RespectAbility
How Climate Change Intersects with Other Funding Areas (Second in a Five-Part Series)

19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 p.m. ET, 9-10:30 a.m. PT
It’s not just about the weather — the growing climate emergency presents a serious risk to the pursuit of all philanthropic aims. All aspects of society will be affected and we can use our philanthropy to make a difference. We have less than 10 years to act, and all funders -- whatever their mission and field of expertise — can have an immense potential for positive impact. It’s time to plan our role as individual philanthropists and collectively - We owe it to future generations.
Join JFN’s Green Funders Forum for “Global Warning: Climate Change and Jewish Philanthropy,” a five-part series. This is particularly timely in light of November’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Participants will be eligible for a free consultation meeting to explore personal philanthropic strategies around this issue.
Participants are encouraged -- although not required -- to attend the entire five-part series.
Session 2 - How Climate Change Intersects with Other Funding Areas
Tuesday, November 16, (19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 p.m. ET, 9-10:30 a.m. PT)
Join us to learn together (and in breakout groups) how climate change intersects with most funding areas -- such as advancing marginalized populations, shared society, poverty, refugees, employment, education, women’s rights, national security, and more.
Speakers
Dr. Dov Khenin
Former MK and Chair, President Herzog’s newly established Climate Change Council
Learn more about Dov and the Climate Change Council in this article in Jewish Insider.
Dr. Shira Efron
Senior Research Fellow
Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
Prof. Yosef Jabareen
Professor of Urban Planning
The Technion
Prof. Nadav Davidovitch
Director, School of Public Health
Ben Gurion University
Green Funders Forum is a JFN peer network that brings together dozens of funders and foundation representatives from Israel and throughout the Jewish world with experts from academia, the government, and the philanthropic sector for learning, sharing, consultation, and skill-building in various subjects related to environmental protection in Israel. Watch Green Funders Forum videos here.
This event is open to all funders.
If you would like to participate but are not a JFN member, please email [email protected].
Upcoming sessions in the series:
(Speakers and other details coming soon)
Who Are the Leading Activists and Nonprofits Addressing Climate Change?
Monday, December 13
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Philanthropic Responses, Lessons & Opportunities to Have a Positive Impact on Climate Change
Monday, January 10
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Climate Change and Us: Where Do We Go from Here?
Monday, February 14
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
The Journeys of Jewish Educators (Second in a Three-Part Series) - JCF MW

12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
JFN and CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) present the three-part webinar series: "Career Trajectories of Jewish Educators: Key Findings for the Funding Community."
Join CASJE’s Managing Director, Dr. Arielle Levites, members of the Career Trajectories research team, and funders in the space of Jewish education for a high-level presentation of key findings and a facilitated discussion foregrounding the unique questions, concerns, and opportunities of the funding community to translate research into practice and policy. These webinars will be of interest to foundations that support both Jewish and general education. You can sign up for an individual session, or register for all three.
Session 2: "Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Journeys of Jewish Educators"
Speakers:
Rachel Mohl Abrahams
Senior Advisor for Education Grants and Programs
Mayberg Foundation
Arielle Levites, PhD
Managing Director, CASJE- Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education
Wendy Rosov, PhD
Founder and Principal, Rosov Consulting
Additional Sessions in This Series
- Session 1: Monday, October 18 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL- More Paths for More People: Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator
- Session 3: Tuesday, December 14 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Supply and Demand: Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators
The Journeys of Jewish Educators (Second in a Three-Part Series)

12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
JFN and CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) present the three-part webinar series: "Career Trajectories of Jewish Educators: Key Findings for the Funding Community."
Join CASJE’s Managing Director, Dr. Arielle Levites, members of the Career Trajectories research team, and funders in the space of Jewish education for a high-level presentation of key findings and a facilitated discussion foregrounding the unique questions, concerns, and opportunities of the funding community to translate research into practice and policy. These webinars will be of interest to foundations that support both Jewish and general education. You can sign up for an individual session, or register for all three.
Session 2: "Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Journeys of Jewish Educators"
Speakers:
Rachel Mohl Abrahams
Senior Advisor for Education Grants and Programs
Mayberg Foundation
Arielle Levites, PhD
Managing Director, CASJE- Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education
Wendy Rosov, PhD
Founder and Principal, Rosov Consulting
Additional Sessions in This Series
- Session 1: Monday, October 18 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL- Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator
- Session 3: Tuesday, December 14 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators
An Afternoon With the Arlekin Players
CANVAS and the Fooksman Family Foundation Invite You to "An Afternoon With the Arlekin Players"
More About Arlekin
More About Our Hosts
Impact Investing Roundtable 11/9/21

FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE DECEMBER 7 IMPACT INVESTING ROUNDTABLE HERE.
Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/7-8:30 pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Read JFN's Guide to Jewish Impact Investing
Enroll in JFN's Certificate Course in Jewish Impact Investing
Speakers
Avital Blonder
CEO & Founder
Jindas - Social Urban Regeneration
Jason Brzoska
Director of Operations
Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust
JLens
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Partner
ZORA Ventures
LoftyInc Capital
From Findings to Funding: Session 2
Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convening

12 p.m. ET/ 9 am PT/ 18:00 Israel
Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event usually takes place on the second Wednesday of every month.
This month's speaker:
Daniel Stid
Program Director, U.S. Democracy Program
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
IIF 2021 - Day 2 - Workforce
IIF 2021 - Day 2 - Impact Investing
IIF 2021 - Day 2 - Arts & Culture
IIF 2021 - Day 2 - Arab Society
IIF 2021 - Day 2 - At Risk Women
IIF 2021 - Day 2 - Education
IIF 2021 - Day 1 - Virtual
IIF 2021 Day 1 - Live - New York
IIF 2021 Day 1 - Live - Tel Aviv
Israel Ideas Festival

Earlier this year, we at JFN conceived of the Israel Ideas Festival as a celebration marking the end of Covid and an opportunity to come together to share ideas for a brighter, post-pandemic future. Sadly, the virus and its many variants are not yet behind us, and Israel’s seven-day quarantine on all visitors arriving from the United States makes it impossible to plan the international in-person event we’d envisioned.
The reimagined Israel Ideas Festival is a hybrid program with live simultaneous events in Tel Aviv (please note: the in-person event in Israel is currently at capacity) and New York, and lots of interactive opportunities online.
On Day 1, we'll explore Israel's relationships with the Arab world and with fellow Jews around the world.
On Day 2, choose from deep-dive programming on seven issues in Israeli philanthropic work: Education, Women At-Risk, Elderly At-Risk, Jewish-Arab Relations, Workforce Development, Arts & Culture, and Impact Investing.
Learn more and register at jfunders.org/festival.
JFN West: Coffee with Jeff Schoenfeld

This is the seventh installment of "Coffee with...," a series designed to provide a unique opportunity for JFN West members to engage in small-group conversation with and among JFN leaders and members.
Jeff Schoenfeld is passionately involved in several philanthropic organizations. In addition to serving as a current JFN board member, he is the Immediate Past President of UJA-Federation of New York, the largest local philanthropy in the world.
Jeff currently serves as Chair of the Israel and Overseas Committee of the Jewish Federations of North America, helping to strategically guide global allocations for the North American Federation system. In this capacity, Jeff serves as a member of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency for Israel.
Preceding his role as President, Jeff was the Co-Chair of UJA's Annual Campaign and the Chair of UJA’s Caring Commission, overseeing human service and community building programs in New York, and 70 countries around the world. Today, he chairs UJA’s Allocation Steering Committee, is a member of its Executive Committee, Finance Committee and Board of Directors.
Jeff also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of amfAR, a leading cure-focused global HIV/AIDS research organization. Jeff serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the NPR Foundation, the country’s leading provider of journalistic excellence and programmatic content for public radio and podcasts, and also serves as a member of the Graduate Executive Board at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, working to expand Wharton’s impact as the foremost teaching, research, and experience-led business school in the world.
Jeff received his B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley, and his MBA in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Climate Change 101 and the New Decision Makers (First in a Five-Part Series)

19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
It’s not just about the weather — the growing climate emergency presents a serious risk to the pursuit of all philanthropic aims. All aspects of society will be affected and we can use our philanthropy to make a difference. We have less than 10 years to act, and all funders -- whatever their mission and field of expertise — can have an immense potential for positive impact. It’s time to plan our role as individual philanthropists and collectively - We owe it to future generations.
Join JFN’s Green Funders Forum for “Global Warning: Climate Change and Jewish Philanthropy,” a five-part series. This is particularly timely in light of November’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Participants will be eligible for a free consultation meeting to explore personal philanthropic strategies around this issue.
Participants are encouraged -- although not required -- to attend the entire five-part series.
Session 1 - Climate Change 101 and the New Decision Makers
Tuesday, October 19, (19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT)
In the opening session of this five-part series, hear from two leading environmental experts in Israel’s government: Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg; and Professor, Member of Knesset, and longtime activist Alon Tal. You will receive up-to-date information on climate change, how it affects Israel and the Jewish world, what various countries are doing about it and its relevance to all Jewish philanthropy -- no matter what our funding issue areas are. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions after the speakers present.
Speakers
Tamar Zandberg, Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection
Professor Alon Tal, a Member of Knesset
Green Funders Forum is a JFN peer network that brings together dozens of funders and foundation representatives from Israel and throughout the Jewish world with experts from academia, the government, and the philanthropic sector for learning, sharing, consultation, and skill-building in various subjects related to environmental protection in Israel. Watch Green Funders Forum videos here.
This event is open to all funders.
If you would like to participate but are not a JFN member, please email [email protected]
Upcoming sessions in the series:
(Speakers and other details coming soon)
How Climate Change Intersects with Other Funding Areas
Tuesday, November 16
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Who Are the Leading Activists and Nonprofits Addressing Climate Change?
Monday, December 13
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Philanthropic Responses, Lessons & Opportunities to Have a Positive Impact on Climate Change
Monday, January 10
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Climate Change and Us: Where Do We Go from Here?
Monday, February 14
19:00-20:30 IL, 12-1:30 pm ET, 9:00-10:30 am PT
Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator (First in a Three-Part Series) - JCF MW

12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
JFN and CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) present the three-part webinar series: "Career Trajectories of Jewish Educators: Key Findings for the Funding Community."
Join CASJE’s Managing Director, Dr. Arielle Levites, members of the Career Trajectories research team, and funders in the space of Jewish education for a high-level presentation of key findings and a facilitated discussion foregrounding the unique questions, concerns, and opportunities of the funding community to translate research into practice and policy. These webinars will be of interest to foundations that support both Jewish and general education. You can sign up for an individual session, or register for all three.
Session 1: "More Paths for More People: Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator"
Speakers:
Menachem (Manny) Menchel
Senior Program Officer, Jewish Life, William Davidson Foundation
Arielle Levites, PhD
Managing Director, CASJE- Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education
Alex Pomson, PhD
Principal and Managing Director, Rosov Consulting
Upcoming Sessions
- Session 2: Monday, November 15 at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Should I Stay or Should I Go?: The Journeys of Jewish Educators
- Session 3: Tuesday, December 14 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Supply and Demand: Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators
Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator (First in a Three-Part Series)

12:30 - 1:45 pm ET | 9:30 - 10:45 am PT | 19:30 - 20:45 IL
JFN and CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) present the three-part webinar series: "Career Trajectories of Jewish Educators: Key Findings for the Funding Community."
Join CASJE’s Managing Director, Dr. Arielle Levites, members of the Career Trajectories research team, and funders in the space of Jewish education for a high-level presentation of key findings and a facilitated discussion foregrounding the unique questions, concerns, and opportunities of the funding community to translate research into practice and policy. These webinars will be of interest to foundations that support both Jewish and general education. You can sign up for an individual session, or register for all three.
Session 1: "More Paths for More People: Opportunities and Barriers to Becoming a Jewish Educator"
Speakers:
Menachem (Manny) Menchel
Senior Program Officer, Jewish Life, William Davidson Foundation
Arielle Levites, PhD
Managing Director, CASJE- Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education
Alex Pomson, PhD
Principal and Managing Director, Rosov Consulting
Upcoming Sessions
- Monday, November 15 at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Should I Stay or Should I Go?: The Journeys of Jewish Educators
- Tuesday, December 14 at 12:30 pm ET/9:30 am PT/19:30 IL - Supply and Demand: Analyzing the Labor Market for Jewish Educators
How Not to Think About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

12-1 pm ET/ 9 am-10 am PT/ 19:00-20:00 IL
In this program offered in partnership with SAPIR: A Journal of Jewish Conversations, we explore the perils of looking at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a purely Western lens, particularly in the media and on college campuses. (Current JFN members are eligible to receive a free hard copy of the upcoming issue of Sapir, which will come out in November. Fill out this form to claim your copy.)
As leading intellectual and former Knesset member Einat Wilf wrote in a recent issue of SAPIR, critics have for decades "cast Jews, Israel, and Zionism as the evil side in the conflict through their consistent and persistent employment of the 'Placard Strategy': utilizing simple equations such as those that might appear on a placard in an anti-Israel demonstration. On one side of the equation are Israel, Zionism, and images such as the Star of David. The evil du jour is the other side, whether it is Imperialism, Colonialism, Racism, Apartheid or — for the truly determined — Genocide and Nazism. Most recently, White Supremacy was added to the list."
Speakers
Einat Wilf
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Leah Soibel
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Rabbi Mike Uram |
Felicia Herman (Moderator) |
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SAPIR is a journal exploring the future of the American Jewish community and its intersection with cultural, social, and political issues. It is published by Maimonides Fund with Bret Stephens serving as Editor-in-Chief and Felicia Herman as Managing Editor.
Current JFN members are eligible to receive a free hard copy of the upcoming issue of Sapir, which will come out in November. Fill out this form to claim your copy.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 10/13

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event takes place on the second Wednesday of every month unless otherwise specified.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Save the date for our upcoming sessions:
- Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 at 12 PM ET
- Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 at 12 PM ET
JFN Grantmaking Professionals Exchange is a learning and networking initiative to strengthen relationships and enhance strategic, technical, and Jewish learning among professionals across the field of Jewish philanthropy.
Impact Investing Roundtable 10/12/21

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/7-8:30 pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Learn more about Jewish impact investing here.
Master Class: "Investing in Regenerative Agriculture"
Koen van Seijen
Founder and Managing Partner
Garnell Capital Partners
Investment Roundups
James Walker
MiniLuxe
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Vanessa will be moderating the roundtable and presenting on LoftyInc.
From Findings to Funding: Session 1
Young Funders Forum meets for an open conversation on culture, the arts and philanthropy
Join us for an open conversation on arts, culture, and philanthropy
necessity vs. luxury
The Nita Lowey Peace Act (MEPPA): What Should Funders Know?

12-1 pm ET/ 9-10 am PT/ 19:00-20:00 IL
In December 2020, the U.S Congress passed the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, a historic piece of legislation delivering unprecedented levels of funding for peacebuilding in Israel and Palestine.
This new fund will deliver $250 million over five years to projects that support peacebuilding and Palestinian economic development and represents the largest investment ever in the region’s peacebuilders.
Please join us for a webinar that will help prepare members for this groundbreaking initiative.
JFN members Georgette Bennett and Danny Hakim, who are both deeply committed to the field of peacebuilding, will share how they are preparing their grantees, and how they think that we, as funders, should build an infrastructure that will allow maximizing this opportunity.
John Lyndon, executive director of ALLMEP (Alliance for Middle East Peace) and an expert on The Nita Lowey Peace Act will be the main speaker and will give a presentation on the grant including important information, eligibility, the potential for change and more.
The session will be followed by a Q&A that will provide a unique opportunity to learn and discuss the potential impact of The Nita Lowey Peace Act in the field of shared society.
Aspire: Annual High Holidays Gathering
2021 Innovations in International Philanthropy Symposium (3rd-Party Event)

This virtual symposium brings together funders, investors, and leaders to address the most challenging global issues of our time. The 2021 Symposium will support the growth of strategic and collaborative international philanthropy by offering participants the opportunity to explore trends in philanthropy, gain practical skills and knowledge to increase the levels and impact of their giving across borders, learn from peers, and network with funders actively engaged in supporting international development efforts. The Symposium is co-hosted by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) and New England International Donors (NEID).
Discount code for JFN members on JFN's Member Discounts page.
Beyond the Count (Third-Party Event)

12-2 pm ET/ 9 am-12 pm PT/19:00-21:00 IL
Join the Jews of Color Initiative for an event designed specifically for the philanthropic community to engage with the first-ever study of this scale on Jews of Color in the United States. Earlier this year, more than 1,000 Jews of Color completed the "Count Me In" Survey. Now you can join the conversation to hear the findings and learn how philanthropists can develop, amplify, and sustain Jewish communities and leaders that reflect and represent all Jews.
Ilana Kaufman, Executive Director of the Jews of Color Initiative, will be joined by Paula Pretlow, Trustee of the Weinberg Foundation, Tiffany Harris, Chief Program Officer of Moishe House, and Gamal Palmer, Senior Vice President of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles to share the key findings and discuss how we as philanthropists can leverage Beyond the Count to create change.
• How do JoCs think about Jewish identity?
• What have been the experiences of JoCs in Jewish communities?
• How has systemic racism affected JoCs in Jewish spaces?
• How can the Jewish community better reflect the range of experiences and identities of all Jews?
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 8/11

Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Impact Investing Roundtable 8/10/21

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/7-8:30 pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Speakers:
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
GrantED Facilitated Conversation: Open Call Session 3
JFN 101: Orientation for New Members and Anyone Wanting a Refresher

12-1 pm ET/ 9-10 am PT/ 7-8 pm IL
Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
All JFN members, new and old, are welcome!
Lessons from the Frontlines: A Conversation with Avodah Service Corps Fellows

12-1pm ET / 9-10am PT / 7-8pm Israel
This session is part of a National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty webinar series addressing the challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews living in poverty and the agencies that serve them, while also highlighting the successful responses to these challenges.
Hear from three Avodah Corps members who have spent the past 10 months working on the frontlines of the fight against poverty in the Jewish community in New York City. 2020-2021 Corps Members Allie Fischgrund (Project Ore), Emma Holyst (Met Council), and Abby Israel (Footsteps) will share stories and perspectives from their work on the ground, surprises or ways that their thinking has changed, and lessons for how to advance the work of breaking cycles of poverty, particularly in the Jewish community. Jennifer Turner, the New York Program Director of the Avodah Jewish Services Corps, will also join to connect this work to Avodah’s broader fight against poverty.
Susan Wolf Ditkoff, Senior Adviser at The Bridgespan Group, will moderate the conversation.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 7/14

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event takes place on the second Wednesday of every month.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Impact Investing Roundtable 7/13/21

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/7-8:30 pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
- Download JFN's free "Guide to Jewish Impact Investing," written by Michael Lustig.
- Listen to our recent podcast on Jewish impact investing.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Speakers:
Sean Gilbert
GIIN - Global Impact Investing Network
Kate Walsh
GIIN - Global Impact Investing Network
Yaniv Izaki
Angel Investor
Izaki Ventures
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
JFN VIP Event: Tony Blair
GrantED Facilitated Conversation: Open Call Session 2
Funders Who Serve as Board Members of Non-Profit Organizations Workshop - Meeting 3: Dual Hats: Funder AND Board Member

The meeting will be held in Hebrew.
This is the third and last unit in this series, in collaboration with JDC-Elka.
This interactive session will enable a deeper peer discussion on the opportunities, challenges, and unique complexities which face philanthropic funders who serve on boards of Non-Profit Organizations. During the session you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and dilemmas, learn from the collective wisdom in the room, and gain from the expertise of the JFN staff and JDC's Center for Lay Leadership.
Registration does not require participation in the first two units.
GrantED Facilitated Conversation: Open Call Session 1
GrantED Facilitated Grantmaker-Grantseeker Conversation Series

Join a small group of Jewish communal grantmakers and grantseekers for a special three-part, interactive, facilitated conversation series designed to foster opportunities for deeper understanding, communication, and learning with one another. Our hope is that as a result of these conversations, participating grantmakers and grantseekers will:
- Recognize the power and privilege that they hold and the role that plays in the relationships with the other
- Engage in non-transactional conversations with the other
- Feel more confident in speaking more candidly with the other
These participatory sessions are free of charge and will be hosted on Zoom:
- Wednesday, June 30, 1-2:30 pm ET (10-11:30 am PT)
- Wednesday, July 7, 1-2:30 pm ET (10-11:30 am PT)
- Wednesday, July 21, 1-2:30 pm ET (10-11:30 am PT)
Please plan to attend all three sessions so you have ample time and space to build new relationships. Spaces are limited!
This is an open event, for both funders and nonprofits, under the auspices of GrantED, a joint project of JFN and UpStart designed to strengthen relationships between grantmakers and grantseekers in the Jewish community. Learn more about GrantED at Jgranted.org.
Challenges and Opportunities for Philanthropy in The Wake of Recent Events

7:00 - 8:30pm Israel / 12:00pm - 1:30pm ET / 9:00 - 10:30am PT
For many funders, the events of recent weeks have created a dilemma regarding the field of shared society, and have raised questions around possible action in the face of the recent extremism among Jewish and Arab populations. Join us for a peer conversation in which we examine and challenge the paradigms on which we have operated until now.
We will discuss how philanthropy can have a significant and effective impact by reducing existing gaps and challenges.
The meeting will be opened by JFN members who will share decisions they have made considering the current situation: have they chosen to maintain their philanthropy strategy? Have they chosen to adjust it?
Prof. Eran Halperin, Founder, and Co-Chair and Ron Gerlitz, Executive Director of the aChord Center* will present an overview of the recent crises from the perspective of social psychology; what is the current situation, what are the recovery processes, and what insights are relevant and can be used to create effective philanthropic work in the shared spheres.
We will facilitate small discussion groups with funders working in fields that are directly and indirectly affected by the crisis.
We will discuss insights that have emerged and how they can be applied to the giving strategy | What information is important for us to have for future decisions? | Which philanthropic models have proved to be effective even in times of crisis? | Are there new directions of giving that the crisis has highlighted for us?
* aChord Center was established in response to the field's need for practical knowledge and innovative tools to best deal with psychological barriers in intergroup relations. The Center has a unique ability to connect the latest research with real-world needs and activities.
Green Funders Forum: How Israel’s Next Generation Made Tel Aviv a World Leader in Veganism (and Why it Matters!)

12:00-1:45 pm (EST) / 9:00-10:45 am (PST) / 19:00-20:45 (Israel Time)
Funders Rabbi Adam Frank, Jonathan Inbar, and others speak with Tel Aviv Municipality Spokesperson Eitan Schwartz about their support for plant-based diets, how it intersects with other funding priorities, what motivates them to care about animal welfare, how food influences the environment and how we, as funders, can make change.
Special Bonus: Cooking lesson focused on family-friendly vegan meals.
Funders Who Serve as Board Members of Non-Profit Organizations Workshop - Meeting 2: The Financial Unit

The meetings will be held in Hebrew. We recommend taking part in all three sessions, to attain a comprehensive toolbox on this topic.
This three-part series, in collaboration with JDC-Elka, will allow participants to gain an understanding of regulatory, legal and financial aspects as well as enable a deeper conversation based on simulations, case studies and dilemmas from the field.
The second workshop will focus on up-to-date information on financial aspects of serving as a board member of an NGO and the related implications. The workshop will include simulations of interpreting NGO’s financial reports, from a board member’s perspective.
Speaker: Iris Stark, CPA, Founder and Executive Partner of Stark and Stark CPA, Lecturer at Tel Aviv University on Corporate Governance, Director’s Responsibility, and Internal Auditing in the Non-Profit Sector.
Exploring the Intersection of Race and Day School Culture

1-2 PM ET / 10-11am PT / 8-9pm Israel
Join us for a conversation about the work that day school communities are doing to address race and racism. We'll hear how one group of funders came together to encourage broader, more long-term solutions and find out about the extended learning that will be part of the results.
Paul Bernstein
CEO
Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
Erica Phillips
Program Officer
Jewish Charitable Giving at Crown Family Philanthropies
Debra Shaffer Seeman
Director
Network Weaving, Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
Sirida Terk
Humanities Teacher and Department Chair
Milken Community Schools
Addressing Jewish Poverty: Responding to Covid and Highlighting Best Practices

12-1pm ET / 9-10am PT / 7-9pm Israel
This session is part of a National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty webinar series addressing the challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews living in poverty and the agencies that serve them, while also highlighting the successful responses to these challenges.
In this session, we'll learn about how convening different people and stakeholders can create real change. Examples highlighted will include TOM - Tikkun Olam Makers, a global movement of communities that creates and disseminates affordable solutions to challenges faced by the elderly, people living with disabilities, and those experiencing poverty.
Speakers:
Gidi Grinstein
Founder and President
Reut Institute
More speakers to be confirmed
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
Funders Who Serve as Board Members of Nonprofit Organizations - Meeting 1: The Legal Unit

This three-part series **, in collaboration with JDC-Elka, will allow participants to gain an understanding of regulatory, legal, and financial issues as well as enable a deeper conversation based on simulations, case studies, and dilemmas from the field.
The first workshop will focus on the legal and regulatory aspects of serving as a board member of an NGO.
This session will provide valuable information, a space to learn through case studies, and an opportunity to share experiences and examine them.
Speaker: Adv. Yaron Keidar, Bogot & Keidar Advocates, specializing in consulting and legal advice to the nonprofit sector, former Head of Israel’s Corporations Authority in the Ministry of Justice.
*The meetings will be held in Hebrew and are intended for an Israeli audience*
**We recommend taking part in all three sessions, to attain a comprehensive toolbox on this topic.
Improve Your Grantmaking/Grantseeking Relationships with This New Tool JCF

Join us as we explore a self-assessment tool for grantmakers and grantseekers developed by Exponent Philanthropy and customized by GrantED for our network. During this program, you will have the opportunity to learn about the toolkit, take the self-assessment, and join in a conversation with others from the field about what makes a great grantmaker-grantseeker relationship. We will also hear from a grantmaker-grantseeker pair about how the self-assessment tool helped them to build trust, lean into discomfort, and develop a more equitable partnership.
This is an open event, for both funders and nonprofits, under the auspices of GrantED, a joint project of JFN and UpStart designed to strengthen relationships between grantmakers and grantseekers. Learn more about GrantED at Jgranted.org.
You can download the self-assessment tool here.
Speakers:
Brendan McCormick
Manager
Research and Education, Exponent Philanthropy
The Frederick J. Isaac Fund
Yafit Shriki Megidish
Executive Director
Studio 70
Improve Your Grantmaking/Grantseeking Relationships with This New Tool

Join us as we explore a self-assessment tool for grantmakers and grantseekers developed by Exponent Philanthropy and customized by GrantED for our network. During this program, you will have the opportunity to learn about the toolkit, take the self-assessment, and join in a conversation with others from the field about what makes a great grantmaker-grantseeker relationship. We will also hear from a grantmaker-grantseeker pair about how the self-assessment tool helped them to build trust, lean into discomfort, and develop a more equitable partnership.
This is an open event, for both funders and nonprofits, under the auspices of GrantED, a joint project of JFN and UpStart designed to strengthen relationships between grantmakers and grantseekers. Learn more about GrantED at Jgranted.org.
You can download the self-assessment tool here.
Speakers:
Brendan McCormick
Manager
Research and Education, Exponent Philanthropy
The Frederick J. Isaac Fund
Yafit Shriki Megidish
Executive Director
Studio 70
Impact Investing Roundtable 6/15

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/7-8:30 pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Speakers:
Michael Lustig
Dalia Black
Principal
WEAVEIMPACT
Lee Barken
CPA, LEED-AP
Chief Community Officer, CollectiveSun
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup: Focus on Nonprofit Mergers

12-1:30pm ET/9-10:30am PT/7-8:30pm Israel
At this Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup, we will discuss nonprofit mergers and acquisitions as part of our series on conflict. Mergers have long been a feature of the Jewish communal landscape, but have become an even more significant topic of conversation since the start of the pandemic. Mergers and acquisitions offer an ideal case study of conflict, since they are frequently difficult and contentious, but often necessary and unavoidable. Grantmaking professionals often have an important role to play in catalyzing and supporting them. At this session we will invite grantmaking professionals who have been involved in mergers or acquisitions to share their experiences navigating conflicts, with an eye towards how colleagues can help their nonprofit partners lean into healthy conflicts without falling into unproductive strife. As always we will have plenty of time for small group discussion and fellowship.
Speakers:
Karyn Cohen
Director, Jewish Life and Israel
One8 Foundation
Joshua Donner
Executive Director
David S. and Karen A. Shapira Foundation
Bram Bregman
President
Newfoundout Family Office
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Engaging Your Children and Teens in Jewish Giving: A Town Hall with JFN and Honeycomb

Jewish Poverty and the Pew Report: What We Can Learn From the Newly Released 2020 Data

12-1pm ET / 9-10am PT / 7-9pm Israel
Join the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty for a conversation with Becka Alper, Alan Cooperman, and Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz, PhD as they take a deep dive into the data on the economics and well-being of U.S. Jews from the Pew Center’s 2020 survey of Jewish Americans that was released on May 11. Learn about how these trends and changes might impact service delivery and funding needs moving forward. This will be the first webinar focusing specifically on the Pew Center's 2020 survey as it relates to Jewish poverty.
Speakers:
Becka A. Alper
Senior Researcher
Pew Research Center
Alan Cooperman
Director, Religion Research
Pew Research Center
Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz, PhD
Senior Director, Research and Analysis Director, Berman Jewish DataBank
Jewish Federations of North America
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
Covid's Impact on Philanthropic Relationships: What Can We Learn from It Moving Forward?

12-1pm ET/ 9-10am PT/ 7-8pm Israel
Join us for an interactive discussion between two grantmaker/grantseeker pairs as they reflect on the ways that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted their relationships. We will discuss how grantmakers' philanthropic practices have changed — from the start of the pandemic to the current day — and what’s to come. In particular, we'll focus on what lessons we've learned in the past year and what practices instituted as a result of Covid we may want to make permanent.
This is an open event, for both funders and nonprofits, under the auspices of GrantED, a joint project of JFN and UpStart designed to strengthen relationships between grantmakers and grantseekers. Learn more about GrantED at Jgranted.org.
You can hear more from these pairs by checking out their conversations on Jgranted.org. Joni and Ilana's conversation is in the Relationship Building section, and Ayalon and Jon's is in the Power Dynamics section.
Speakers
Joni Blinderman
Associate Director
Covenant Foundation
Ilana Ruskay-Kidd
Founder and Head of School
The Shefa School
Ayalon Eliach
Senior Advisor
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
Jon Adam Ross
Founding Artist
The InHEIRitance Project
Moderator
Jonathan Horowitz
Director of National and Democracy Initiatives
The Klarman Family Foundation
Food Funders 2021 Series: An Afternoon with World Central Kitchen

Food Funders Program Series
The last year has amplified numerous inequities, from massive health disparities and economic inequality to racial injustices. The broken food system is a thread that runs through all these crises.
This three-part series brings together creative speakers and special events for JFN funders engaged in harnessing the full potential of food to nourish and transform our communities.
Transformative Change: An Afternoon with World Central Kitchen's Chef Grace Ramirez (Online)
Wednesday, May 26, 1-2 pm ET/10-11 am PT/ 8-9 pm Israel
This program reflects on how individuals can create large-scale change and shows how multiple stakeholders and sectors are necessary to change systems.
Founded by Chef José Andrés and a team of world-class chefs, World Central Kitchen (WCK) believes the future of nations depends on how they feed themselves. In 2020 alone WCK mobilized in communities around the world to meet the daily needs of families in need of a hot meal and supported thousands of local restaurants in the process. The team responded to natural and manmade disasters in countries on five continents, from massive bushfires in Australia to a deadly explosion in Lebanon, to devastating hurricanes in Central America. Team members' fight to feed hungry people has taken them to more places than they ever expected.
Hear the remarkable story of the creative culinary masterminds behind this work: Chef Grace Ramirez, whose journey has led her to the nexus of cooking, food systems, and social change, and CEO Nate Mook. In conversation, they will reflect on their unique journeys from the kitchens to the frontlines and share strategies for creating both small and large-scale change in our communities. Moderated by Mitchell Davis, Chief Strategy Officer of the James Beard Foundation.
Future Events in This Series
Food Funder Peer Roundtable (Online)
Wednesday, June 30, 12–1 pm ET/9–10 am PT/ 7–8 pm Israel
Join around the Zoom kitchen table to learn how we’ve addressed food systems during the time of Covid-19 and candidly share what’s worked and what hasn’t.
Pre-Festival Food and Farming (in Israel)
Monday, October 25
A day of food, farms, and fun in-person as part of JFN’s Israel Ideas Festival, a live event that brings together funders for three days of engagement and learning in Israel.
JFN West: Coffee with JFN Israel's Maya Natan

This is the sixth installment of "Coffee with...," a series designed to provide a unique opportunity for JFN West members to engage in small-group conversation with and among JFN leaders and members.
Maya Natan is Executive Director of JFN Israel and CEO of Keshet DAF-IL, Israel's first donor-advised fund.
JFN Israel, established in 2008, brings together Israeli funders — who make up one-quarter of JFN's total membership — to exchange ideas about their philanthropic involvement and expand their giving circles.
JFN Israel’s staff offers consulting and expertise to all JFN members – regardless of nationality – who are interested in funding in Israel. All JFN members get one free session of Israel advisory services.
Through Keshet DAF-IL, Israelis and others interested in funding in Israel can open donor-advised funds, an easy and cost-effective alternative to starting a private foundation. Keshet also provides various services to American foundations funding in Israel.
New Philanthropic Models for Social Change

What can we learn from new philanthropic models for social change that emerged during Covid?
During the global Covid health crisis we saw new philanthropic models emerge reflecting the agility, creativity, and dire needs that philanthropy has come to address.
Please join us as we will focus on two models where philanthropy stepped in beyond its traditional roles to provide direct support and funding for small businesses and for the arts and culture community.
The first model is led by Inbar Shashua Bar-Nir and Adi Atun from WE19, which is part of the Shashua Family's “House for Social Solidarity” initiative. They will illustrate how WE19 gave hope to small businesses amid the Covid-19 outbreak. WE19 provided financial grants that helped entrepreneurs to expand their business, without financial strain.
The second model, led by Nachman Rosenberg, CEO of Nacht Philanthropic Ventures, will demonstrate the lessons learned while supporting industry professionals in the Israeli arts and culture field, directly benefiting 700 musicians, lighting professionals, sound technicians, and production workers, through generous stipends.
*The event will be held in Hebrew
Exclusive Briefing: Pew’s 2020 Portrait of Jewish Americans

Jewish Americans in 2020: Cultural Engagement, Diversity, Politics, and Antisemitism
Jewish Funders Network and The Harold Grinspoon Foundation invite you to join an exclusive conversation with Becka Alper and Alan Cooperman about findings from the Pew Center’s 2020 survey of Jewish Americans (to be released May 11, 2021). We will unpack the Jewish American experience by examining religious beliefs and practices, cultural engagement, diversity, views of Jewish identity, and experiences with antisemitism among Jewish Americans. With introductory remarks by Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, President of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
The new survey is Pew Research Center’s second major nationwide study of U.S. Jews. The first, A Portrait of Jewish Americans, came out in 2013.
Please note that JFN is also offering a webinar focused on the Pew Report's implications for addressing Jewish poverty on June 17.
Speakers:
Becka A. Alper
Senior Researcher
Pew Research Center
Alan Cooperman
Director, Religion Research
Pew Research Center
GrantED Facilitated Conversation: West Coast Session 3
Green Funders Forum Pre-Shavuot Session: How Israel’s Next Generation Made Tel Aviv a World Leader in Veganism (and Why It Matters!)

12:00-1:45 pm (EST)/ 9:00-10:45 am (PST)/ 19:00-20:45 (Israel Time)
Tel Aviv Municipality Spokesperson Eitan Schwartz will talk about the popularity of veganism in Tel Aviv.
Funders Rabbi Adam Frank, Jonathan Inbar, and others will speak about their philanthropic work in the field, how it intersects with other funding priorities, what motivates them to care about animal welfare, how food influences the environment, and how we, as funders, can influence change.
Special bonus: A cooking lesson with tips for creating a vegan-friendly Shavuot.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 5/12

12-1:30pm ET/ 9-10:30am PT/7-8:30pm Israel
The next few JFN Grantmaking Professionals Monthly Online Convenings will explore the topic of conflict. We live in a time of pervasive political, social, and cultural conflict. While this conflict affects many sectors, it is particularly taxing for civil society, which plays a traditional role in strengthening associational bonds. Yet not all conflict is bad, and sometimes it is necessary to address festering problems. How should grantmaking professionals think about societal and communal conflict from our unique vantage points? What can we do to navigate the (sometimes necessary) conflict in the Jewish communal world, within our grantee portfolios, and within our own institutions? And what skills, tools, and techniques will better equip us for this conflictual moment?
At this session, we will be joined by Tim Phillips, founder and CEO of Beyond Conflict, for a conversation about the nature of contemporary conflict. We will consider our own views about, and roles in, conflict and begin to consider how we might better navigate these treacherous waters. As always we will have plenty of time for small group discussion and fellowship.
Speaker:
Tim Phillips
Founder and CEO
Beyond Conflict
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Impact Investing Roundtable for May 11, 2021

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/7-8:30 pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, Federations, and nonprofits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Speakers:
Linda-Eling Lee
Global Head of ESG Research
MSCI Inc.
Astorre Modena
General Partner
Terra Venture Partners
Douglas Bitonti Stewart
Executive Director
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Shavuot Program: Philanthropy and the Law

To celebrate Shavuot, JFN convenes leading thinkers and legal activists to examine the intersection of law and philanthropy. Over the course of 90 minutes, we’ll hear from Suzanne Last Stone on the Jewish understanding of law and its role in society; Amy Spitalnick on the use of civil litigation to hold accountable — and bankrupt and dismantle — violent extremists; and Ken Marcus on the use of law and public policy to combat the resurgence of antisemitism in American higher education.
Speakers:
Suzanne Last Stone
University Professor of Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization
Yeshiva University
Amy Spitalnick
Executive Director
Integrity First for America (a civil rights nonprofit that is backing the plaintiffs in a landmark federal lawsuit against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the Charlottesville violence).
Ken Marcus
Founder and Chair, Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law
Former Assistant, U.S. Secretary of Education for Civil Rights
JFN IL YFF event post Corona
Post corona- back to normal or moving forward?
After a year of intense Zooming , we are thrilled to be Off our screens and being together in person at JFN IL's Young Funders Forum event.
Let's get together and share how we survived/thrived this past year and discuss how reality has challenged us both personally and philanthropically.
GrantED Facilitated Conversation: West Coast Session 2
Special Briefing: How Ultra Orthodox Civil Society is Mobilizing to Respond to the Mt. Meron Tragedy
11a Pacific/2p Eastern/9p Israel
Note: This is not a JFN event, but we are sharing it on behalf of the Leichtag Foundation, a JFN member.
On Thursday night, Israel experienced one of its worst tragedies ever during the joyous Lag B’omer celebration at Mt. Meron. Besides the 45 people who lost their lives, hundreds more remain hospitalized with critical injuries. One in three adult Ultra Orthodox Charedim were at Mt. Meron, leaving few families untouched by grief. The impacts of this trauma will be long-lasting.
Hear directly from the Ultra Orthodox Charedi civil society leaders and entrepreneurs who mobilized an immediate response to support their deeply affected community in the aftermath of the devastating incident at Mt. Meron in Israel last week. Speakers are Ultra Orthodox Charedi members of the Jerusalem Model, trusted changemaking partners of Leichtag Foundation. These influential leaders are addressing their community's needs 24/6, and will share up-to-the-minute information about the local situation, elements of the tragedy, and community-centric opportunities for support.
GrantED Facilitated Conversation: West Coast Session 1
What's Better for American Philanthropy: Regulation or Freedom?

1-2pm ET/ 10-11am PT/8-9pm Israel
Join Philanthropy Roundtable’s President and CEO Elise Westhoff in this livestream discussion, as she discusses the concerns raised by initiatives such as the Arnold-Madoff proposal that would impose new regulations on private foundations and donor-advised funds and could greatly impact the philanthropic sector. Elise will be joined by Howard Husock, Senior Executive Fellow, Philanthropy Roundtable, and Sandra Swirski, the Executive Director for the Alliance for Charitable Reform, as they analyze these new developments.
Speakers:
Elise Westhoff
President and CEO
Philanthropy Roundtable
Howard Husock
Senior Executive Fellow
Philanthropy Roundtable
Sandra Swirski
Executive Director
The Alliance for Charitable Reform
More speakers to be confirmed
JFN 101: Orientation for New Members and Anyone Wanting a Refresher

*Note: This event is also being offered on Wednesday, April 21, from 1:30-2:30 pm ET/10:30-11:30 am PT/8:30-9:30 pm IL
Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Board Chair Marcia Riklis and JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
All JFN members, new and old, are welcome!
A New Center of Gravity: What Opportunities Do the Abraham Accords Offer for the Jewish World and the Arabian Peninsula?

The Abraham Accords have changed the Jewish map, opening up a new center of gravity for Jewish life in what some would consider the most unlikely place: the Arabian Peninsula. What are the emergent cultural trends, budding Jewish institutions, and unique historic opportunities to be leveraged? How can philanthropy operate in this new ecosystem for global Jewish activity? What principles ought to be applied to partnerships with local entities? Join moderator Carly Maisel, Global CEO of Kirsh Philanthropies, in a discussion with, Mr. Ross Kriel, Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, and Michal Michelle Divon.
Moderator:
Carly Maisel
Global CEO
Kirsh Philanthropies
Speakers:
Ross Kriel
President, Jewish Council of the Emirates
President, "Gates to the East" congregation, the only licensed synagogue in Dubai
Rabbi Yehuda Sarna
Chief Rabbi, Jewish Council of the Emirates
Honorary Chairman, Association of Gulf Jewish Communities
University Chaplain, NYU
Executive Director, Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU
Michal Michelle Divon
Senior Editor and Producer
Khaleej Times
"Ray of Light" Initiative – New Philanthropic Partnership in Israel

*The session will be held in English
Over the last few months and as a result of the pandemic, we have witnessed some significant collaborations take shape within the philanthropic community. We believe there is great importance in sharing, learning and highlighting these initiatives among our network.
One recent example of this is the "Ray of Light" Initiative - A philanthropic partnership seeking to support the development and implementation of short- and medium-term responses to the social, economic, and mental-health fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, as Israel begins to exit the acute health-crisis phase.
Join us for this session with the six foundations who partnered on this initiative and are jointly managing this investment as a single entity: The Russell Berrie Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, The William Davidson Foundation, the Klarman Family Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and Yad Hanadiv.
We will hear about the process that led to this collaboration. What was the strategy and which criteria for support did the foundations choose and why?
What critical fields arose during the mapping process; and why, at this present point in time, does philanthropy have a key role to play in the fields that the mapping identified?
JFN West: Coffee with JFN Officer Winnie Sandler Grinspoon

This is the fifth installment of "Coffee with...," a series designed to provide a unique opportunity for JFN West members to engage in small-group conversation with and among JFN leaders and members.
Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, an officer on the JFN Board, is president of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the creator of PJ Library®, a program that shares Jewish tradition, culture, and values with more than 675,000 children and their families in multiple countries through monthly gifts of children’s books and resources. The foundation also works to enhance the Jewish community through its JCamp180™ initiative to support summer camp with an emphasis on fundraising, strategic planning and board development, and its Life & Legacy™ program, which works across North America to build endowments through legacy giving.
The Grinspoon Foundation and Life & Legacy were recently recognized with JFN's Shapiro Prize for Philanthropic Collaboration. Under Winnie's leadership, the foundation has launched All Together Now, a matching grant program that has raised more than $16 million for Jewish summer camps in the past year.
Prior to her full-time work in philanthropy, Winnie practiced law in New York and in Boston. She lives in Weston, Mass. You can learn more about her in this recent eJewish Philanthropy article.
Addressing Jewish Poverty: Responding to Covid and Highlighting Best Practices

12-1pm ET/9-10am PT/7-8pm Israel
The National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty will resume its bi-monthly webinar series. The series addresses the challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews living in poverty and the agencies that serve them, while also highlighting the successful responses to these challenges.
Future sessions will occur every other Thursday. Save the following dates (all Thursdays, from 12-1 pm ET) for the next four sessions: May 6, May 20, June 3, and June 17. More dates will be announced soon.
In this session, we'll focus on landscape analysis.
Speakers:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
JFN 101: Orientation for New Members and Anyone Wanting a Refresher

*Note: This event is also being offered on Tuesday, April 27, from 12-1 pm ET/9-10 am PT/7-8 pm IL
Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Board Chair Marcia Riklis and JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your JFN membership and will have an opportunity to meet other members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
All JFN members, new and old, are welcome!
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 4/21

At this Grantmaking Professionals Online Convening, we will be discussing the values that motivate our philanthropic practice and how to prioritize them. We will also examine the interplay between our personal values and those of our institutions, as well as the ways in which these values can sometimes be obscured to our grantees, our partners, and even ourselves. As always we will have plenty of time for small group discussion and fellowship.
Facilitators:
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Teen Engagement in the Jewish Community via Virtual Platforms

Time: 12-1pm ET / 9-10am PT / 7-8pm Israel
The Covid pandemic presented significant challenges to teen engagement across the US. Teen engagement organizations rose to the occasion, coming up with innovative solutions in response to these challenges. It is clear that connecting, engaging, and experiencing Jewish life online will continue to be a pivotal part of teen engagement moving forward.
Hear from three incredible organizations who will share their expertise and learnings on online teen engagement. They will also share their perspectives on how technology and virtual spaces will continue to shape the landscape in the post-Covid world.
Speakers:
Sara Allen
Executive Director
Jewish Teen Education & Engagement Funder Collaborative
Wayne K Green
Executive Director
Honeycomb (formerly known as Jewish Teen Funders Network)
Seth Merrin
Managing Member, Merrin Investors
Board Member, Lost Tribe Esports
Jeffrey M. Solomon
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Cowen
Chair of the Board, Lost Tribe Esports
The Grantmaker and Grantseeker Relationship: What We Know and How We Can Strengthen It

Time: 12-1pm ET/ 9-10am PT/ 7-8pm Israel
Please join us for a conversation between Jewish Theological Seminary Professor Jack Wertheimer and Deena Fuchs about "Grantees and Their Funders," Jack's report on what professionals at Jewish nonprofits experience while working with funders.
During this session you will also have an opportunity to learn about GrantED: Stronger Relationships, Greater Impact, a joint project of JFN and UpStart launched on March 15. GrantED is a direct response to the findings and recommendations in "Grantees and Their Funders." In addition to organizing programs and facilitated conversations, GrantED offers a wide range of tools, articles, case studies, and other resources on its website (www.jgranted.org).
Speakers:
Jack Wertheimer
Joseph and Martha Mendelson Professor of American Jewish History
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Deena Fuchs (former Executive Vice President of JFN)
Executive Director
Micah Philanthropies
Impact Investing Roundtable 4/12

Time: 12-1:30 pm ET/9-10:30 am PT/7-8:30 pm ISR
In celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, all of the presentations this month will be by JFN members who live in Israel and who are focused on investments in Israel.
We will have the opportunity to hear from Elah Alkalay, Yoel Cheshin, and Brian Friedman. After the presentation the meeting will be open for an additional 30 minutes for networking and discussing current investments.
Speakers:
Elah Alkalay
Chair of the board
I.B.I Mutual Funds & VP Business Development
New Era
Yoel Cheshin
Chair
2B Angels Community
Brian Friedman
Founder
Israel Investment Advisors
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
JFN Commemorates Yom HaShoah
The Challenges and Opportunities of Remote and Hybrid Learning in Israel’s Arab Society, As a Tool to Reduce Social Gaps

A few months ago, private funders and philanthropic foundations collaborated in order to examine what could be learned from the Covid-19 pandemic with regard to the educational gaps in Arab society and what possibilities were available to philanthropy for reducing these gaps. Through the Deloitte consulting company, a research study was conducted, and the interesting findings of the mapping will be revealed for the first time in this special meeting for donors and foundations' professionals.
The foundations that initiated the mapping will discuss the activity that preceded it during the course of the past year and why they required such a research study in order to plan their future steps in an effective and strategic manner. We will discuss the motivations and needs that led to the mapping, the potential partners with whom we can promote collaborations, and what steps can be taken to enable a significant educational – pedagogical quantum leap in Israel’s Arab society. We will hear about the mapping process and its findings at length from Idan Yurman, a partner and head of the public sector at Deloitte. The last part of the session will be dedicated to Q&A and to a funders' conversation with those who wish to learn about and delve into this subject.
* The project, which was conducted with the assistance of Deloitte, included a comprehensive study based on a range of information sources from Israel and abroad, identifying best practices, extensive engagement of the public, including more than 30 interviews, three roundtables with the participation of education personnel, parents and learning experts, as well as a digital questionnaire with more than 750 respondents from all segments of Arab society.
* The mapping was led and supported by Mubdarat - the philanthropic office of Adina Shapiro, Ibrahim Nassasra, the Crown Foundation, the Dan David Foundation and additional foundations.
Opening Event for Dwelling in a Time of Plagues: Passover

Join CANVAS, the Jewish arts and culture funding collaborative incubated at JFN, as we celebrate and honor the opening of "Dwelling in a Time of Plagues." The program will feature short talks by the following participating artists and authors: Julie Weitz, Tal Beery, Olivia Guterson, Mike Wirth, Hillel Smith, Maya Ciarrocchi, Bareket Kezwer, Rebecca Soffer, Moriel Rothman-Zecher, and Sarah Blake.
"Dwelling in a Time of Plagues" is a Jewish creative response to real-world plagues of our time. Collectively, the commissions in this constellation of art projects around North America grapple with contemporary crises: the global pandemic, institutional racism, xenophobia, ageism, forced isolation, and the climate crisis.
Download a free exhibition brochure featuring original art and writings from "Dwelling in a Time of Plagues."
Honeycomb Launch Briefing

With a growing international footprint and new intensive trainings, resources, and consulting services, the Jewish Teen Funders Network is about to rebrand as Honeycomb, focusing on helping educators and community leaders run immersive Jewish philanthropy experiences and programs and other meaningful grantmaking activities for youth and families.
The name “Honeycomb” represents the interlocking elements of group philanthropy experiences and the richness—both in impact and in meaning—that comes from those experiences. Honey itself also carries special symbolism in Jewish traditions and stories, most notably when consumed on Rosh Hashanah. As part of the rebrand, Honeycomb has unveiled new programs, immersive trainings, curriculum development, and consultations available for educators and professionals who run youth philanthropy programs in a variety of settings—Federations, schools, synagogues, community centers, foundations, camps and elsewhere. Honeycomb will also support and offer expertise to families on how to engage their youth in their giving.
Get a sneak peek at the new website and learn more about Honeycomb's services for JFN members at this special, invitation-only briefing with Honeycomb Executive Director Wayne Green and JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny.
Peoplehood Education & Initiatives in Israel

12-1:15pm ET/ 9-10:15am PT/19:00-20:15 Israel
While Israel has long been a central component of Jewish education worldwide, Israeli Jews haven't always been encouraged to learn about their Jewish brothers and sisters in the Diaspora.
The need for peoplehood education and initiatives that build mutual understanding between the Jewish communities in and outside of Israel, is more and more apparent.
Many have already responded to this issue in the form of philanthropic investments, initiatives, and organizations. The need to invest in this field is also felt strongly by the Israeli government, which has allocated resources and budgets to this issue and seeks to consult with diaspora partners. The pioneers in this field have planted strong roots, and the impact of their activities is already being felt.
This roundtable conversation will bring together funders already active in peoplehood education in Israel with others who are interested in the field, to share their work and vision for the future.
The conversation will be hosted by JFN in conjunction with Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
Speakers
Mark Charendoff, President
The Maimonides Fund
Miriam Peretz, Educator
Winner of the 2018 Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement
Green Funders Forum -State of emergency on the shores of Israel
Join the Green Funders' Forum for an update on one of the worst ecological disasters in the history of Israel -- the unprecedented oil spill affecting Israel's entire coast line.
We will receive an up-to-date picture of the scale of the disastrous oil spill and the immediate actions being taken to save the marine environment and to mitigate the health risks to Israeli residents. Moreover, we will hear what steps the State of Israel needs to take to prevent further ecological disasters now and in the future. The presenters will be representatives of Israel's environmental NGOs who have mobilized to deal with this catastrophe.
Background: An oil transport ship spilled thousands of tons of oil about 50 km off the coast of Israel last week. Israel's entire shoreline is filled with tar, oil and waste; thousands of marine animals are dead or in critical condition; dozens of people have been injured and the drinking water from desalination plants is in danger of contamination. And, the consequences are accumulating. The public has mobilized en masse - thousands of volunteers are cleaning the beaches at the risk of their health; local municipalities and governmental authorities are overburdened responding to this unprecedented situation.
At the same time, the Israeli government is about to make fateful decisions that affect our future and further endanger the residents of Israel and the Mediterranean, including: oil and gas drilling in the Mediterranean and the transport of oil from the UAE via a massive oil pipeline from the Gulf of Eilat to Ashkelon and Ashdod.
We urge you to join us for this emergency meeting to hear from the environmental NGOs on the ground and to understand the actions we can take personally and as a philanthropic community.
Speakers:
Dr. Ruthy Yahel, Chief Marine Ecologist at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Eran Ben-Yemini, Executive Director of Life and Environment - umbrella organization for the environmental movement
Nir Papai, Deputy CEO of Nature Protection at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
Arik Rosenblum, Executive Director of EcoOcean
Israel’s Education System – A Road Map for North American Funders

What is the structure of the Israeli education system? What are the sources of funding? How does the Israeli education system rank in comparison to other OECD countries?
Join us as Prof. Dan Ben-David, President of the Shoresh Institution provides answers to these and other questions as we look to address the challenges and opportunities within the system. Together we will learn about the role of philanthropy in funding education in Israel and hear from Danna Azrieli of the Azrieli Foundation on their models of interventions, lessons learned, and how they are moving the needle in closing the gaps in Israeli society through education.
For North American funders wishing to help improve the situation, this session provides a road map to Israel's complex educational system.
Speakers:
Dan Ben-David
President
Shoresh Institution
Danna Azrieli
Co-Chair
Azrieli Foundation in Israel
About the Shoresh Institution:
Shoresh is an independent socioeconomic policy research institution whose sole raison d’être is to identify the source, nature and scope of Israel’s internal root (shoresh) existential challenges. The Shoresh Institution provides evidence-based analyses – essential for strategic perspectives and transformative policies at the national level – to Israel’s leading policymakers and the general public to assist in moving the country towards a sustainable long-term trajectory that raises Israel’s living standards while reducing disparity among its citizens.
JFN West: Coffee with Wayne Green of the Jewish Teen Funders Network

This is the fourth installment of "Coffee with...," a new series designed to provide a unique opportunity for JFN West members to engage in small group conversation with and among JFN leaders and members.
Wayne Green is Executive Director of the Jewish Teen Funders Network (JTFN). JTFN is the leading resource for Jewish youth philanthropy working with educators, professionals, and lay leaders to deliver Jewish teen philanthropy programs at synagogues, Federations, summer camps, JCCs, and more. JTFN also promotes philanthropy and collective giving as forms of experiential education for Jewish teens.
JTFN works with parents, families and foundations to engage young members of their family to be active participants in their strategic grantmaking and philanthropy. This “Coffee with Wayne Green” will provide the opportunity to explore multi-generational giving and bringing your Jewish family values together to make an impact in the world today.
Key Success Factors in Addressing Jewish Poverty: Landscape Analysis

12-1pm ET/9-10am PT/7-8pm Israel
This is the fourth in a new National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty webinar series, "Key Success Factors in Addressing Jewish Poverty" in which we will highlight specific case studies and bright spots from throughout North America, with a particular focus on meeting the enormous challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and its economic effects.
Future sessions will explore such issues as measurement and evaluation, virtual program delivery, and convening for impact. Save the following date (all Thursdays, from 12-1 pm ET) for the next session: March 4. More dates will be announced soon.
In this session, we'll focus on landscape analysis.
Speakers:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
More to be confirmed
Remote Learning and Engagement: Exploring Research of Consequence for the Funder Community

1-2 pm ET/10-11 am PT/8-9 pm Israel
This is the third in a three-part series on Remote Learning and Engagement.
Since March 2020, there have been very few educational interventions and initiatives that have not had to pivot to the virtual delivery of services and programs. While some institutions have expanded already existing capacities, others have had to radically reimagine their educational practices and business models. In some cases, this has uncovered ways of reaching never-previously-imagined audiences.
This three-part series explores funder considerations and expectations when supporting such adaptations, program provider aspirations, and research data about what has transpired.
In this session on Jewish education, we explore how day schools have been especially nimble in adapting to the provision of schooling from home and we share findings from an international study on how students have experienced this change.
Speakers:
Rachel Mohl Abrahams
Senior Advisor for Education Grants and Programs
Mayberg Foundation
Marc Wolf
Vice President, Program Strategy and Impact
Prizmah, Center for Jewish Day Schools
Alex Pomson
Principal and Managing Director
Rosov Consulting
Impact Investing Roundtable 2/16

Time: 12-1pm ET/9-10am PT/7-8pm ISR
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Speakers:
Vanessa Bartram
Managing Director
ZORA Ventures
Presenting: Pursuing the SDGs: Lessons in the Hunt for Global Impact
Ofir Azury
Eleos
Presenting: Powering the Future of Behavioral Care
Jaynie Schultz
Elah Fund
Presenting: Growth capital impacting investing in exceptional Israeli companies
JFN Young Funders Forum- Our Community Event
We are excited to invite you to a JFN IL’s Young Funders Forum event dedicated to our community!
We will make time to catch up in small breakout rooms, meet new members and celebrate some changes.
And important none the less: We will raise a toast for a better 2021, so please come with your favorite bottle of wine.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 2/10

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event takes place on the second Wednesday of every month.
At this month’s Grantmaking Professionals Online Convening we will be exploring everyone’s favorite topic: fundraising! How do professional grantmakers navigate the various ways in which our roles intersect with fundraising? And what can we learn from the discipline of fundraising about the practice of philanthropy? As always we will have plenty of time for small group discussion and fellowship.
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Israel at the Precipice: Will the March Election Bring an End to Israel’s Political and Economic Crisis? JCF

12-1pm ET/ 9-10am PT/ 7-8pm Israel
As COVID-19 continues to take Israeli lives and ravage its economy, seemingly immune to Israel’s impressive vaccination campaign, Yohanan Plesner, President of the Israel Democracy Institute, and Professor Karnit Flug, Vice President, Research and William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy at IDI, will discuss the stakes and possible outcomes of Israel’s fourth election in less than two years.
Speakers:
Yohanan Plesner
President
Israel Democracy Institute
Prof. Karnit Flug
Vice President of Research and the William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy
Israel Democracy Institute
Moderator:
Dr. Jesse Ferris
Vice President of Strategy
Israel Democracy Institute
Israel at the Precipice: Will the March Election Bring an End to Israel’s Political and Economic Crisis?

12-1pm ET/ 9-10am PT/ 7-8pm Israel
As Covid-19 continues to take Israeli lives and ravage its economy, seemingly immune to Israel’s impressive vaccination campaign, Yohanan Plesner, President of the Israel Democracy Institute, and Professor Karnit Flug, Vice President, Research and William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy at IDI, will discuss the stakes and possible outcomes of Israel’s fourth election in less than two years.
Speakers:
Yohanan Plesner
President
Israel Democracy Institute
Prof. Karnit Flug
Vice President of Research and the William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy
Israel Democracy Institute
Moderator:
Dr. Jesse Ferris
Vice President of Strategy
Israel Democracy Institute
Key Success Factors in Addressing Jewish Poverty: Engaging People with Lived Experiences

12-1pm ET/9-10am PT/7-8pm Israel
This is the third in a new National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty webinar series, "Key Success Factors in Addressing Jewish Poverty" in which we will highlight specific case studies and bright spots from throughout North America, with a particular focus on meeting the enormous challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and its economic effects.
Future sessions will explore such issues as measurement and evaluation, virtual program delivery, and convening for impact. Save the following dates (all Thursdays, from 12-1 pm ET) for the next two sessions: February 18, March 4. More dates will be announced soon.
In this session, we'll focus on engaging people with lived experiences.
Speakers:
Idit Klein
President & CEO
Keshet: For LGBTQ equality in Jewish life
Lani Santo
CEO
Footsteps
Yavilah McCoy
CEO and Executive Director
DIMENSIONS
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
Remote Learning and Engagement Series: Best Practices and Opportunities for Israel Engagement

1-2 pm ET/10 -11 am PT/8-9 pm Israel
This is the second in a three-part series on Remote Learning and Engagement. The next session will address Jewish educational experiences (February 17, 1-2 pm ET).
Since March 2020, there have been very few educational interventions and initiatives that have not had to pivot to the virtual delivery of services and programs. While some institutions have expanded already existing capacities, others have had to radically reimagine their educational practices and business models. In some cases, this has uncovered ways of reaching never-previously-imagined audiences.
This three-part series will explore funder considerations and expectations when supporting such adaptations, program provider aspirations, and research data about what has transpired.
In this session on Israel experiences, we focus on the pivot taken by Onward Israel this past summer, offering more than 500 remote internship experiences in Israel
Speakers:
Ilan Wagner
President and CEO
Onward Israel
Josh Donner
Executive Director
David S. and Karen A. Shapira Foundation
Nettie Aharon
Senior Project Associate
Rosov Consulting
New Member Orientation

Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Board Chair Marcia Riklis and JFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other new members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
Our Brains, Awareness and Crisis Management: The Impact of Training the Brain on Ourselves, Our Giving and Society

*The meeting will be held in Hebrew
As we continue the dialogue with JFN members on resilience, we invite you to join us for a conversation with Dr. Nava Levit-Binnun, director of the Sagol Center for Brain and Mind, and the founding director of the Muda Institute for Mindfulness, Science and Society at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya.
Dr. Levit-Binnun will impart her professional and personal experience, the neuroscientific research about mindfulness and its implementation in various aspects of the Israeli social sector. We will invite members to share their own tools for cultivating resilience in times of crisis and practice together as set our intentions for 2021 and the constant changing reality.
The Voice of the Next Gen on Climate Change - Jewish Funders Meet Israeli Youth Climate Leaders

19:00 - 21:00 Israel Time / 12:00-2:00 pm EST / 9:00AM-11:00 AM PST
Climate change is expected to have an unprecedented impact on life as we know it. Future generations in Israel and the world are likely to suffer from dire consequences if no action is taken.
Join JFN's Green Funders Forum for a live inspirational conversation with the most passionate and persistent Arab and Jewish youth leaders working to save Israel from the impact of climate change.
The event is for the philanthropic community. If you are a funder or a foundation professional, please request a seat and our host will approve your registration. You can RSVP by emailing Sigal Yaniv Feller: [email protected].
Following the conversation, we will hold an interactive discussion and explore our role as a philanthropic community and as human beings in fighting climate change.
The Green Funders Forum operates under the auspices of Jewish Funders Network and aims to educate funders on the importance of environmental protection and on meaningful strategies to influence the environment.
Hosts:
Marla Stein
Co-Chair
Green Funders Forum
Stein Family Fund
Sigal Yaniv Feller
Deputy Director and Senior Director of Advisory Services
JFN Israel
Presenters:
Hila Lernau
Researcher on youth activism on Israeli climate change at Tel Aviv University’s Porter School of Environmental Studies. Member of Teachers for Climate.
Luna Abu Yunis, Youth for Climate
Climate activist, peacebuilder, and science enthusiast, from the Arab city of Sakhnin in northern Israel, she is one of the leaders of the students’ climate strikes in Israel.
Odelya Robbins Morgenstern, Youth for Nature in Jerusalem Hills
An eleventh grader at Adam High School in Jerusalem. Odelya is a youth movement counselor who plays music and creates art in her free time
Michael Backlund
Director of Global Community at Climate Science. Michael is an Israeli youth activist who is focused on climate education, solutions and justice.
Yoni Neter
Year of service volunteer in the Israeli scouts, one of the leaders of the sustainability process in the scouts will share his work with youth movements leading sustainability for future generations.
New Member Orientation

Welcome to the JFN family!
At this special session, led by JFN Board Chair Marcia Riklis andJFN Vice President of Philanthropic Engagement Ari Rudolph, you'll learn how to get the most out of your membership and will have an opportunity to meet other new members. We will cover a variety of topics, including membership benefits, how to use our website, and much more!
Jewish Poverty Success Factors Series: Focus on Advocacy

12-1 pm ET/ 9-10 am PT / 7-8 pm Israel
This is the second in a new National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty webinar series, "Key Success Factors in Addressing Jewish Poverty" in which we will highlight specific case studies and bright spots from throughout North America, with a particular focus on meeting the enormous challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and its economic effects. Future sessions will explore such issues as measurement and evaluation, advocacy and awareness building, virtual program delivery, convening for impact, and engaging people with lived experiences. Save the following dates (all Thursdays, from 12-1 pm ET) for the next three sessions: February 4, February 18, March 4. More dates will be announced soon.
In this session, we'll learn about the role effective advocacy plays in addressing poverty and will reflect on how the new presidential administration changes the climate for enacting reforms to help vulnerable individuals. Watch previous sessions in this series here.
Speakers:
Elana Broitman
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
Jewish Federations of North America
Melanie Roth Gorelick
Senior Vice President
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Additional speaker TBA.
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
Bias in the Schools: A Look at California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum and Its National Implications

California's proposed Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) will be implemented in high school classrooms across the state and is likely to be a model used in developing curricula across the country. Initially, drafts of the curriculum excluded Jews and even included anti-Jewish content. The collective efforts of Jewish organizations and individuals in California improved matters, but there remains pressure from the BDS movement to remove Jewish identity, definitions of antisemitism, and Jewish lesson plans from the curriculum. Join for a timely conversation with leading Jewish communal professionals on the role ethnic studies curricula plays in the BDS movement’s strategies, the impact this curriculum may have on how both the Jewish-American experience and antisemitism are taught throughout the country, and how you can make a difference in your own community around similar issues.
Speakers:
Tyler Gregory
Executive Director
JCRC of the San Francisco Bay Area
Alisa Finsten
Senior Vice President of Community Engagement
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Note: Prior to being approved by State Board of Education at its March meeting, there is a public comment period during which individuals may provide input into the final draft of the ESMC through January 21. If you would like to provide input prior to our scheduled program on January 20, here is a link with additional information and a place to submit comments.
Remote Learning and Engagement: Best Practices in Online Adult Education

1:30-2:30pm ET/10:30-11:30am PT/8:30-9:30pm Israel
This is the first in a three-part series on Remote Learning and Engagement. Upcoming sessions will address using online technology to facilitate Israel encounters (February 3, 1-2 pm ET) and Jewish educational experiences (February 17, 1-2 pm ET).
Since March 2020, there have been very few educational interventions and initiatives that have not had to pivot to the virtual delivery of services and programs. While some institutions have expanded already existing capacities, others have had to radically reimagine their educational practices and business models. In some cases, this has uncovered ways of reaching never-previously-imagined audiences.
This three-part series will explore funder considerations and expectations when supporting such adaptations, program provider aspirations, and research data about what has transpired.
In this session on professional development, researchers will share their findings so far on the remote professional development and adult education offerings of 14 programs supported by The Jim Joseph Foundation.
Speakers:
Stacie Cherner
Director of Learning & Evaluation
Jim Joseph Foundation
Mark Horowitz
Vice President
Program and Talent, JCCA
Meredith Woocher
Senior Project Leader
Rosov Consulting
Special Briefing on Security in a Time of Unrest

12-1pm ET/9-10am PT/ 7-8pm Israel
Due to the current climate of civil unrest and the continued impact of Covid-19, leading Jewish organizations and Jewish communities throughout the United States are developing new and innovative approaches to community security.
In this session, funders will learn about work being done on the national level to secure Jewish institutions and virtual communities. This includes an example of successful lobbying that led to a dramatic increase in government funding and a case study from New York, where philanthropists have invested in a serious upgrade of the community security infrastructure. Finally, we will discuss how to harness the energy of volunteers interested in protecting their communities.
Speakers:
Carly Maisel
Global CEO
Kirsh Philanthropies
Mitchell D. Silber
Executive Director
Community Security Initiative
Richard Priem
Deputy National Director
CSS
Steven Hughes
Chief Security Officer
Elliott Management Corporation
Brad Orsini
Senior National Security Advisor
Secure Community Network
Jewish Federations of North America
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 1/13

Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event takes place on the second Wednesday of every month.
We will dig deeper into the conversation we began in December about the relationships between grantmaking professionals and grantseekers. This power dynamic is not new; in fact, the rabbis considered a similar case in the Talmud. Together, with special guest Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, President and CEO of The Hadar Institute, we will explore this Talmudic case and its implications for our own philanthropic relationships.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Speakers:
Rabbi Elie Kaunfer
President and CEO
Hadar Institute
More speakers TBA
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Impact Investing Roundtable 1/12/21

Time:12-1pm ET/9-10am PT/ 7-8pm Israel
Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for January 12:
Yaron Neudorfer
CEO
Social Finance Israel
Rafi Musher
CEO
Stax, Inc
Doug Stewart
Executive Director
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Canvas peer network meeting
Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty Series: Key Success Factors

12-1 pm ET/ 9-10 am PT / 7-8 pm Israel
This is the first in a new National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty webinar series, "Key Success Factors in Addressing Jewish Poverty" in which we will highlight specific case studies and bright spots from throughout North America, with a particular focus on meeting the enormous challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and its economic effects. Future sessions will explore such issues as measurement and evaluation, advocacy and awareness building, virtual program delivery, convening for impact, and engaging people with lived experiences. Save the following dates (all Thursdays, from 12-1 pm ET) for the next four sessions: January 21, February 4, February 18, March 4. More dates will be announced soon.
In this session, we'll learn about the unique challenges and opportunities of providing human services in small, less urban Jewish communities.
Speakers:
Rabbi Rachel Isaacs
Director of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College
Spiritual leader of Beth Israel Congregation in Waterville, ME
Rabbi Erica Asch
Rabbi of Temple Beth El in Augusta, ME
Leslie Dannin Rosenthal
Chair of the National Advisory Committee for Jewish Federation of North America’s Network of Independent Communities
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
Special Event: Dialogue and Performance with the Bridge-Building Jerusalem Youth Chorus

JFN is collaborating with the Jerusalem Youth Chorus on a special project for our 2021 JFN virtual conference in March. To kick off our work together, we’re calling on all members to join us for a special workshop with the Israeli and Palestinian singers of this extraordinary ensemble. Members participating in this workshop will meet these incredible young people, share their own songs, memories, and stories, and through an engaging dialogue, we'll generate the necessary inspiration the chorus will use to create a song to premiere at the March program. Join us for an inspirational conversation you won’t soon forget. (Singing not required!)
This summer, the chorus created a video, "Home - From Home," featuring friends and supporters from all over the world, who came together to share music and feelings in a joyous celebration on that theme. We hope to create something equally meaningful and resonant of the depth and strength of our network, that speaks to the themes of our conference and reflects on this most unusual year.
The chorus has been recognized for its musical innovation and integrity of purpose and process from the New York Times to the "Late Show With Stephen Colbert," and this workshop will bring together JFN heads, voices, and hearts to work together to set our dreams to music.
Impact Investing Roundtable 12/15

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for December 15:
Master Class: James Cummings, Nathan Cummings Foundation: "Zoom to Impact"
Investment Roundup: Lital Slavin. "Beyond Creative: Movies for a Change"
Investment Roundup: Michael Stein and Juliet Stein, Max and Bella Stein Charitable Trust: "Investing in Vegan Alternative Proteins"
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup Dec 9
Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event takes place on the second Wednesday of every month.
In this webinar, we will explore the various dynamics that shape our relationships, including personal values and worldview, religious identity, politics, and work styles, to unpack what makes for a healthy rapport. We will break into smaller groups to discuss.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Speakers:
Sara J. Fertman
Director
The Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation
Wendy Platt Newberger
Director of Jewish and Israel Giving
Crown Family Philanthropies
Third speaker TBA
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
When the Smoke Clears: JFN West Regional Convening

The Jewish Funders Network is pleased to announce our inaugural JFN West* virtual regional convening. Members in our region will join together to share a dynamic experience with top-level content, critical knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities.
This event will embrace the unique flavor of the Jewish community in the West. We will explore both the challenges and opportunities we face in the wake of Covid-19: wildfires; expanding needs; and constricting resources. With leading experts in the field, we will discuss issues specific to Jewish philanthropy in the West, explore best philanthropic practices during a crisis, and consider a vision for our future, while meeting other JFN West members. Together, we will learn, inspire, and act.
Presenters include:
- Dr. Una Osili, Associate Dean for Research and International Programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
- Rachel Levin, President of Fundamental Inc, Executive Director of Righteous Persons Foundation, and co-founder of Reboot
- Alexandra Shabtai, Advisory Board Member for Glazer Philanthropies, Board Member, At The Well
- Ilana Kaufman, Executive Director for the Jews of Color Field-Building Initiative
- Rabbi Mary Zamore, rabbinic leader and author of "The Sacred Exchange: Creating A Jewish Money Ethic"
Learn more here.
Democracy and Media in Israel: A Conversation with Daniel Lubetzky and Lucy Aharish

8:00 PM IL / 10am Pacific
Don’t miss this special conversation between entrepreneur and philanthropist Daniel Lubetzky and Arab-Israeli newscaster Lucy Aharish about the critical role independent media plays in sustaining a healthy democracy. At a time when both journalists and democratic institutions are under attack – in Israel and around the world – creating a space for independent voices to be heard has never been more critical. These leading voices will examine the role of philanthropy in promoting freedom of speech, democratic discourse and transparent media in a polarized era, offer insight into new approaches to enhance civic engagement, and show how vibrant media serves to bring critical issues to the forefront of the Israeli national conversation and support a healthy and thriving democracy in Israel. With introductory remarks from Marcia Riklis, JFN Board Chair.
Speakers
Daniel Lubetzky
Founder and CEO of KIND Snacks
Founder, OneVoice Movement & PeaceWorks Foundation
Lucy Aharish
Journalist and host of DemocraTV
Yuval Lion, moderator
JFN member and former journalist
Jerusalem Youth Chorus Songwriting Workshop

JFN is collaborating with the Jerusalem Youth Chorus on a special project for our 2021 JFN virtual conference in March. To kick off our work together, we’re calling on all members to join us for a special workshop with the Israeli and Palestinian singers of this extraordinary ensemble.
This summer, the chorus created a video, "Home - From Home," featuring friends and supporters from all over the world, who came together to share music and feelings in a joyous celebration on that theme. Members participating in this workshop will meet these incredible young people, share their own songs, memories, and stories, and through an engaging dialogue we'll generate the necessary inspiration the chorus will use to create a song to premiere at for the March program.
The chorus has been recognized for its musical innovation and integrity of purpose and process from the New York Times to the Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and this workshop will bring together JFN heads, voices, and hearts to work together to set our dreams to music. Join us for an inspirational conversation you won’t soon forget. (Singing not required!)
Resilience and Mental Health: A Funders’ Discussion About Covid’s Impact on Ourselves, the Causes We Support, and Society

19:00- 20:30 Israel Time / 9:00AM - 11:30AM PT
The meeting will be held in English, via Zoom.
Please join Jude Yovel-Recanati and Dr. Ariel Kor, JFN Board Members who will open the floor to discussion with funders about their personal well-being. We will then discuss funders' role in ensuring the resilience and sustainability of organizations and professionals during Covid.
Professor Yossi Harel-Fisch, a consultant to the World Health Organization, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and international governments, will provide a comparative perspective on the impact of the pandemic across global societies and demographics, and the behavioral implications on resilience and mental health.
In small groups participants will discuss the short and long-term effects, resources available for those in distress, what dilemmas funders face, and any silver linings from the pandemic.
Funders will share how Covid has influenced their giving strategy, what dilemmas they face, and any silver linings from the pandemic.
Speakers:
Professor Yossi Harel-Fisch
Director of International Research Program on Adolescent Well-Being and Health, Bar Ilan University
Your Role in Nonprofit Mergers: A Workshop for Funders

19:00 - 20:00 Israel Time
*Please note that this webinar will be in English.
This is the first in a series of skill-building workshops to help funders navigate their philanthropic work in an effective and optimal manner, despite the complexity around us.
Our main guest speaker will be Prof. Emeritus Donald Haider from Kellogg University, who has researched the nonprofit sector in the United States over several decades and conducted a comprehensive study about nonprofit mergers over the past decade. Prof. Haider will share his insights on the components for success and failure in nonprofit mergers, and on various models for philanthropic involvement in the field.
During the second part of the session, we will hear selected test cases by JFN members, from Israel and from the U.S who participated in merger processes and will present central insights and tips for donors, such as: What is important to understand before taking action? Where is caution needed? What complexities should you expect? How can donors positively affect merger and partnership processes?
We will dedicate the last part of the meeting to an open discussion of this subject.
Tools for Impacting Israel's Environment: Part 3

With the growing concerns to Israel’s future due to the consequences of climate change and local environmental threats, JFN's Green Funders Forum is launching a unique series of workshops and individual consultations for funders interested in expanding their knowledge of and impact on Israel’s environment.
In the third and final session (Nov. 18) in the series we will host Gila Gamilel, Israel’s minister of environmental protection, and former MK Dov Khanin. They will discuss the implications of the American elections on the global and local environmental challenges and the role civil society and philanthropy can play.
Please note that sessions will be held in English.
Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Affordable Housing

Affordable housing continues to be a complex component in the continuum of poverty. From lack of affordable housing, limited government support, to the challenges those living in poverty have keeping up with rent or mortgage payments, the housing agenda often seems too overwhelming to tackle.
In this webinar, the Housing Workgroup of the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty will give an update on the dialogue already underway about affordable housing. We will also learn about an innovative model being administered by Jewish Family Services of Rochester that is helping to support and stabilize an affordable housing community there. Finally we will hear from JFN members, Jane and Eddie Lorin, who develop and operate healthy affordable housing communities and who launched a private foundation that collaborates with nonprofits to ensure quality of life for residents living in affordable housing communities.
Presenters:
Lisa Budlow
CEO, CHAI (Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.) Baltimore
Chair, Housing Workgroup, National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty
Jennie Schaff, PhD
CEO
Jewish Family Services of Rochester
Eddie Lorin
Co-Founder
Alliant Strategic Funds
Jane Lorin
Board Member
HAPI Foundation (Health Apartment Property Initiative)
Moderator:
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
Senior Advisor
The Bridgespan Group
Impact Investing Roundtable 11/16

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator:
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for November 16:
Eddie Lorin
CEO, Co-Founder, Alliant Strategic Funds
Exploring the Opportunities of Affordable Housing.
Danny Oren
ESG ETFs: Market Returns with Less Evil.
Sari Miller
CEO, Sarjay, Inc.
Trusty.care: A Smarter Way to Manage Medicare and the Aging Journey.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup November 11
Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event takes place the second Wednesday of every month.
In this webinar, we will explore the various dynamics that shape various relationships, including personal values and worldview, religious identity, politics, and work styles, to unpack what makes for a healthy rapport. We will break into smaller groups to discuss.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
The employment crisis and the Corona crisis in Israel

Note: This meeting will be held in Hebrew and will be from 3 am - 4:15 am EST.
What are the five major challenges that are important for us to recognize and understand as funders, and as members of the philanthropic community, about the employment crisis in Israel?
Which sectors does the crisis currently affect? What are the possible solutions and what could be the role of philanthropy and civil society in dealing with the current challenges?
Prof. Karnit Flug, Vice President of Research and the William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Professor at the Hebrew University and the former Governor of the Bank of Israel, and Tali Nir, Executive Director, 121 – Engine for Social Change, will present the main problems concerning employment in Israel.
The second part of the meeting will be a conversation among JFN members. Noa Yovel Maoz and Dr. Naama Meiran will share insights from Gandyr Foundation's philanthropic work during the COVID crisis pertaining to young adults and employment.
CANVAS Presents ... Cocktails at the Museum

Cocktails at the Museum
An Outside-In Exhibition + Interactive Artist Conversation Featuring Dwelling in a Time of Plagues Works
Clamor in the Desert by Mirta Kupferminc
Shelter in Place by Adam W. McKinney
The Ushpizin of the Silver Screen by Tiffany Woolf
With Reflection and Commentary from CANVAS Founder Lou Cove + Funding Partners
The Jim Joseph Foundation • The Peleh Fund • The Righteous Persons Foundation • The Klarman Family Foundation • The Charles & Lynn Schusterman Foundation
Join us for an evening of art and philanthropy — an evening far outside your typical Zoom experience — where we will tour the coast-to-coast exhibition Dwelling in a Time of Plagues with the artists and museum directors whose collaborative work caught the attention of the art world and received global acclaim this Sukkot.
Dwelling in a Time of Plagues is a Jewish creative response to real-world plagues of our time funded by CANVAS, a Jewish arts and culture funding collaborative incubated by JFN.
Dwelling is a constellation of outdoor art installations at Jewish museum sites around the United States, displayed during Sukkot and Passover of 5781. Collectively, these commissions grapple with contemporary crises: the global pandemic, institutional racism and ageism, forced isolation, global warming, and the crisis for migrants and refugees.
More information about Dwelling in a Time of Plagues at www.PlagueDwelling.com
Session 2: Funding Strategies for Environmental Impact in Israel : A JFN Green Funders Forum

Session 2 - Nov. 4: 19:00-21:00 Israel Time: Funding Strategies for Environmental Impact in Israel
Three workshops: Oct. 21 | Nov. 4 | Nov. 18
Each workshop is at 19:00 - 21:00 IST (9 am PST, 12 noon EST)
Please note: The sessions will be in English and are timed so that participants both in Israel and abroad can attend.
With the growing concerns to Israel’s future due to the consequences of climate change and local environmental threats -- exacerbated by a changing world due to Covid-19 -- the Green Funders’ Forum is launching a unique series of workshops and individual consultations for funders interested in expanding their knowledge of and impact on Israel’s environment.
We will address key questions to support impactful giving:
- What are the main environmental challenges to Israel’s future?
- How can philanthropy best influence these increasing challenges?
- Who are the key players?
- What is the social impact of funding in the environmental field in Israel?
- What are the opportunities to influence?
- What are the lessons and best practices learned from previous and present experiences?
Session 3 - Nov. 18: 19:00-21:00 Israel Time: Taking the Next Steps in Environmental Giving
We invite you to join us in this opportunity to take the next step as individuals and as a Forum to make Israel sustainable for us and for future generations!
The series is coordinated by JFN’s Green Funders’ Forum in collaboration with Life & Environment - The Umbrella Organization for the Israeli Environmental Movement.
RSVP here for all three sessions. Zoom links will be provided for each session upon RSVP.
Young Funders Forum - The Psychology of Social Polarization in Israel and the Role of Philanthropy in Building a Different Reality
JFN’s Young Funders Forum invites you to a nightly talk, on the eve of the US presidential election
A tolerant, inclusive and equal society increases the ability of citizens to comply with guidelines in times of crisis. At the same time, our political system rewards exclusion and polarization that lead us away from the society we strive to build Why is this happening? And how can the division curve be flattened? Leading us in this conversation is Prof. Eran Halperin, founder and head of the aChord Center - Social Psychology for Social Change who will analyse the psychological needs and political interests that push us in opposite directions and look at the role of philanthropy in creating significant social change. (8:45-10:00pm)
We will start the conversation with an opportunity to check-in and catch up with everyone (8:15-8:45pm).
Disaster Relief Funding

In the wake of California’s fires, and America’s intensified hurricane season, natural disaster relief and preparedness has come to the foreground of communal conversations. With relief efforts complicated by COVID, how can funders now work with their municipal and Jewish-communal institutions to effectively provide for present needs as well as to build necessary infrastructure and better prepare communities to withstand disasters down the road? Our panel brings together a U.S. Congressman and leading voices on environmental and disaster funding both inside and outside the JFN community to offer insight into how funders can make the biggest difference in this critical field of work.
SPEAKERS
Rep. Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative, CA-20
Patricia McIlreavy
CEO, Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Roxanne Cohen
Managing Director, Community Impact, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment, San Francisco Bay Area
Peter Teague
PT Philanthropic, moderator
Collaboration and Creativity in a Time of Crisis: An Update on the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund

The Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund (JCRIF), a $91 million partnership of eight Jewish foundations and the Jewish Federations of North America, was created to address the many challenges facing Jewish institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. JCRIF has been distributing grants and no-interest loans to a wide range of Jewish institutions since April. These grants and loans were used to address emergency needs and help organizations to adapt and innovate in the face of unprecedented challenges.
JCRIF's funders and grantees will share key takeaways about the crises and opportunities facing Jewish institutions. Abi Dauber Sterne, Director of Makom: The Jewish Agency for Israel Education Lab, will discuss the new stimulus program created by JCRIF's grant funders enabling more American youth to spend this academic year on gap year programs in Israel.
Speakers:
Barry Finestone
President and CEO
Jim Joseph Foundation
Felicia Herman
Director, JCRIF Aligned Grant Program
Executive Director, Natan
Abi Dauber Sterne
Director
Makom: The Jewish Agency for Israel Education Lab
More Urgent Than Ever: Confronting Jewish Poverty in the COVID Era

The National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty is pleased to host Sarah Abramson, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Impact of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, will underscore the importance of community-based initiatives and share the journey of CJP’s anti-poverty initiative. Sam Cobbs, CEO of Tipping Point, will share his personal story and how place/community has been a driving theme of his work at Tipping Point. He will also discuss Tipping Point’s approach to COVID-19, alleviating poverty in the Bay Area, and how this work is rooted in place, differentiating it from other philanthropies.
Attendees will leave with relevant takeaways on how to help their local Jewish communities develop initiatives to build back better from COVID-19 and combat poverty now and in the future.
This session is part of the Jewish Federation of North America's GA 2020 Virtual, which is open to all, free of charge. Visit www.generalassembly.org to register for this session and any other sessions or plenaries that interest you.
Broke: The Game. What Would You Do?

Join JFN, the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty, and Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, for a special program to learn about a groundbreaking new game that educates people about the realities of poverty in the United States.
"Broke: The Game" simulates the stress and difficulty of attempting to overcome poverty. With a simple setup, this game forces players to challenge their preconceived ideas about poverty and those experiencing it. Hear from the creator of the game about why she was inspired to create this game. Colleagues and funders will then share their impressions of the game after playing.
Speakers:
Reuben D. Rotman
President & CEO
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Dana Gold
Game creator
Chief Operating Officer
JFCS Pittsburgh
JFN West: Coffee with Marcia Riklis, JFN Board Chair

This is the third installment of "Coffee with...," a new series designed to provide a unique opportunity for JFN West members to engage in small group conversation with and among JFN leaders and members.
In August, several members joined us for an important conversation with Andrés Spokoiny about the big-picture future for the Jewish community as we seek to define our direction for the rest of the 21st century and beyond. Last month, we were fortunate to hear from Deena Fuchs, JFN’s Executive Vice President, and had a dynamic conversation on the role of Jewish philanthropists during this time of crisis. We look forward to a meaningful discussion with Marcia.
For many years, Marcia served on the Executive Committee of UJA-Federation of New York, holding a number of positions, including Chair of The Annual Campaign and Founding Chair of Shituf, the grant-making body, which coordinates UJA work in Israel. She is a founding member of Jewish Democratic Council of America and in addition to chairing the Jewish Funder’s Network Board of Directors, she sits on the board of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Peaceworks Foundation.
Spiritual Communities

Manny Menchel from the William Davidson Foundation will moderate a panel on the evolution of Jewish life, leadership, and spiritual centers. How did we get here, what is "here", and where are we going?
Speakers:
Amy Sales
Associate Director and Senior Research Scientist
Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University
Moderator:
Manny Menchel
Program Officer, Jewish Education
William Davidson Foundation
Maintaining Human Connection in a World Gone Virtual

As the pandemic restrictions continue, many still find themselves in remote work arrangements. The ongoing effort to maintain human connection in these settings—to co-workers, grantees, family members, and more—is a challenging one. After adjusting to working in Zoom, we now need to recall what's been left behind. In this webinar, JFN’s partner Foundant Technologies and JFN members present on how they’ve evolved their strategies to enable remote work environments that also maintain relationships.
Together we’ll explore:
- Strategies foundations/organizations are using to stay connected with grantees/members and maintain relationships
- How foundations/organizations are engaging partners and key stakeholders in their grantmaking
- What we’re learning about keeping team members engaged in a socially distanced world
SPEAKERS
Michal Werner | Associate Executive Director, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey
Valerie Rosenberg | Chief of Staff, Board Secretary, Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
Deena Fuchs | Executive Vice President, Jewish Funders Network
Mark Larimer, moderator | Co-Founder, Foundant Technologies
RSVP AT THIS LINK
Tools & Opportunities for Funders to Impact Israel’s Environment : A JFN Green Funders Forum 3-Part Series

Three workshops: Oct. 21 | Nov. 4 | Nov. 18
Each workshop is at 19:00 - 21:00 IST (9 am PST, 12 noon EST)
Please note: The sessions will be in English and are timed so that participants both in Israel and abroad can attend.
With the growing concerns to Israel’s future due to the consequences of climate change and local environmental threats -- exacerbated by a changing world due to Covid-19 -- the Green Funders’ Forum is launching a unique series of workshops and individual consultations for funders interested in expanding their knowledge of and impact on Israel’s environment.
We will address key questions to support impactful giving:
- What are the main environmental challenges to Israel’s future?
- How can philanthropy best influence these increasing challenges?
- Who are the key players?
- What is the social impact of funding in the environmental field in Israel?
- What are the opportunities to influence?
- What are the lessons and best practices learned from previous and present experiences?
Session 1- Oct. 21: 19:00-21:00 Israel Time: Getting to Know the Issues and Strategies of the Environmental Movement in Israel
Session 2 - Nov. 4: 19:00-21:00 Israel Time: Funding Strategies for Environmental Impact in Israel
Session 3 - Nov. 18: 19:00-21:00 Israel Time: Taking the Next Steps in Environmental Giving
We invite you to join us in this opportunity to take the next step as individuals and as a Forum to make Israel sustainable for us and for future generations!
The series is coordinated by JFN’s Green Funders’ Forum in collaboration with Life & Environment - The Umbrella Organization for the Israeli Environmental Movement.
PLEASE NOTE THAT PARTICIPATION IN ALL THREE SESSIONS IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE SERIES.
Exceptions can be made in special cases by emailing Sigal: [email protected]
RSVP here for all three sessions. Zoom links will be provided for each session upon RSVP.
Impact Investing Roundtable Session 5

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator for Roundtable Series
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for October 20:
Yuval Lion
Presenting "Travels with a Pragmatic Values Investor"
Dalia Black
Presenting "Advancing Hi-Tech in the Bedouin Community"
3rd presenter to be announced
This is the fifth in a five-part series. While you are welcome to join us for any of the roundtables, we encourage you to join us for the full series to maximize our shared learning and collaborations.
A Finger On The Pulse, an Eye on the Day After אצבע על הדופק, ועין אל האופק

Covid-19 has commanded the attention of the Jewish community and shifted its priorities. However, the communal issues that were pressing before the pandemic have not gone away. When the immediate crisis recedes, concerns about the growing rift between Israel and Diaspora Jewish communities will once again come into focus, but with new angles to explore.
Philanthropist Charles Bronfman and Jeff Solomon have co-founded a new start-up, Enter: the Jewish Peoplehood Alliance, devoted to ensuring that the Jewish people remain a dynamic, diverse, global community that is united, secure, and inclusive. This program brings together leaders from this exciting initiative to examine some of the complicated issues around peoplehood that will resurface in an altered environment. Our conversation will explore how funders can effectively engage in the field of Israel-Diaspora affairs through agility and adaptation in this most unusual environment.
Speakers:
Dan Shapiro
former U.S. Ambassador to Israel
Enter: the Jewish Peoplehood Alliance
Alon Friedman
Founding CEO
Enter: the Jewish Peoplehood Alliance
Anita Friedman
President
Koret Foundation
Jeffrey R. Solomon
Senior Advisor
Chasbro
Applied Research: A Powerful Tool for Making Change

Strategic philanthropy depends upon good data and research—however it’s not only about the data you have, but what you do with it. In order to make good decisions and work effectively with nonprofit partners to drive change, funders must have a solid understanding of what research and data is available and how to translate that information into action.
This session explores how funders, nonprofits, and researchers can work more effectively together to guide big bets or make targeted interventions. The panel of researchers, funders, and program leaders on the call will help you incorporate applied research into your philanthropic toolbox.
Speakers:
Stacie Cherner
Director of Learning and Evaluation
Jim Joseph Foundation
Arielle Levites, PhD
Managing Director
Consortium for Applied Studies in Jewish Education
George Washington University
Rabbi Yehuda Sarna
Executive Director
Bronfman Center at NYU
New York University
Moderator:
Rella Kaplowitz
Senior Program Officer
Evaluation and Learning
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup October 14
Please join us for a monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals. This event takes place the second Wednesday of every month.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Speakers
Rachel Mohl Abrahams
Senior Advisor
Education Grants and Programs
Mayberg Foundation
Aaron Dorfman
President
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
Connie Kanter
CEO
Samis Foundation
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
The State of Jewish Journalism with Andres Spokoiny, Philissa Cramer and Sarah Breger
Join President and CEO of the Jewish Funders Network Andrés Spokoiny, Editor in Chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Philissa Cramer and Moment Deputy Editor Sarah Breger as they discuss the role Jewish journalism plays inside and outside the Jewish community, how COVID-19 has changed the media landscape and the future of Jewish media.
This is a Moment Magazine event.
On Chaos and Revelation: Toward a Jewish Future

We are living in a moment of both chaos and revelation. As the pandemic has shifted the ground beneath our feet we have learned much about ourselves and our communities. How has living through this experience offered a glimpse into who we are as individuals and as a community? What questions about Jewish life has it brought to the fore that will help us shape the future of our communities?
In this session, we will utilize Jewish texts to consider questions and paradigms that can guide us in shaping Jewish life moving forward.
Speakers
Elana Stein Hain
Scholar in Residence and Director of Faculty
Shalom Hartman Institute of North America
State of Play: Professional Talent in the Jewish Nonprofit Sector

Learn about how Covid-19 has affected leaders and professionals in our community and what it means for the future of the Jewish nonprofit sector. Speakers will share research about employee experience and organizational policy changes during the pandemic and how this has affected the field. Funders will come away knowing how they might support and maximize the potential of the Jewish communal work force at this time.
Speakers:
Amy Born
Chief Strategy Officer
Leading Edge
Randall Kaplan
CEO
Capsule Group LLC
Corinne Irwin
Director of Human Resources
American Jewish World Service
Special Lecture by Dan Ariely: Harnessing the Power of Behavioral Economics

We are pleased to welcome back Dan Ariely, the Israeli-American bestselling author of "Predictably Irrational."
Speaker:
Watch Dan's last lecture for JFN here.
Special Lecture by Dan Ariely: Harnessing the Power of Behavioral Economics

We are pleased to welcome back Dan Ariely, the Israeli-American bestselling author of "Predictably Irrational."
Speaker:
Watch Dan's last lecture for JFN here.
Young Funders Forum: Adaptive Leadership Workshop
Impact Investing Roundtable Session 4

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator for Roundtable Series
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for September 22 TBA
Charlene Seidle
Executive Vice President
Leichtag Foundation
Avi Deutsch
Managing Partner
Vodia Ventures
Marla Stein
Entrepreneur and supporter of the Israeli impact investing field
This is part of a series that meets once a month. While you are welcome to join us for any of the roundtables, we encourage you to join us for the full series to maximize our shared learning and collaborations.
Date for Future Sessions
- Tuesday, October 20, 12-1pm Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel)
Aspire
SPEAKER DETAILS
Rabbi Elka Abrahamson
Rabbi Sharon Brous
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, Ph.D.
Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum
Rabbi Shai Held, Ph.D.
Manny Menchel
Andrés Spokoiny
Security and Safety: Strategies For Challenging Times

Reeling from attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions in 2018–19, and now facing the impact of Covid-19, leading Jewish organizations and Jewish communities throughout the United States are developing new and innovative approaches to community security. In this session, funders will learn about work being done on the national level to secure Jewish institutions, and virtual communities — including successfully lobbying for a dramatic increase in government funding; a case study from New York, where philanthropists have invested in a serious upgrade of community security infrastructure; and opportunities to harness the energy of volunteers interested in protecting their communities.
Speakers
Carly Maisel
Global CEO
The Kirsh Foundation
Evan R. Bernstein
Chief Executive Officer
Community Security Service
Michael G. Masters
National Director and CEO
Secure Community Network
Mitchell D. Silber
Executive Director
Community Security Initiative
Info Session on Israel's New Keshet Donor Advised Fund

(2 p.m. in Israel)
*Please note that this webinar will be in Hebrew. An identical webinar will be in English on September 15.
JFN Israel is pleased to announce the launch of Keshet Donor Advised Fund, a nonprofit public benefit corporation founded as Israel’s first donor advised fund.
Please join us to learn about the way this donor advised fund works and about the new services it can provide.
Keshet aspires to significantly boost philanthropy and streamline grant making in Israel to improve the quality and efficiency of philanthropy by both Israeli and non-Israeli funders.
Learn more about Keshet’s low startup and management costs, as well as how Keshet will enable you to make informed donation decisions free of time pressure, while benefiting from the professional services and deep familiarity with the social and philanthropic sector in Israel of JFN Israel.
More details, including speaker list, coming soon!
Green Funders Forum Festive Pre-Rosh HaShanah Meeting

9:00-10:30 am EST
We are pleased to have Professor Alon Tal, Israel’s leading environmental activist and founder of Adam Teva V’din, the Arava Institute and former Chair of Israel’s Green Party, speak at this forum. He will highlight environmental challenges and opportunities for the coming year and elaborate on his personal journey as an environmental activist, academic and funder.
We will also have a preview of a series of meetings planned for the fall, which will focus on environmental philanthropy and social action through a range of critical sustainability issues.
In addition, in the spirit of community building, we will dedicate some time to get to know one another in small breakout rooms.
The meeting will be held in English, via ZOOM
Comedy & Catharsis in a Time of Crisis: A CANVAS Conversation

This is the second program in the CANVAS Conversations series, "Why We Invest in Our Creative Community.”
Jews have always relied on humor to endure difficult times—and this is an especially difficult time. But many of the tools the best performers and producers rely on—the theater, the comedy club, a live audience—are inaccessible or compromised in quarantine conditions. For this conversation, CANVAS has invited four masters of the craft to share how they are lifting spirits and finding new ways to work in a time of crisis.
How does the creative community support and elevate the broader Jewish community? How can the philanthropic community better support their work to make us laugh, perceive ourselves in a new light, and distract us from the hardships we face together? Lou Cove, founder of CANVAS and moderator for this discussion explores these and other questions with our guests. (To submit your own questions for our performers, please email [email protected]; we will get to as many as we can during the program.)
Guests
Alex Edelman is a comedian, writer, and performer. His most recent creation was Saturday Night Seder, an all-star, musical, streaming Passover Seder to benefit the CDC Foundation’s Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund, which has raised more than $3 million since its premiere in April.
Tiffany Woolf has over 25 years of PR experience in arts & entertainment, film, and public interest communications, She was on the Dalai Lama’s PR team (yes, even the world's most enlightened guru needs some promotion from time to time). In 2018, Tiffany partnered with Reboot to launch Silver Screen Studios, a digital platform of shows, featuring interviews with the legends we love from Carl Reiner, Norman Lear, Marion Ross & Larry King to everyday older role models. Tiffany loves to delight in the absurd, loves old people, a good story or joke, kind people and lobster rolls (kosher of course).
Steve Bodow is an American television writer and producer. Most recently he was Executive Producer and showrunner of Netflix's Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. From 2015 to March 2019 he was executive producer of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, following his 13 years at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as an executive producer, head writer and staff writer. He was also consulting producer for The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, after serving as EP on the hour-long Jordan Klepper Solves Guns special. Steve is a founding member and a past artistic director of the New York theater group Elevator Repair Service, best known for Gatz, its full-text adaptation of The Great Gatsby.
Jena Friedman is an American stand up comedian, writer and filmmaker. She was a field producer at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and has written for Late Show with David Letterman. She developed the television project Soft Focus with Jena Friedman for Adult Swim (where she interviewed John McAfee), the first installment of which premiered in February 2018. Jena has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, Nat Geo Explorer, MSNBC and BBC Two. She has been a contributing writer to The New Yorker. Her critically acclaimed Edinburgh show Miscarriage of Justice premiered in 2019.
CANVAS is proud to support the work of these artists through its philanthropic investments in Reboot, and in the broader Jewish creative community. Join for a JFN webinar where you’ll laugh until you cry, and immediately feel like you’re home.
About CANVAS
CANVAS is a Jewish Funders Network-powered funding collaborative that seeks to encourage, support and promote a 21st-century Jewish cultural renaissance. CANVAS seeks to elevate the ecosystem of Jewish arts & culture in North America through strategic and coordinated giving, education, and cross-sector exposure (between funders and artists, Jewish creatives and secular distribution networks/media, and more). Founding partners of CANVAS include The Righteous Persons Foundation, Jim Joseph Foundation, Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Klarman Family Foundation, and the Peleh Fund.
Watch "Literature in a Time of Crisis: A CANVAS Conversation with Nathan Englander, Marra Gad and Rachel Kadish"
the first installment in the CANVAS Conversations series.
Upstart Webinar Series: Strategic Partnerships & Alliance 3

The focus of this webinar will be on what it takes to negotiate an effective partnership that leads to increased impact and organizational strength. The long-term positive impact of partnerships can be great, but it requires time, capacity, and intentionality. We will provide an overview of the negotiation process, change management tools, and pitfalls to avoid. During this session we will dive into what can be expected as part of legal and financial due diligence, various implementation options, and the areas of integration — including culture. This webinar will be most useful for organizational leadership, on both the staff and board level. Funders are also welcome to attend.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup September 9

The Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meet-up series returns Wednesday, September 9. As the High Holidays approach and the pandemic rages on, we will come together for personal and professional reflection.
Rafi Rone, of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, will start us off by offering words of Torah reflecting on the upcoming High Holiday season. Please note that this meet-up will be an hour long.
Speakers:
Rafi Rone
Program Director
Israel and Jewish Community, US
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Real Learning: How Jewish Day Schools Are Starting the School Year

"Back to School," is a phrase we've used for generations, and this year's start brings new challenges and opportunities. Whether online or in person, Jewish day schools have spent countless hours preparing their communities for the start of an unprecedented school year. Join Prizmah's CEO Paul Bernstein in a conversation about reopening, student/teacher safety, the logistics of schooling during a pandemic, and changes to the educational approaches and pedagogy.
Speakers:
Paul Bernstein
Chief Executive Officer
Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
Erica Rothblum
Head of School
The Rabbi Jacob Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am
Odelia Epstein
Director of the Knowledge Center
Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
Author of the Fall 2020 Planning Survey
Audrey Maman
Program Manager for CAJE Educational Services
ONLINE EVENT
The New Way to Raise Money for the Causes You Love
Philanthropist Lisa Greer, author of the just-released “Philanthropy Revolution: How to inspire donors, build relationships, and make a difference” (Harper Collins) joins Forward National Editor Rob Eshman and Andrés Spokoiny, President and CEO of Jewish Funders Network, for a conversation on a better way to raise money for the causes you believe in.
When Lisa and her entrepreneur husband Josh found enormous business success, they plunged headfirst into the world of giving. Lisa’s revealing book tells behind-the-scene tales of how not to approach wealthy donors, what works, what doesn't and how a new generation is changing philanthropy.
Hosted by the Forward, cosponsored by JFN.
>>Register here.
Antisemitism in Latin America: In Discussion with Professor Ilan Stavans

Antisemitism has been rising globally, and while we may read about events in Britain, France, or other European countries, reports from Latin America are less frequent.
Professor Ilan Stavans spent several years traveling in Jewish communities throughout Latin America, resulting in his recent book, "The Seventh Heaven: Travels Through Jewish Latin America," the 2020 Natan Notable Book winner. In conversation with JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny, Ilan will reflect on his experiences and discuss how the history and culture of the region distinguishes antisemitism there from the prejudices and attitudes that surface here. When faced with antisemitism and anti-Zionism, how have Latin American Jewish communities acted and reacted? How have these forces shaped communal life, political activities, philanthropy, and religious affiliation across Latin America? These and other important questions will illuminate the similarities and differences facing global Jewry.
Review of The Seventh Heaven at Jewish Book Council
>>RSVP HERE
Speakers:
Ilan Stavans
Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities, Latin American and Latino Culture
Amherst College
Andrés Spokoiny
President & CEO
Jewish Funders Network
Upstart Series: Strategic Partnerships & Alliance

JFN is excited to co-convene with Upstart a three part webinar series focusing on strategic partnerships and alliances. Details and a date for a JFN community debrief will be announced shortly.
Webinar 2 - Taking Stock: Assessing Your Organization and Potential Partners
Wednesday, August 26
12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
This webinar will focus on how to assess your organization’s readiness for partnership, as well as your partner’s potential readiness. We will begin by providing guidance for organizational self-assessment including financial stress-testing, staff and board leadership capacity, program sustainability, marketing/communications impact, and infrastructure needed to fulfill mission. Once this has been done, it’s time to identify and assess potential partners. We will share a road map to beginning these conversations, share key criteria for assessing appropriate partners, and discuss the importance of selecting partners that align with your organizational strategy and will increase mission impact. During this session, we will also discuss how organizations might initiate conversations with funders around supporting this work. This webinar will be most useful for organizational leadership, on both the staff and board level. Funders are also welcome to attend.
Webinar 3 - Crafting a Successful and Impactful Partnership
Thursday, September 10
12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
The focus of this webinar will be on what it takes to negotiate an effective partnership that leads to increased impact and organizational strength. The long-term positive impact of partnerships can be great, but it requires time, capacity, and intentionality. We will provide an overview of the negotiation process, change management tools, and pitfalls to avoid. During this session we will dive into what can be expected as part of legal and financial due diligence, various implementation options, and the areas of integration — including culture. This webinar will be most useful for organizational leadership, on both the staff and board level. Funders are also welcome to attend.
Impact Investing Roundtable Session 3

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator for Roundtable Series
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for August 19 Roundtable
Campe Goodman, Senior Managing Director at Wellington Management
Michael Lustig
Nicky Newfield
This is part of a series that meets once a month. While you are welcome to join us for any of the roundtables, we encourage you to join us for the full series to maximize our shared learning and collaborations.
Dates for Future Sessions
- Tuesday, September 22, 12-1pm Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel)
- Tuesday, October 20, 12-1pm Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel)
JFN Education Series: Education Challenges of Covid Crisis in Israel's Underprivileged Communities

Around the globe, school leadership, educators, and parents are looking ahead to the 2020-21 school year. After several months of trial and error in the shadow of the Covid crisis, this upcoming school year will be one of huge opportunity as well as many challenges.
Join us for an open discussion between funders and experts in the field. We will discuss what is currently happening and where the gaps are. We will also hear from funders on the role of philanthropy and collaborations during this pivotal time.
In the second of this two-part series, Dr. Gil Pereg, CEO of Darca Schools, will showcase how the crisis is impacting underprivileged communities in Israel’s geo-social periphery. Dr. Pereg will share his expertise and discuss how the crisis has affected schools and their leadership. Using Darca’s work in recent months, he will share some of the challenges and opportunities facing the formal education system in the months to come.
JFN Education Series: Digital Learning in the Social and Geographic Landscape of Israeli Society

Around the globe, school leadership, educators, and parents are looking ahead to the 2020-21 school year. After several months of trial and error in the shadow of the Covid crisis, this upcoming school year will be one of huge opportunity as well as many challenges.
Join us for an open discussion between funders and experts in the field. We will discuss what is currently happening and where the gaps are. We will also hear from funders on the role of philanthropy and collaborations during this pivotal time.
In the first of this two-part series, Yossi Baidatz, CEO of the Center for Educational Technology (CET), will provide an overview of models of digital learning and the data on its various implementations. We will discuss hybrid learning in formal and informal education while addressing the diverse social and geographic needs of Israeli society.
This is the first of a two-part series. The next is Tuesday, August 18th 12-1 pm ET (7-8 pm in Israel). Click here for details.
Israel's Second Wave - Political Uncertainty and Social Unrest in the Wake of COVID-19

Yohanan Plesner, President of the Israel Democracy Institute, and Professor Tamar Herman, Director of The Israel Democracy Institute, return to JFN to provide an assessment of the new Israeli government. They will outline who the main players are and what legal and political challenges lie ahead. They will also reflect on recent protests and unrest and their implications.
Speakers:
Yohanan Plesner
President
The Israel Democracy Institute
Professor Tamar Hermann
Director
The Israel Democracy Insitute
Director, Guttmann Center for Public Opinion
Read Plesner's latest article for JFN.
Watch Plesner's most recent JFN webinar below:
Giving Trends in the Wake of Coronavirus

How has giving been affected by the Covid crisis? What can we expect in the year ahead? Will we see a catastrophic decline in giving or will the crisis encourage more philanthropy? What can we learn from giving behavior in other times of contractionary crisis, such as the Great Recession of 2007 – 2009? What can we do to avoid the worst-case scenarios? This program brings together a leading researcher in the overall philanthropy space with JFN-member funders from both private philanthropy and federations for a thoughtful conversation on what we can expect and how we can best change giving practices to accommodate or counter these wider trends.
Patrick Rooney
Executive Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Jay Sanderson
President & CEO Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Angelica Berrie
President, Russell Berrie Foundation
Marcia Riklis, JFN board chair
Marcia Riklis Family Foundation
Upstart Webinar Series: Strategic Partnerships & Alliance

JFN is excited to co-convene with Upstart a three part webinar series focusing on strategic partnerships and alliances. Details and a date for a JFN community debrief will be announced shortly.
Webinar 1 - Strategic Collaborations: Forging Connections for Greater Impact
An introduction to strategic partnerships, this session will cover the spectrum of nonprofit collaboration using La Piana Consulting’s Collaborative Map, highlighting eight forms of partnership. This session will include the basic framework for nonprofit collaboration, benefits and challenges associated with various forms of partnership, and motivations/rationale for successful models. Through exploration of the different types of collaborations, attendees can begin to identify possible directions that might be the most impactful for their organization at this moment. This webinar is designed for board members, staff leadership, and funders — helping to create a common language to be used by the broader Jewish community.
Webinar 2 - Taking Stock: Assessing Your Organization and Potential Partners
Wednesday, August 26
12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
This webinar will focus on how to assess your organization’s readiness for partnership, as well as your partner’s potential readiness. We will begin by providing guidance for organizational self-assessment including financial stress-testing, staff and board leadership capacity, program sustainability, marketing/communications impact, and infrastructure needed to fulfill mission. Once this has been done, it’s time to identify and assess potential partners. We will share a road map to beginning these conversations, share key criteria for assessing appropriate partners, and discuss the importance of selecting partners that align with your organizational strategy and will increase mission impact. During this session, we will also discuss how organizations might initiate conversations with funders around supporting this work. This webinar will be most useful for organizational leadership, on both the staff and board level. Funders are also welcome to attend.
Webinar 3 - Crafting a Successful and Impactful Partnership
Thursday, September 10
12:00 – 1:15 PM ET
The focus of this webinar will be on what it takes to negotiate an effective partnership that leads to increased impact and organizational strength. The long-term positive impact of partnerships can be great, but it requires time, capacity, and intentionality. We will provide an overview of the negotiation process, change management tools, and pitfalls to avoid. During this session we will dive into what can be expected as part of legal and financial due diligence, various implementation options, and the areas of integration — including culture. This webinar will be most useful for organizational leadership, on both the staff and board level. Funders are also welcome to attend.
National Affinity Group: A Series of Briefings on Poverty and the Impact of Covid-19

How does poverty impact access to higher education and educational success? In this webinar, we will discuss how the community can help build opportunities and networks for underserved students to support retention and success.
Over the coming months the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty will be hosting a series of webinars and virtual meetups to discuss the many challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews facing poverty and the agencies that serve them. We will hear the needs from the service providers on the ground supporting our front lines, share best practices and information, and strategize on ways to respond collectively.
Each webinar is moderated by Susan Ditkoff of The Bridgespan Group Boston.
Speakers
Danielle Ellman
Chief Executive Officer
Commonpoint Queens
Sara J. Fertman
Director
The Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation
Adam Kolett
Executive Director
Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach
From all angles: A peer discussion on the questions posed by donors and foundations in light of the changes in the social field in the face of the Covid-19
A peer discussion on the questions posed by donors and foundations in light of the changes in the social field in the face of the Covid-19
Please join us for a joint meeting of JFN and the Israel Foundations Forum.
We will gather for a peer discussion in small groups focusing on the following funding areas: education, employment, health, young adults, environment, arts and culture, women and human rights.
In the meeting we will delve into these social areas from different angles as we collectively explore, what we, the members of the philanthropic community, need to ask and understand in order to prepare for the emerging changes in the social field in Israel.
The meeting will be held in Hebrew
ONLINE EVENT
An Intimate Conversation with Wes Moore

Join us for a conversation with Wes Moore, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty organization based in New York City, and author of several best-selling books. In this event, Rachel Garbow Monroe, President and CEO of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation will talk to Wes about his new book “Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City,” Covid-19’s disproportionate impact on communities of color, and how funders can best support racial justice and anti-poverty work at this critical time.
We encourage you to join us for this important conversation and to consider purchasing "Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City" as a learning tool and resource for you and your communities. To learn more about the book, about the aftermath of the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world, please click the link here.
Note: This event will not be recorded, so please be sure to join us live!
About Wes Moore
A social entrepreneur and CEO, Wes Moore leads Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the United States.
Wes's first book, “The Other Wes Moore,” a perennial New York Times bestseller, captured the nation’s attention on the fine line between success and failure in our communities and in ourselves. That story has been optioned by executive producer Oprah Winfrey and HBO to be made into a movie. He is also the author of the bestselling books “The Work,” “Discovering Wes Moore,” and “This Way Home.”
Wes grew up in Baltimore and the Bronx, where he was raised by a single mom. Despite childhood challenges, he graduated Phi Theta Kappa from Valley Forge Military College in 1998 and Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University in 2001. He earned an MLitt in International Relations from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar in 2004. He then served as a captain and paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan. He later served as a White House Fellow to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Before becoming CEO at Robin Hood, Wes was the founder and CEO at BridgeEdU, an innovative tech platform addressing the college completion and job placement crisis. BridgeEdU reinvents freshman year for underserved students. Wes remains chairman of the board of directors at BridgeEDU. He has also worked in finance as an investment banker with Deutsche Bank in London and with Citigroup in New York.
Wes has been featured by USA Today, TIME Magazine, People Magazine, “Meet the Press,” “The Colbert Report”, “The View,” MSNBC, and NPR, among many others. He is a consistent news contributor to programs such as "Morning Joe," "Hardball with Chris Matthews," "NOW with Alex Wagner," "Andrea Mitchell Reports," and many others. He has also hosted programs such as “Beyond Belief” on the Oprah Winfrey Network, as well as two shows on PBS: “American Graduate Day 2014” and “Coming Back with Wes Moore”, for which he was the executive producer.
Wes lives in Baltimore with his wife and two children.
About Rachel Garbow Monroe
Rachel Garbow Monroe has been the president and CEO of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the 50 largest private foundations in the United States with approximately $2.9 billion in assets, for nearly 10 years. The Weinberg Foundation is dedicated to meeting the basic needs of people experiencing poverty and provides approximately $125 million annually in grants to nonprofits, primarily in the US and Israel, which provide direct services in the areas of housing, health, jobs, education, and community services.
Rachel leads a staff of more than 60 across offices in Baltimore, Maryland and Honolulu, Hawaii. She has been instrumental in the creation and launch of several new initiatives, including a national convening on Jewish poverty in the United States, as well as a $12 million partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp to increase accessibility for campers and staff with disabilities. Rachel also directed the reframing of the Foundation’s grants structure to five focus areas. Previously, she helped conceive and launch the $10 million Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project, as well as the Foundation’s major events, including the Biennial Community Gathering, the Employee Giving Program, the Israel Mission Alumni Scholars Program, and the Small Grants and Baltimore City Community Grants Programs.
Previous professional roles include chief operating officer for The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore; the worldwide director of marketing for the international architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; and marketing manager for the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago. For five years, Rachel also served as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University where she taught a graduate nonprofit marketing course at the Institute for Policy Studies.
Rachel is married with three children.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup July 29

Learn from experts in the field and noted historians about how the American Jewish community has responded to and evolved due to crisis over the last 150 years - with a special lens on philanthropy.
Speakers:
Felicia Herman
Executive Director
The Natan Fund
Jonathan D. Sarna
University Professor
Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History
Director
Schusterman Center for Israel Studies
Brandeis University
Annie Polland
Executive Director
American Jewish Historical Society
ONLINE EVENT
Impact Investing Matching Grants Information Session

We are thrilled to announce a new matching grant initiative: Strengthening the Impact Ecosystem Building Social Economic Resilience in Israel a collaboration between the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (Israel) and Jewish Funders Network (JFN).
Please join us for an information session for funders interested in participating in the matching grant program and supporting social organizations making an impact in this field.
We will share the vision, goals and objectives of the matching grant program and provide an opportunity to hear from a funder who participated the previous matching grant program. We will also provide details about how the program works, answer questions and give an overview of JFN membership and services.
Speakers & Agenda
- Eli Booch, Director of Philanthropy, Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, will discuss the vision for the matching grant program, and explain why growth and support for impact entrepreneurship projects is so significant in this current era.
- Alina Shkolnikov, Impact Entrepreneurship Manager, Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, will explain the matching grant program's objectives.
- Sharon Dwek, Membership Director, JFN IL, will outline the matching grant terms and conditions for donors, will walk you through the application process.
- Noa Yovel Maoz, JFN Member, will explain why she participated in the matching grants program.
- Q&A
Challenges of Funding in Israel Post Covid-19: A Member Consultation Roundtable for Professionals

This roundtable will also be offered on July 21 from 1-3 pm ET. RSVP for the date that is most convenient for you. Please note, this roundtable is tailored for grantmaking professionals. Interested funders should RSVP for roundtables on Tuesday, August 4, from 1-3pm ET and Wednesday, August 5, from 1-3pm ET.
During the current Covid-19 crisis, many JFN members have contacted us seeking advice on the unique situation you were/are facing vis-à-vis your funding in Israel. Some are uncertain about the future scope of their giving, while others have been seeking knowledge and guidance on needs and opportunities for emergency grants. Many have approached us to think collectively of ways to alleviate the stresses of the Israeli NGOs you support, and to help with possible partnerships and collaborations.
As Israel’s economy gradually reopens, these needs and the questions are not disappearing, but rather crystallizing: Transitioning from emergency grants to ongoing support, building the resilience of the social sector, encouraging mergers and collaborations, and figuring out your role and commitment as a funder are just some of the issues you may be confronting in the upcoming period.
This small virtual meeting is designed to dig deeper into your current philanthropic work in Israel, discuss the challenges you face and offer you some initial tips and tools for action. Our goal is to identify and map the most urgent needs of the philanthropic community at this time and in response over the coming months-we will develop content, tools and guidance that would be most helpful for you to face the changing new reality we are all facing.
Please note, this virtual meeting is different from — but complementary to — the webinars we are offering about the Shaldor Report, which outlines expected social scenarios in Israel through a review of key megatrends and suggests how they will impact diverse aspects of society.
Sigal Yaniv Feller, our Director of Advisory Services and Reut Stoller, Director of Programming, both from the JFN-Israel office, will be facilitating the meeting
This virtual meeting is designed for people with experience funding in Israel. If you are new to funding in Israel, we would be delighted for you to attend. Please email [email protected], so we can help you in your journey.
Next Year (We Hope!) in Jerusalem: How the Israel Experience Field Has Responded to Covid

https://youtu.be/Uag_QwYZy24
Israel programs — including missions, youth tours and immersive trips for adults of all ages — have long been among contemporary Jewish philanthropy’s major achievements, bringing hundreds of thousands of people of all ages to Israel for immersive, life-changing experiences. COVID’s disruption of travel and large gatherings brought the field to a standstill, and there are significant questions about how and when to restart. This program brings together a group of funders and program providers who have been regularly meeting since the crisis began to share the data, conversations, and concerns they’ve been wrestling with. The dialogue will explore the effects of the crisis, where the gaps are and what’s needed, and creative strategies to consider while travel remains curtailed.
Speakers:
Rina Goldberg
Managing Director, Israel and Overseas
The Jewish Federations of North America
Steven Green
Senior Director, Grants Management and Compliance, Jim Joseph Foundation
Ariella Saperstein
Program Officer
Maimonides Fund
Liz Sokolsky
Executive Director
Birthright Israel North America
Mike Wise
Co-CEO
Honeymoon Israel Foundation
From all angles - a peer discussion of social field in the face of the Covid-19 with FFI
Impact Investing Roundtable Session 2

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator for Roundtable Series
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for July 22 Roundtable
Cintra Pollack, Singer Family Foundation
Joshua-Marc Tanenbaum
Elli Booch, Director of Philanthropy, Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (IL).
This is the second in a series that meets once a month through October. While you are welcome to join us for any of the roundtables, we encourage you to join us for the full series to maximize our shared learning and collaborations.
Dates for Future Sessions
- Wednesday, August 19, 1-2pm Eastern (8-9 p.m. in Israel)
- Tuesday, September 22, 12-1pm Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel)
- Tuesday, October 20, 12-1pm Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel)
Building Trust and Transparency in Grantmaking Through an Agile Mindset

Agile Methodologies is a process used in software development to support thinking and processes to be responsive to changing needs. This webinar from 2020 JFN conference sponsor, the grants management software company Foundant Technologies, explores how this framework can support philanthropists in their work explores how it has adopted this framework to support philanthropists in their work, by helping people and processes align, scale, and reach goals with a clear purpose and outcome. Various agile frameworks can be used to pivot processes and align stakeholders across all functions. Finding the right framework for you means adopting a common language and fine-tuning your processes to create transparency, predictability, and trust. Over the hour, we’ll discuss:
- What does agile look like at an organization or a process level?
- Why do agile methodologies lend themselves to philanthropy so well?
- What does an agile funding process look like?
- How can you implement agile methodologies at your foundation/organization?
"Agile is the ability to create and respond to change. It is a way of dealing with, and ultimately succeeding in, an uncertain and turbulent environment." -- Agile Alliance
Speakers:
Sammie Holzwarth
Product Manager
Foundant Technologies
Mark Larimer
VP of Sales & Marketing
Foundant Technologies
Challenges of Funding in Israel Post Covid-19: A Member Consultation Roundtable for Grantmaking Professionals

This roundtable will also be offered on July 23 from 1-3 pm ET. RSVP for the date that is most convenient for you. Please note, this roundtable is tailored for grantmaking professionals. Interested funders should RSVP for roundtables on Tuesday, August 4, from 1-3pm ET and Wednesday, August 5, from 1-3pm ET.
During the current Covid-19 crisis, many JFN members have contacted us seeking advice on the unique situation you were/are facing vis-à-vis your funding in Israel. Some are uncertain about the future scope of their giving, while others have been seeking knowledge and guidance on needs and opportunities for emergency grants. Many have approached us to think collectively of ways to alleviate the stresses of the Israeli NGOs you support, and to help with possible partnerships and collaborations.
As Israel’s economy gradually reopens, these needs and the questions are not disappearing, but rather crystallizing: Transitioning from emergency grants to ongoing support, building the resilience of the social sector, encouraging mergers and collaborations, and figuring out your role and commitment as a funder are just some of the issues you may be confronting in the upcoming period.
This small virtual meeting is designed to dig deeper into your current philanthropic work in Israel, discuss the challenges you face and offer you some initial tips and tools for action. Our goal is to identify and map the most urgent needs of the philanthropic community at this time and in response over the coming months-we will develop content, tools and guidance that would be most helpful for you to face the changing new reality we are all facing.
Please note, this virtual meeting is different from — but complementary to — the webinars we are offering about the Shaldor Report, which outlines expected social scenarios in Israel through a review of key megatrends and suggests how they will impact diverse aspects of society.
This virtual meeting is designed for people with experience funding in Israel. If you are new to funding in Israel, we would be delighted for you to attend. Please email [email protected], so we can help in your journey.
Sigal Yaniv Feller, our Director of Advisory Services and Reut Stoller, Director of Programming, both from the JFN-Israel office, will be facilitating the meeting.
This virtual meeting is designed for people with experience funding in Israel. If you are new to funding in Israel, we would be delighted for you to attend. Please email [email protected], so we can help you in your journey.
National Affinity Group: A Series of Briefings on Poverty and the Impact of Covid-19

https://youtu.be/TFegA45g6fk
In this webinar we will discuss the intersection of philanthropy and government and its role in combating poverty, especially during COVID-19.
Over the past couple of months the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty has been hosting webinars and virtual meetups to discuss the many challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews facing poverty and the agencies that serve them. We will hear the needs from the service providers on the ground supporting our front lines, share best practices and information, and strategize on ways to respond collectively.
Each webinar is moderated by Susan Ditkoff of The Bridgespan Group Boston.
Speakers
Louisa Chafee
Senior Vice President
External Relations and Public Policy
UJA- Federation of New York
Jerry Rubin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jewish Vocational Service-Boston
Ginna Green
Former Chief Strategy Officer
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Save the dates in your calendar! We have one more webinar planned this summer:
Tuesday, August 4 12-1pm ET
ONLINE EVENT
A Midsummer Night's Shmooze: JFN Members-Only Cocktail Party
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 7
Please join us for a bi-monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals.
In this session, Jaré Akchin of the Circle of Service Foundation and Alicia Schuyler Oberman of the Jack Miller Family Foundation and the Board Member Institute for Jewish Nonprofits, will be discussing an ambitious technical assistance program they have created together with other key funders in Chicago, to support local Jewish organizations.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Speakers:
Jaré Akchin
Program Officer
Circle of Service Foundation
Alicia Schuyler Oberman
Foundation Director and Board Member
Jack Miller Family Foundation
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
ONLINE EVENT
LA CANVAS conversation
What does art have to do with it all? Our society is confronted with unprecedented challenges, from Covid-19, racial injustice to a climate emergency. Artists are playing a critical role in helping us to cope, to imagine, to be entertained and to hope. Yet artists are some of the first to lose their jobs.
Join JFN member Sonia Cummings; CANVAS founder Lou Cove, and Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, JFN's West Coast director — and some leading Los Angeles-based artists — for a conversation about the ways Jewish creatives are responding to our times.
About CANVAS
CANVAS is a Jewish Funders Network-powered funding collaborative that seeks to encourage, support and promote a 21st-century Jewish cultural renaissance. CANVAS seeks to elevate the ecosystem of Jewish arts & culture in North America through strategic and coordinated giving, education, and cross-sector exposure (between funders and artists, Jewish creatives and secular distribution networks/media, and more).
About the Art Featured Here
"Construction #1," by Shay Arick. C-print assemblages created from
Israeli flora found during quarantine.(Courtesy of Asylum Arts, a CANVAS grantee)
Understanding the Post Covid Social Landscape to Navigate Your Israel Giving

In the aftermath of the corona crisis, what forces and trends are shaping the new social landscape in Israel? Which global processes has the crisis accelerated, and how might these affect the social fields in Israel where philanthropy plays a role? What are the long-term changes we can expect?
These large and ongoing questions continue to accompany day-to-day philanthropic work and influence our ability to make decisions about both the “here and now” and the long term.
Working with JFN Israel and some of our foundation members, Shaldor Strategy Consulting has created a report that sheds light on the social field in Israel after and in light of the coronavirus crisis.
In this session, we will share the latest knowledge that will help you safely navigate your philanthropic activities in the face of new and emerging realities, engage in dialogue with local and national government, and work in small groups to provide you with maximum understanding and tools for a hands-on discussion on the necessary adjustments to your routine giving strategy.
The report outlines expected social scenarios in Israel through a review of key megatrends and suggests how they will impact diverse aspects of society, both with relation to social activities and financial sources. We strongly recommend that you review the report prior to the meeting so that you can benefit the most from your participation.
The meeting will be held in English
Grassroots Organizing to Build Community and Stop Hate

Acts of hate targeting Muslims and Jews have been mounting at an alarming rate in North America and in Europe. Antisemitism and Islamophobia have special urgency today, as conspiracy theories about COVID-19 have proliferated. When Muslims and Jews make common cause, the odds of success in reversing this rising tide greatly increase. This program explores the current problem of hate against Jews and Muslims, how it is being addressed at the grassroots in America, and how these efforts can be replicated elsewhere in the world. Field experts present techniques to strengthen Muslim-Jewish relations and fight hate, as well as identifying the issues around which Muslims and Jews can make common cause, build relationships, and support one another.
Speakers:
Georgette Bennett
Polonsky Foundation
Sheryl Olitzky
Cofounder and Executive Director
Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
Natalia Mahmud
Assistant Director, U.S. Muslim-Jewish Relations
AJC
George Selim
Senior Vice President of Programs, Anti-Defamation League
***NEW POLICY*** Beginning on July 1, JFN will limit non-member access to some of our events. JFN members have unlimited access, but non-members who are eligible to join JFN are limited to three online programs or two live events per year (maximum three events total). Once this limit is reached, you must become a JFN member to access additional programs. (Please note that the webinars of some affinity groups have more open policies, and participating in those programs will not count against the limit.) Please contact [email protected] for information.
National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty Presents: A Series of Briefings on Poverty and the Impact of Covid-19

Join us for an important conversation with the leaders of the Jews of Color Initiative COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. The session will provide an overview of the needs of vulnerable Jews of color and Jewish communal professionals of color amid the pandemic. In addition, panelists will share lessons learned from initial funding rounds and highlight opportunities for how the Jewish community can better support Jews of color moving forward.
This is part of the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty's ongoing series of webinars and virtual meetups to discuss the many challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews facing poverty and the agencies that serve them. In this series, we hear the needs from the service providers on the ground supporting our front lines, share best practices and information, and strategize on ways to respond collectively. Watch the previous briefings in this series here.
Each webinar is moderated by Susan Ditkoff of The Bridgespan Group Boston.
Introductions will be made by Paula B. Pretlow, Trustee, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
Speakers:
Ilana Kaufman
Executive Director
Jews of Color Field Building Initiative
Angel Alvarez-Mapp
Director of Programs and Operations
Jews of Color Initiative
Ginna Green
Former Chief Strategy Officer
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Save the dates in your calendar! We have two more webinars planned this summer:
- Tuesday, July 21, 12-1pm ET
- Tuesday, August 4, 12-1pm ET
Literature in a Time of Crisis: A CANVAS Conversation with Nathan Englander, Marra Gad and Rachel Kadish

This is the first in a series called "Why We Invest in Our Creative Community: A CANVAS Conversation.
In the wake of unprecedented upheaval and conflict, where do we find answers to the deeper questions we face? As the People of the Book, Jews have historically turned to books to comprehend and process the world, with all the beauty and challenges it presents us. More than ever, we depend on the insights of our authors for interpretation, empathy, and transcendence.
We are excited to present a rare and intimate conversation/reading with three major Jewish authors — Nathan Englander, Marra B. Gad, and Rachel Kadish — as they share their work and their reactions to the crises of our times.
What is the role of an artist in a pandemic? During a period of profound reckoning? How has their response been informed by their Jewish identities? We hope you will join us to learn the answers to these questions, and ask some of your own.
This conversation will be moderated by Lou Cove, Founder of CANVAS, and Naomi Firestone-Teeter, Executive Director of the Jewish Book Council (a CANVAS grantee).
About the Panelists
Nathan Englander is the author of the story collections "For the Relief of Unbearable Urges," an international best seller, and "What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank," and the novels "The Ministry of Special Cases" and "Dinner at the Center of the Earth." His books have been translated into 22 languages, and, among other prizes, he was chosen as one of Twenty Writers for the 21st Century by The New Yorker and is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a PEN/Malamud Award, a Berlin Prize, the Sue Kaufman Prize from the American Academy of Arts & Letters, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. He was a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2013. His play "The Twenty-Seventh Man" premiered at the Public Theater in 2012, and his new play, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank," commissioned by Lincoln Center Theater, was scheduled to run at The Old Globe in San Diego now, but is on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. He is Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University and lives with his family in Toronto.
Marra B. Gad is the author of "The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl," winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award for Memoir. She was born in New York and raised in Chicago. She is an independent film and television producer and now calls Los Angeles home. Ms. Gad is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a master's degree in modern Jewish history from Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University.
Rachel Kadish’s most recent novel, "The Weight of Ink," was awarded a National Jewish Book Award, the Julia Ward Howe Fiction Prize, and the Association of Jewish Libraries’ Fiction Award. Her work has been read on National Public Radio and has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, Slate, Paris Review, Iowa Review, and the Pushcart Prize Anthology. She has been the Koret Writer-in-Residence at Stanford University and a fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. She lives outside Boston and is a co-founder of the Stockholm-based initiative Voices Between: Stories Against Extremism.
About CANVAS
CANVAS is a Jewish Funders Network-powered funding collaborative that seeks to encourage, support and promote a 21st- century Jewish cultural renaissance. CANVAS seeks to elevate the ecosystem of Jewish arts & culture in North America through strategic and coordinated giving, education, and cross-sector exposure (between funders and artists, Jewish creatives and secular distribution networks/media, and more).
Building Bridges: Applying Philanthropic Lessons to the Israel-Diaspora Relationship

For too long, philanthropy's role has been perceived merely as a way of financing activities. However, philanthropy has a significant goal strengthening our communities, and we hope you can join us for what promises to be an insightful discussion. We will be joined by leading practitioners of the secular philanthropic field that have a rich track record in connecting communities. In addition to understanding how large philanthropies act across the United States, we will focus on what this means for the American Jewish community and its relationship with Israel – a field where, for decades, philanthropy has been a significant part of the conversation. This webinar is presented by the Ruderman Family Foundation, in partnership with the Jewish Funders Network.
The event will take place via ZOOM, Monday, July 6, at 11:00 EST.
>>>RSVP HERE
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 6

Please join us for a presentation by speakers Batya Kallus and Jenny Cohen as they share a valuable adaptive capacity tool that they've developed to help funders assess their grantees' progress through the COVID crisis and to inform their own portfolio-level decision making.
We will then have a chance to use the tool ourselves and to discuss its application(s) with our peers during small group sessions. We will be breaking into peer learning and support groups twice during this meeting, including near the top of the call. Be prepared to chat!
Speakers:
Batya Kallus
Social Venture Fund Jewish-Arab Equality and Shared Society
Jenny Cohen
Evaluation Capacity-Building Consultant
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Director, Peer Programs
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Investing in Israeli Science and Research

Israel's high-tech, medical and science accomplishments are world-renowned, and many of its researchers have been at the forefront in the fight against Covid-19 in Israel and abroad. This global pandemic has impacted all of us and underscores the critical role of medical and scientific expertise. In this introductory webinar, with longtime funders of science, and one leader within Israel’s academic research community, learn different approaches to funding research in Israel and what we have learned along the way. We will also discuss the role funders can play in strengthening the infrastructure needed for research and different opportunities for collaboration.
Moderator
Kim Philbrick McCabe, Executive Director,The Klarman Family Foundation
Speakers
Asher Ragen, Programme Director for the Academic Excellence, Yad Hanadiv
Ruth Salzman, CEO, The Russell Berrie Foundation
Professor Uri Sivan, President of the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology
Jewish Communal Professional Workforce and COVID-19

The Jewish communal workforce has seen serious hardship during the COVID-19 period. With over 20,000 jobs lost, the crisis has created a severe impact on many communal institutions and families. This program brings together speakers who offer a big-picture view of the effects on the workforce, outline what is happening, and suggest ways to support professionals who have been laid off or furloughed from their jobs.
Speakers:
Ilana Aisen
CEO
JPRO Network
Gali Cooks
President & CEO
Leading Edge
Reuben D. Rotman
President & CEO
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Impact Investing Roundtable

Impact investing is an increasingly important way for individuals, foundations, federations and non-profits to powerfully expand their capacity for social and environmental change, all while providing a framework to live their values through how they spend and invest.
Join JFN’s growing community of impact investors for a lively and action-oriented monthly roundtable, each featuring a master class and two investment roundups, all led by JFN members and designed to encourage shared learning and shared action along our impact investing journeys.
Whether you are new to impact investing or a seasoned veteran, the roundtables will help you to build skills, deepen your collaborations and deal access, and add meaning to how you're managing your money.
Moderator for Roundtable Series
Vanessa Bartram, Managing Director, ZORA Ventures
Speakers for June 24
Doug Stewart, Executive Director, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Master Class: A Relatively Spectacular Failure
Beth Sirull, President and CEO, San Diego Jewish Community Foundation
Investment Roundup: Our Investment in Ogen
Gideon Stein, Chief Research Scientist, Mobileye
Investment Roundup: Our Investment in Pivot
This is the first in a five-part series that meets once a month through October. While you are welcome to join us for any of the roundtables, we encourage you to join us for the full series to maximize our shared learning and collaborations.
Dates for Upcoming Sessions
- Wednesday, July 22, 1-2pm Eastern (8-9 p.m. in Israel)
- Wednesday, August 19, 1-2pm Eastern (8-9 p.m. in Israel)
- Tuesday, September 22, 12-1pm Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel)
- Tuesday, October 20, 12-1pm Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel)
Service for a Strong Future

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the economy, and amid rising unemployment and hiring freezes, Americans are seeking meaning and a way to help their communities. Join leaders in the field to learn about the importance of national service and volunteerism — and of the needs and opportunities within this critical sector — during the pandemic and beyond.
Moderator:
Laura Lauder
JFN member
Laura & Gary Lauder Philanthropic Fund
Speakers:
Jesse Colvin
CEO
Service Year Alliance
Cindy Greenberg
President & CEO
Repair the World
Natalye Paquin
President & CEO
Points of Light
JFN IL Peer consultation meeting: Challenges of the Israeli funder post Covid-19
In the last couple of months, the Corona crisis presented many challenges to the philanthropic community in Israel and around the world: professional, economic, logistical and emotional. Social reality has changed and so have the ways of philanthropy, identifying needs on the ground and the need to respond quickly and under uncertain circumstances.
The gradual return to economic activity poses the need to address significant questions as they relate to the new reality that the philanthropic sector is facing:
How do I manage my post-Corona funding allocation? What is my role as a funder in dealing with organizations' closures or mergers between NGOs? What channels of cooperation with the government / local authorities do I have as a donor and how do I create collaborations? How to transition from emergency grants to ongoing support? And many other question marks that are raised by these challenging times.
Our goal is to examine together your current philanthropic needs, and to enable a sincere discussion around the challenges while offering you suggestions and tools for action.
The meetings will include likeminded funders with similar giving capacity and experience in strategic philanthropy in order to yield an effective and meaningful dialogue based on shared challenges and common dilemmas.
Day School and COVID-19 Part 3

With the conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year, Jewish day schools and yeshivas are refocusing their attention on the coming year and the financial challenges that have arisen in light of COVID-19. Join Prizmah's CEO Paul Bernstein and a panel of funders to identify the needs day schools are facing and how they are being addressed on a local, regional, and North American level. Hear how we can ensure that Jewish educational providers can open their doors — physically or virtually — in the fall.
This is the third part of a series that JFN is hosting to help donors better understand the impact and needs of day schools during this time.
Speakers:
Paul Bernstein
Chief Executive Officer
Prizmah, Center for Jewish Day Schools
Felicia Herman
Executive Director
The Natan Fund
Connie Kanter
CEO
Samis Foundation
Ann Pava
Immediate Past Chair
Prizmah and Chair
Prizmah's Development Committee
Melissa Rivkin
Director of Day School Strategy
Samis Foundation
Funding with an Inclusion Mindset: A Strategic Conversation Amid COVID-19

The Covid crisis has brought increased attention to and focus on a number of vulnerable populations in the Jewish community. As funders work with organizations to meet these needs, it is clear that many are implementing their interventions and supports without a fully inclusive mindset, which often leaves people with disabilities out of the conversation. As the emergency footing slowly moves toward a new normal, what practices can funders use to become more strategic and thoughtful to ensure that their work allows this critical population to benefit as fully as others? This conversation brings together funders, activists, and the leading sponsor of the Americans With Disabilities Act to reflect.
Speakers:
Tony Coelho
Former U.S. Congressman
Board Member, Epilepsy Foundation
Jennifer Marshall
Executive Director, This Is My Brave, Inc.
Shira Ruderman
Executive Director
Ruderman Family Foundation
Sasha Trump Weiss
Chair
Beit Issie Shapiro
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 5

Please join us for a bi-monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Speakers:
Amy Rosenblatt Lui
Executive Director
The Beverly Foundation, Fingerhut Family Foundation and Ronald Fingerhut Family Foundation
Yotam Polizer
Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
IsraAID
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Senior Manager, Programs and Member Education
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
ONLINE EVENT
Donor Retreat: Leading With Your Values

A Three-Session Course for Donors*
Join us on June 3, 10, and 17 for a course focused on placing values at the forefront of your conversations in strategic philanthropy. Facilitated by leading family philanthropy advisors, this seminar helps family funders identify and use core values as a framework to keep them aligned when navigating the challenges of their philanthropic work—particularly around the difficult conversations that arise within families, with grantees, or in aspects of their decision-making and grantmaking. Each session is 90 minutes, and participants should plan to attend all three.
Over the three meetings, participants will:
· Establish the values that can serve as a framework for coherent grantmaking.
· Learn how to develop governance and operating policies, practices, and group norms that support decision-making and power sharing.
· Learn how to better engage in conversations that take place as being part of a foundation board that may potentially be difficult or tense – with grantees, other family members, staff, other trustees, etc.
· Learn how to apply the values to turn the inherent tensions that can arise in philanthropic conversations toward important and healthy deliberations about philosophy and strategy.
* Enrollment is restricted to individual donors and family members/trustees of family foundations.
Free to JFN members
$180 for eligible non-members
FACILITATORS
Samantha Anderson
Ceres Group Advisors
Amy Holdsman
Essential Leadership
Scenario Planning

The Covid-19 pandemic is producing major upheaval, and we don’t yet know where all the chips are going to fall. We do know, however, that the world will be transformed, and the Jewish community will confront momentous changes. That’s why we recently embarked on a scenarios design process that imagines how the United States and the world will look in the next two years. We can’t predict, but we can imagine alternative futures that will affect the Jewish community in different ways — which we can then use to help prepare.
Using scenarios, organizations can make sense of their context and identify trends and factors that might affect them in the future. That allows them to “wind-tunnel” their strategies by asking themselves how they’ll fare in each of the alternative futures they may face. What threats and opportunities may present themselves in each scenario? What do we need to do today to prepare? How do we survive, thrive, and be resilient, knowing that the future is uncertain?
In this webinar, we will be sharing information about scenario planning and providing a mini-training in how to facilitate something similar within your own organization. We also encourage you to consult our materials (including a video summarizing the process) here.
Speakers
Andrés Spokoiny, President & CEO of JFN
Deena K. Fuchs, Executive Vice President of JFN
Jewish Family Giving: Bringing Your Children To The Philanthropy Table

This engaging webinar hosted by the Jewish Teen Funders Network will explore the benefits and impacts of involving the younger generation in the family giving experience. We will share tools, best practices and games in order to engage and enhance conversations around giving.
Speakers
Wayne Green
Executive Director
Jewish Teen Funders Network
Alana Hollander
Community and Special Projects Manager
Jewish Teen Funders Network
Danielle Segal
Senior Program Manager
Jewish Teen Funders Network
New Models for Funding Jewish Media

Jewish media has been a critical pillar of our communal infrastructure for decades. It serves both as the public square of the community and also as an important vector for the transmission of content. As in the secular world, the standard for-profit model of Jewish journalism was sputtering due to market changes, new consumption habits, and the rise of countless alternative free news sources. Even before COVID, Jewish media outlets needed a new way forward; the crisis has only accelerated the challenges. This conversation highlights the importance of true journalism for Jewish life and brings in innovative and exciting new models from the secular world that can make nonprofit journalism both viable financially as well as independent and free from influence. Our conversation brings together experts from the secular world with leading lights of Jewish journalism and funders to explore alternatives for a vibrant Jewish fourth estate.
Speakers
Introduction
Rabbi Eliot Cosgrove
Rabbi
Park Avenue Synagogue
New Models
Peter Lattman
Managing Director—Media
Emerson Collective
Jennifer Preston
VP—Journalism
Knight Foundation
Dialogue with Journalists
Jodi Rudoren
Editor-in-Chief
The Forward
Yair Rosenberg
Senior Writer
Tablet Magazine
Andrew Silow-Carroll
Editor-in-Chief
The Jewish Week
Ami Eden
CEO / Executive Editor
70 Faces Media
Scenario Planning for a Post-Pandemic Future

NOTE: This webinar is also being offered on June 16.
The Covid-19 pandemic is producing major upheaval, and we don’t yet know where all the chips are going to fall. We do know, however, that the world will be transformed, and the Jewish community will confront momentous changes. That’s why we recently embarked on a scenarios design process that imagines how the United States and the world will look in the next two years. We can’t predict, but we can imagine alternative futures that will affect the Jewish community in different ways — which we can then use to help prepare.
Using scenarios, organizations can make sense of their context and identify trends and factors that might affect them in the future. That allows them to “wind-tunnel” their strategies by asking themselves how they’ll fare in each of the alternative futures they may face. What threats and opportunities may present themselves in each scenario? What do we need to do today to prepare? How do we survive, thrive, and be resilient, knowing that the future is uncertain?
In this webinar, we will be sharing information about scenario planning and providing a mini-training in how to facilitate something similar within your own organization. We also encourage you to consult our materials (including a video summarizing the process) here.
Speakers
Andrés Spokoiny, President & CEO of JFN
Deena K. Fuchs, Executive Vice President of JFN
Reopening Economies: Special Lecture by Dan Ariely

The Israeli-American bestselling author of "Predictably Irrational," Dan Ariely provides a special lecture for JFN on the lessons behavioral psychology offers to help governments begin to reopen their economies safely. This writer, researcher, and raconteur will detail experiments that show how the decision-making we do around coronavirus is not as rational as we think it is, explain how governments can help afford people more of a sense of control in this time, and offer predictions as to what habits and behaviors will—and won’t—change. Dan will also share with us his fascinating work beyond the coronavirus, harnessing the power of behavioral economics to address and solve major social problems in Israel.
Speaker:
ONLINE EVENT
National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty Presents: A Series of Briefings on Poverty and the Impact of Covid-19

Over the coming months the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty will be hosting a series of webinars and virtual meetups to discuss the many challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews facing poverty and the agencies that serve them. We will hear the needs from the service providers on the ground supporting our front lines, share best practices and information, and strategize on ways to respond collectively.
The next in this series is on Tuesday, June 9th from 12-1pm ET. Each webinar is moderated by Susan Ditkoff of The Bridgespan Group Boston.
Speakers for June 9
Charlene Seidle
Executive Vice President
Leichtag Foundation
Reuben Rotman
President & CEO
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Jewish Imperative for Funding with a Gender Lens Part 2

In the age of #MeToo and #TimesUp, Jewish funders are thinking deeply about how gender dynamics influence philanthropic leadership. Whether you've thought about these issues for a long time or are just beginning to explore how to apply a gender lens to your philanthropy and leadership, this two-part series will provide a deeper understanding of how you can leverage your resources and influence to effect change in all your philanthropy and the Jewish imperative in doing so. The first session focused on the Jewish imperative for giving with a gender lens. This session will provide participants with tangible tools and skills for this work.
Using tools from Slingshot's latest resource, "Money, Gender and Power," the guidebook's author Tuti B. Scott, and Slingshot's CEO Stefanie Rhodes,will lead this interactive workshop to support Jewish funders of all genders in learning how to take concrete actions to advance gender equity, and commit to lifting up women and girls in the philanthropic landscape at large.
Speakers:
Tuti B. Scott
Founder
Changemaking Strategies
Stefanie Rhodes
CEO
Slingshot
JFN YFF- Peer consultation meeting: Challenges of the Israeli funder post Covid-19
In the last couple of months, the Corona crisis presented many challenges to the philanthropic community in Israel and around the world: professional, economic, logistical and emotional. Social reality has changed and so have the ways of philanthropy, identifying needs on the ground and the need to respond quickly and under uncertain circumstances.
The gradual return to economic activity poses the need to address significant questions as they relate to the new reality that the philanthropic sector is facing:
How do I manage my post-Corona funding allocation? What is my role as a funder in dealing with organizations' closures or mergers between NGOs? What channels of cooperation with the government / local authorities do I have as a donor and how do I create collaborations? How to transition from emergency grants to ongoing support? And many other question marks that are raised by these challenging times.
Our goal is to examine together your current philanthropic needs, and to enable a sincere discussion around the challenges while offering you suggestions and tools for action.
The meetings will include likeminded funders with similar giving capacity and experience in strategic philanthropy in order to yield an effective and meaningful dialogue based on shared challenges and common dilemmas.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 6/20

Please join us for a bi-monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Senior Manager, Programs and Member Education
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Hearts and Minds: Building Bridges Between Israel and European Muslim Communities
In recent years, the European Leadership Network (ELNET) launched a special outreach program to Muslim communities in Europe, and in 2019 organized a first-ever delegation to Israel of 40 imams (Muslim clergy) and Muslim community leaders from France and Belgium. The purpose of the visit was to provide these leaders with a deeper understanding of Israel while fostering interreligious dialogue with the Jewish community. On this webinar you’ll hear about this extraordinary event from the head of the delegation, Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, one of the leading moderate imams in France.
Imam Chalghoumi has been actively involved in interfaith work and combating extremism following a series of Islamist terrorist attacks in France and Belgium. During the visit, Imam Chalghoumi asserted that anti-Zionism is antisemitism, stating, "what characterizes anti-Zionism is hatred. If we were simply talking about criticism of the State of Israel, we wouldn't see the hatred and talk of the need to wipe out and destroy Israel."
In conversation the speakers will focus on the strategy to fight antisemitism and build a broad pro-Israel consensus in Europe.
Speakers
Imam Hassen Chalghoumi
Imam of the Drancy municipal mosque in Seine Saint-Denis, France
Founder, Conference of Imams
David Siegel
President
Friends of ELNET
Dr. Arie Bensemhoun
CEO
ELNET-France
Larry J. Hochberg
President
Hochberg Family Foundation
Joseph Braude
Center for Peace Communications
JFN - Peer consultation meeting 3: Challenges of the Israeli funder post Covid-19
In the last couple of months, the Corona crisis presented many challenges to the philanthropic community in Israel and around the world: professional, economic, logistical and emotional. Social reality has changed and so have the ways of philanthropy, identifying needs on the ground and the need to respond quickly and under uncertain circumstances.
The gradual return to economic activity poses the need to address significant questions as they relate to the new reality that the philanthropic sector is facing:
How do I manage my post-Corona funding allocation? What is my role as a funder in dealing with organizations' closures or mergers between NGOs? What channels of cooperation with the government / local authorities do I have as a donor and how do I create collaborations? How to transition from emergency grants to ongoing support? And many other question marks that are raised by these challenging times.
Our goal is to examine together your current philanthropic needs, and to enable a sincere discussion around the challenges while offering you suggestions and tools for action.
The meetings will include likeminded funders with similar giving capacity and experience in strategic philanthropy in order to yield an effective and meaningful dialogue based on shared challenges and common dilemmas.
JFN - Peer consultation meeting 2: Challenges of the Israeli funder post Covid-19
In the last couple of months, the Corona crisis presented many challenges to the philanthropic community in Israel and around the world: professional, economic, logistical and emotional. Social reality has changed and so have the ways of philanthropy, identifying needs on the ground and the need to respond quickly and under uncertain circumstances.
The gradual return to economic activity poses the need to address significant questions as they relate to the new reality that the philanthropic sector is facing:
How do I manage my post-Corona funding allocation? What is my role as a funder in dealing with organizations' closures or mergers between NGOs? What channels of cooperation with the government / local authorities do I have as a donor and how do I create collaborations? How to transition from emergency grants to ongoing support? And many other question marks that are raised by these challenging times.
Our goal is to examine together your current philanthropic needs, and to enable a sincere discussion around the challenges while offering you suggestions and tools for action.
The meetings will include likeminded funders with similar giving capacity and experience in strategic philanthropy in order to yield an effective and meaningful dialogue based on shared challenges and common dilemmas.
ONLINE EVENT
Jewish Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Why it is Key to Our Recovery

The Jewish Innovation sector has fueled a renaissance in Jewish life over the past 20 years, enabling millions of individuals to find new ways to connect and stay connected to Judaism, Jewish experiences, and Jewish communities by reimagining Jewish life.
In this time of crisis, it is critical to not only preserve and advance the core system that nurtures new leaders, ideas and ventures, enabling them to help Jewish institutions of all kinds adapt to contemporary realities, but we must also embrace Jewish innovation as a core mindset of recovery and rebuilding.
Join Aaron Katler, Stefanie Rhodes and Mamie Kanfer Stewart for a discussion about how we can take the lessons learned from 20 years of nurturing and funding innovation to create a roadmap for the post-COVID Jewish community.
Speakers:
Aaron Katler
CEO
UpStart
Stefanie Rhodes
CEO
Slingshot Fund
Mamie Kanfer Stewart
Founding Director, Vice Chair
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
JFN - Peer consultation meeting 1: Challenges of the Israeli funder post Covid-19
In the last couple of months, the Corona crisis presented many challenges to the philanthropic community in Israel and around the world: professional, economic, logistical and emotional. Social reality has changed and so have the ways of philanthropy, identifying needs on the ground and the need to respond quickly and under uncertain circumstances.
The gradual return to economic activity poses the need to address significant questions as they relate to the new reality that the philanthropic sector is facing:
How do I manage my post-Corona funding allocation? What is my role as a funder in dealing with organizations' closures or mergers between NGOs? What channels of cooperation with the government / local authorities do I have as a donor and how do I create collaborations? How to transition from emergency grants to ongoing support? And many other question marks that are raised by these challenging times.
Our goal is to examine together your current philanthropic needs, and to enable a sincere discussion around the challenges while offering you suggestions and tools for action.
The meetings will include likeminded funders with similar giving capacity and experience in strategic philanthropy in order to yield an effective and meaningful dialogue based on shared challenges and common dilemmas.
San Francisco Bay Area’s Jewish Community and Philanthropic Response to COVID-19

COVID-19 has impacted all sectors of the Jewish community. From summer camps to day schools to social services, everyone is adjusting to a new reality in this unprecedented time.
We hope that you'll join us for a special meeting to discuss how the San Francisco Bay Area philanthropic community is responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Together, we will explore the impact of COVID-19 and how the many foundations and organizations that serve and support the San Francisco Bay Area are pivoting their programs and strategies to meet the needs of our local community.
Participants will include representatives from the Jim Joseph Foundation, the John Pritzker Family Fund, the Bay Area Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, the Oshman Family JCC, and Hebrew Free Loan.
Moderator:
Barry Finestone
President and CEO
Jim Joseph Foundation
Speakers:
Joy Sisisky
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Bay Area Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund
Cindy Rogoway
Executive Director
Hebrew Free Loan
Amy Rabbino
Executive Director
John Pritzker Family Fund
Zack Bodner
Chief Executive Officer
Oshman Family JCC
ONLINE EVENT
National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty Presents: A Series of Briefings on Poverty and the Impact of Covid-19

Over the coming months the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty will be hosting a series of webinars and virtual meetups to discuss the many challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews facing poverty and the agencies that serve them. We will hear the needs from the service providers on the ground supporting our front lines, share best practices and information, and strategize on ways to respond collectively.
This webinar on Tuesday, May 26th from 12-1pm ET will focus on mental health and aging. Each webinar is moderated by Susan Ditkoff of The Bridgespan Group Boston. The final in the series will take place on Tuesday, June 9th from 12-1pm ET.
Speakers for May 26
Jordan Golin
President and CEO
Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) Pittsburgh
Paula Goldstein
President and CEO
Jewish Family and Children's Service (JFCS) of Greater Philadelphia
Paula B. Pretlow
Trustee
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Young Funders Forum -Democracy, Philanthropy and the Social Contract that Connects Us
JFN’s Young Funders Forum invites you to a conversation with Dr. Hillel Ben Sasson, founder of ‘IDEA - the Centre for Liberal Democracy’ on the democratic journey in Israel and around the world in light of the challenging times Covid-19 presents us on our path towards our joint destination.
Zoom link will be sent upon registration
The conversation will be held in Hebrew with English transcription
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 5/20
Please join us for a bi-monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
We will be joined on Wednesday by guest speaker Gali Cooks, President & CEO, Leading Edge for a closer look at themes and trends emerging from the field as we all navigate the current crisis. In our discussion, we will dig into how CEOs, professionals, and lay leaders are weathering unprecedented challenges and share some bright spots in adaptions and collaborations. For background, see here.
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Senior Manager, Programs and Member Education
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
ONLINE EVENT
Day School and COVID-19

Schools moved to a virtual platform nearly two months ago, and so much has evolved within that time. Are students in Jewish day schools having their needs met academically, emotionally, and spiritually? Join Prizmah's Paul Bernstein and a panel of funders and program providers to learn about success stories from the field and the opportunities being explored to support our schools and improve student experience. Hear why each of these funders believes that these initiatives are critical during the pandemic and well beyond.
This is part of series that JFN is hosting to help better understand the impact and needs of day schools during this time.
Speakers:
Paul Bernstein
Chief Executive Officer
Prizmah, Center for Jewish Day Schools
Rachel Abrahams
Senior Advisor for Education Grants and Programs
The Mayberg Foundation
Debbie Niderberg
Executive Director
George Rohr Foundation
Co- Founder
Hidden Sparks
Natalie Jonas
Founder and Coordinator
Foundations Program
Rabbi Sam Feinsmith
Program Director
Institute for Jewish Spirituality
When COVID-19 is Just One of Many Crises: The Pandemic’s Impact on Displaced Persons

Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the world was in the midst of the largest refugee crisis since World War II, with an estimated 70.8 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide. Now, COVID-19 is sweeping through a population with minimal access to medical services and little ability to practice social distancing. How do we start to think about carving out space for displaced populations when in the midst of our own crisis? Please join experts in the field of disaster relief and humanitarian aid to learn about what is being done and what is still needed.
Speakers:
Georgette Bennett
Founder of the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees
Immediate Past Board Chair of JFN
David Miliband
President and CEO
International Rescue Committee
Shadi Martini
Executive Director
Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees
Yotam Polizar
CEO
IsraAid
ONLINE EVENT
National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty presents: A Series of Briefings on Poverty and the Impact of Covid-19

Over the coming months the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty will be hosting a series of webinars and virtual meetups to discuss the many challenges the coronavirus pandemic has created for Jews facing poverty and the agencies that serve them. We will hear the needs from the service providers on the ground supporting our front lines, share best practices and information, and strategize on ways to respond collectively.
Each webinar will be moderated by Susan Ditkoff of The Bridgespan Group Boston and will feature key leaders and focus on particular needs: The first one one Thursday, May 14th from 1-2pm ET will focus on food insecurity and housing. The following two webinars will be take place on Tuesday, May 26th from 12-1pm ET and Tuesday, June 9th from 12-1pm ET – please hold the dates. More details coming soon.
Speakers for May 14
Lisa K. Budlow
Chief Executive Officer
CHAI Baltimore
Jessica Chait
Managing Director
Food Programs at Met Council on Jewish Poverty
Jeffrey Schoenfeld
JFN Board Member
Covid-19's Impact on Jewish College Students and Young Adults

Jewish college students and young adults face unique challenges in this unprecedented time. Join us for a discussion about the current and anticipated needs of those who are deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We'll explore how programs have pivoted to accommodate the tens of thousands of Jewish students and young adults throughout the country whose lives have been altered by social distancing and shutdowns, as well as what gaps need to be filled, and where there is opportunity for partnership and collaboration. Please come to the conversation prepared to share your questions.
Moderator
Jim Heeger
Immediate Past Board Chair, Moishe House
Speakers
Mimi Kravetz
Chief Experience Officer, Hillel International
Daniel Kraus
Associate Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Birthright Israel Foundation
David Cygielman
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Moishe House
Rebecca Bar
Executive Director, Challah for Hunger
JCRIF event

To address the widespread disruption of Jewish communal life as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, several Jewish foundations, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the Nonprofit Finance Fund in April established The Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund (JCRIF). This new philanthropic collaboration aims to ensure Jewish education, engagement and leadership remain strong and even flourish at this pivotal time. It will provide more than $80 million in interest-free loans and grants.
JCRIF welcomes new funding partners. Current funders include: Aviv Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Diane and Guilford Glazer Philanthropies, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, Jim Joseph Foundation, Maimonides Fund, The Paul E. Singer Foundation and Wilf Family Foundation.
Join this special briefing to learn more about how the program works and how you can get involved.
Speakers
Lisa Eisen
Co-President
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
Felicia Herman
Executive Director of Natan
Manager of JCRIF's grant program
Shira Hutt
Chief of Staff of JFNA
Manager of JFCRIF's loan program
Has Israel's Political Stalemate Come to an End?

The coronavirus has hit Israel in the midst of a major political and constitutional crisis. What does the Israeli public think about these latest developments and will they bring Israel’s warring political parties together?
Yohanan Plesner, President of the Israel Democracy Institute, and Professor Tamar Herman, Director of IDI's Director, Guttmann Center for Public Opinion, will discuss the recently signed coalition agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and Benny Gantz's Blue and White Party, assess the chance of a new government being formed and analyze what types of policies we could see from such a cabinet.
Speakers:
Yohanan Plesner
President
The Israel Democracy Institute
Professor Tamar Herman
Director
The Israel Democracy Insitute
Director, Guttmann Center for Public Opinion
All Together Now: A Matching Grant for Jewish Camp

The timing of the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting Jewish summer camps especially hard. Camp leaders are planning for all contingencies, including the very real possibility that camp will not open this summer, even as they have already invested considerable funds preparing for this season. Few camps have endowments or reserves sufficient to make up for the revenue shortfalls they will face if Summer 2020 is cancelled. Without significant community support, many Jewish summer camps could fold.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, a longtime leader in the field of Jewish camp, sees this moment as the time to dig deep. The HGF board has approved a new $10 million infusion of funds for overnight camp as a matching grant. The grant, called All Together Now, offers camps the chance to leverage the $10 million to raise matching gifts from donors who know the value of camp and its importance for the future.
Join this special briefing to learn more about how the program works and how you can help.
Speakers
Andrés Spokoiny
President and CEO
Jewish Funders Network
Winnie Sandler Grinspoon
President
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Sarah Eisinger
Director of JCamp180
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
The Greatest Gift We Can Give: Inspiring Conversations on Family Philanthropy

This Mother’s Day, JFN celebrates the special bond between mothers and daughters with an inspiring conversation on family giving with Mem Bernstein, chair of Keren Keshet, and her daughters Suzanne Felson and Jennifer Smorgon. In partnership with the Jewish Future Pledge, JFN is proud to showcase this extraordinary philanthropic family to explore how each generation inspires the other, expresses its Jewish values in its giving, and the role mothers play in family giving. Moderated by Dr. Erica Brown, director of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership, leads the conversation.
Additionally, Danielle Segal, Senior Program Manager of the Jewish Teen Funders Network presents JTFN’s resources for inspiring values-based conversations on family giving—how to engage the whole family (kids, teens, adults and elders) around the table in making philanthropic decisions.
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 2
Please join us for a bi-monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
We will be joined on Wednesday by guest speaker Kelly Greenwood, Founder & CEO of Mind Share Partners, who will provide some ideas and tools for supporting mental health at work during this crisis.
We will also outline our plans on Wednesday's call for these meet-ups moving forward, including the creation of ongoing peer support groups to enable you all to connect regularly with a small group of colleagues.
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Senior Manager, Programs and Member Education
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Synagogues and Spiritual Communities During COVID-19

How is the coronavirus impacting synagogues and spiritual communities? Learn about the innovative ways this sector has deepened caring community and created/modified rituals to respond to the moment. In addition, hear about the current and anticipated needs as synagogues consider how to thrive in the uncertain "new normal." Please come to the conversation prepared to share your questions, current thinking, and actions you may have already taken.
Speakers:
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal
Chief Executive of the Rabbinical Assembly
(Recently appointed joint CEO of USCJ and the Rabbinical Assembly effective July 1, 2020)
Rabbi Sharon Brous
Senior Rabbi
IKAR
Amy Asin
Vice President and Director of Strengthening Congregations
Union for Reform Judaism
Nadine Kochavi
Director of Synagogue Strategy
UJA-Federation of New York
Ari Rockoff
Director of Strategic Partnerships
The Orthodox Union
Adina Frydman
Executive Director of Community Resources
UJA-Federation of New York
Haredi Society in Israel During COVID-19

*18:30-20:00 Jerusalem
Join us for a discussion on the unique needs relating to Israel’s ultra-Orthodox society in light of the Corona crisis. We will address the prominent aspects that emerge in the face of the crisis: the socioeconomic development of ultra-Orthodox society, the engagement of local authorities and local leadership, and the role of Haredi civil-society organizations in providing solutions tailored to the needs of ultra-Orthodox society.
We will hear from leading experts and professionals in the field led by the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs and joined by the Haredi Employment Coalition (a partnership started by JFN through members of the network) and followed by JFN funders involved with the philanthropic efforts supporting the Haredi society.
Speakers
Eli Paley
Chairman of the Paley Family Foundation
Chairman of the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs
Owner of Mishpacha Media Group, and JFN member
Chaviva Eisler
Director, the Haredi Coalition
Yisrael Tzishinsky
Founder and Chairman of the Refua Vesimcha and JFN member
From the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs:
Roy Cohen – CEO of the Haredi Institute| Nitsa Kaliner Kasir – Vice Chairman, Haredi Institute; Former Head of the Labor Market and Social Policy Divisions at Bank of Israel | Yitzchak Pindrus – Former Mayor of Beitar Illit; Former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem | Major General (Res.) Roni Numa –Head of Bnei Brak's emergency team and the IDF Central Command Unit |Yehudit Miletzky – Senior Researcher at the Institute
RSVP to receive the ZOOM link
Funding with a Gender Lens

In the age of #MeToo and #TimesUp, Jewish funders are thinking deeply about how gender dynamics influence philanthropic leadership. Whether you've thought about these issues for a long time or are just beginning to explore how to apply a gender lens to your philanthropy and leadership, this two-part series will provide a deeper understanding of how you can leverage your resources and influence to effect change in all your philanthropy and the Jewish imperative in doing so. This first session will focus on the Jewish imperative for giving with a gender lens and the second session, held on June 4 at 12pm EST, will provide participants with tangible tools and skills for this work.
Using tools from Slingshot's latest resource, Money, Gender and Power, the guidebook's author Tuti B. Scott, Slingshot's CEO Stefanie Rhodes, and Rabba Sara Hurwitz, will lead you through two interactive workshops to support Jewish funders of all genders in learning how to take concrete actions to advance gender equity, and commit to lifting up women and girls in the philanthropic landscape at large.
Speakers:
Tuti B. Scott
Founder
Changemaking Strategies
Stefanie Rhodes
CEO
Slingshot
Rabba Sara Hurwitz
Co-Founder and President
Maharat
Israel’s Arab Society – Update on Needs, Activities and Philanthropic Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis

*Out of respect for our speakers’ Ramadan Iftar meal, our webinar will begin later than usual
On March 31, Arab civil society leaders and mayors established a dedicated Emergency Situation Room for Arab Society to coordinate a national Coronavirus response. Its purpose is to address the specific needs and realities in Arab communities and find ways to support local authorities in meeting related health and welfare priorities. In parallel, a situation room was established in the Negev to address the specific crisis-response needs in Bedouin society.
Join us for a discussion from leaders in the field about the unique needs of Israel’s Arab citizens and the work of both the national Arab Emergency Situation Room and the Negev Situation Room two months into the crisis. We will also hear from JFN members who are involved in crisis relief efforts in Arab society.
In partnership with the Inter Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues and Social Venture Fund for Jewish Arab Equality and Shared Society.
Moderators:
Alan Divack
Co-Chair
Social Venture Fund for Jewish Arab Equality and Shared Society
Speakers:
Professor Nihaya Daoud
Public Health
Ben Gurion University
Ahmed Al Sheik
Executive Director
Galilee Society
Kher Albaz
Chair of the Board
AJCEEC
Batya Kallus
Israel Director
Social Venture Fund
Adina Shapiro
Board member
Bader Philanthropies and Mubadarath Foundation
Green Funders Forum Meeting

Join us for a meeting exploring the relationship between environmental philanthropy, responsible investing and Covid-19.
What can we learn from the Corona crisis regarding resilience - both in the present and the future? The discussion will include a review of ESG / SDG concepts and how can we use these tools to have a positive impact on the environment and on our portfolios. We will hear from two veteran finance and impact experts and will focus their remarks on impact in global public equity. We will also hear from funders on their personal experiences in the field and will include time for a group discussion.
Speakers:
Elah Alkalay
Vice President
IBI Investment House
Noga Levtzion Nadan
CEO and founder
Greeneye and Value Squared Responsible Investment Fund
Please email Sigal for RSVP: [email protected]
(zoom info will be sent to registrants closer to the program date)
ONLINE EVENT
Israel's At-Risk Children and Youth During Coronavirus

Join us to learn more about how the coronavirus crisis is affecting at-risk young adults and children, and how philanthropists can help.
Vered Windman, Executive Director of the Israel National Council for the Child and civic society representative on the Inter-Sectoral Roundtable Subcommittee, will present an overview of the challenges, issues, and needs in dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
Iris Florentin, Senior Vice President, Head of Social Services at the Ministry of Social Affairs, will present the government angle on the issue.
Leora Propper, JFN member, social investor and Chair of Propper Family Foundation, will share her views about the place of philanthropy in helping to address the challenges facing children and youth at-risk in Israel.
Renana Levine Pashkus of the Schusterman Foundation, will propose philanthropic responses to the face this crisis.
Briefing Series: Supporting Israeli Nonprofits During COVID-19 – Focus on Loan Funds

Please join us for an important briefing on how nonprofits in Israel are being impacted by COVID-19 and what interventions are being created to help.
We will hear about the Emergency Fund for Nonprofits a joint project of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the nonprofit lender Ogen, formerly known as the Israel Free Loan Association. We will also learn how impact investing can help Israeli entities at this time.
Moderator:
Andres Spokoiny
President and CEO
Jewish Funders Network
Speakers:
Misha Galperin
Philanthropic Advisor
Amira Ahranovich
CEO
Jewish Agency
Sagi Balasha
CEO
OGEN
Beth Sirull
President and CEO
Jewish Community Foundation
Ruth Salzman
CEO
The Russell Berrie Foundation
Virtual Conversation: (Jewish) Journalism in (the Coronavirus) Crisis

Never has independent, empathetic reporting on our communities been more important. Readers are responding to our work in record numbers. And yet: Jewish and other news organizations are cutting salaries, cutting staff — even closing, as the pandemic intensifies the challenges the industry was already grappling with. As we think about “saving” nonprofits like JCCs, camps and cultural institutions, what is the role of philanthropy in supporting media?
Join Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of The Forward, and Andrés Spokoiny, president of the Jewish Funders Network, for a conversation about the future of community news with Ben Smith, media columnist for The New York Times (and former Forward intern!); Sue Fishkoff, longtime editor of San Francisco’s J Weekly; and Prof. Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University.
RSVP here
Grantmaking Professionals Virtual Meetup 4/20
Please join us for a bi-monthly virtual convening for grantmaking professionals.
We look forward to coming together for shared learning and community building.
Facilitators:
Deena Fuchs
Executive Vice President
Jewish Funders Network
Tamar Frydman
Senior Manager, Programs and Member Education
Jewish Funders Network
Mike Berkowitz
Co-Founder & Principal
Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies, LLC
Special Yom HaShoah Briefing and Commemoration

Too many of our Holocaust survivors are living in poverty. This situation has become dire.
Join JFN's CEO and President, Andrés Spokoiny,, Seed the Dream Foundation, and KAVOD SHEF Funding Partners for a special briefing and Yom HaShoah commemoration. It is not too late for us to come together and talk about some of the ways that we, as a funding community can amplify our efforts to work together to address this critical issue.
We will commemorate Yom HaShoah with a special session on the “new shapes of memory,” including Pinchas Gutter, Holocaust Survivor, and Stephen D. Smith, PhD, of the USC Shoah Foundation.
Israeli Tech Ecosystem and COVID-19

Responding to requests by countries and organizations around the world, Start-Up Nation Central has published a growing index of Israeli technologies helping the world combat coronavirus, and launched “CoronaTech,” an online knowledge-sharing platform facilitating rapid collaboration and implementation of innovative Israeli anti-virus solutions.
Join JFN's President and CEO Andres Spokoiny and JFN Board Member Terry Kassel, in a discussion with Start-Up Nation Central CEO Professor Eugene Kandel as they focus on tools philanthropists can use to deal with this crisis. They will discuss what the Israeli tech ecosystem needs right now, how funders can get involved, and provide tips on how to identify Israeli companies doing real work.
Women at-risk in Israel
Young Funders Forum Pesach corona session
Day School and COVID-19

How is the coronavirus pandemic impacting Jewish day schools now, and what will its future impact be?
Join us for an open discussion between funders and experts in the field. Presenters will share day schools' needs as they look at what we know now and what are the anticipated needs. We will discuss what still needs to be learned, what is currently happening, what gaps need to be filled, and explore opportunities for partnership and collaboration. Please come to the conversation prepared to share your questions, current thinking, and any actions you may have already taken.
Moderator:
Debra Shaffer Seeman
Prizmah, Center for Jewish Day Schools
Speakers:
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Asylum Seekers in Israel During COVID-19

During this coronavirus pandemic, asylum seekers in Israel find themselves in an even more precarious spot.
JFN Israel has organized a discussion by experts and funders in the field to provide an overview of the situation- mapping the needs on the ground, the government's action plan as it relates to refugees, and sharing possible philanthropic responses. Register Here
* The meeting will be held in English.
Speakers:
Dr. Ayelet Oz
Executive Director
The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants
Civil Society Representative
Inter-sectoral Roundtable Subcommittee
Dina Dominic
Director
Human Trafficking Prevention Unit in the Ministry of Justice
Government Representative
Inter-sectoral Roundtable Subcommittee
Adina Shapiro
Board Member
Bader Philanthropies and Mubadarath Foundation
ONLINE EVENT
Jewish Arts & Artists In A Time Of COVID-19

In a prolonged moment of social distancing and sheltering in place, we find ourselves turning to artists for help. Artists and creatives are actively providing entertainment and distraction when we are stranded in our homes. They are helping us empathize with those who are suffering, process our own feelings, and let us try to come to terms with our new reality, together.
But artists are also among the first to suffer in this moment.
Working artists have seen their incomes evaporate. Performances, gallery openings, standing gigs, book releases, all have been cancelled or put on indefinite hold.
This conversation, hosted by CANVAS -- a new collaborative giving fund devoted to Jewish arts & culture and incubated at JFN -- will give participants a firsthand account of how these issues are playing out in real-time, and how funders within the Jewish community and beyond are rising to the occasion.
Speakers:
Lou Cove
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Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug |
Ben Gundersheimer |
Naomi Firestone-Teeter |
Shayna Rose Triebwasser |
Malka Aliza Travaglini |
ONLINE EVENT
Camp and COVID-19

How will camps be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic?
Join us for an open discussion between funders and experts in the field. Presenters will share camps’ needs as they look at what we know now, what still needs to be learned, what is currently underway, what gaps need to be filled, and where there is opportunity for partnership and collaboration. Please come to the conversation prepared to share your questions, current thinking, and any actions you may have already taken.
Speakers:
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Supporting Vulnerable Populations During COVID-19: How We Can Help

During this coronavirus pandemic, already vulnerable populations find themselves in an even more precarious spot.
Join us for a discussion by funders and experts in the field of human services where they share what they are seeing firsthand, the evolving needs, what they are doing to address the growing challenges, and what needs to be done moving forward.
This conversation is hosted by The National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty, a collaborative of funders, central agencies, direct service providers, researchers, media outlets, and advocates dedicated to fighting poverty in the American Jewish community.
Moderator:
Susan Ditkoff, Senior Advisor, The Bridgespan Group Boston
Speakers:
Managing Director, Caring Department UJA-Federation of New York Alexandra Roth-Kahn is the Managing Director of the Caring Department at UJA-Federation of New York. In this capacity, Alex advances the organization’s commitment to ensure that those struggling with life’s challenges are supported by the Jewish community. Through strategic planning, grant making, and convening, the work of the Caring Department supports members of the Jewish community and beyond who struggle with issues related to poverty, employment, aging, disabilities, mental health, and end-of-life. Alex develops new models of care to respond to these challenges and stimulates innovation in the field. The work of the Caring Department is actualized in New York, Israel, and the Former Soviet Union. |
Program Director, Israel & Jewish Community, US Rafi Rone serves as a Program Director for The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. In his role, he is responsible for grantmaking in Israel and the Jewish community at-large in the United States. Rafi directs the grantmaking for the Foundation in Israel, which includes Older Adults, Jobs, and Women At-Risk. Domestically, Rafi oversees the Foundation’s Jewish community services initiatives. Rafi joined the Foundation in January 2016, after serving as the Vice President of Jewish & Israel Initiatives for the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds for five years. He has more than 25 years of community relations and community development experience working on behalf of the Jewish community, covering four continents and dozens of Jewish communities. Rafi was stationed in the Former Soviet Union, Israel, and Eastern Europe for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and he previously worked at the Baltimore Jewish Council as Deputy Director, at the Jewish Federations of North America as Director of Education and Training, and at Birthright Israel. |
Associate Vice President for Public Policy and Interim Director of the Washington Office |
President & CEO
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Young Funders Forum online session: Leadership in Times of Crises
JFN Convening - L.A. Philanthropic Response to the Crisis

First and foremost, the coronavirus pandemic is a public health crisis. But it is also creating significant economic and logistical challenges for institutions and vulnerable populations within and beyond the Jewish community. In this webinar, we will explore how the Los Angeles Jewish philanthropic community is responding to the COVID19 crisis. Participants will include private foundations, the Jewish Federation, Foundation for Jewish Camps, as well as hybrid and direct service providers such Jewish Family Service, Jewish Free Loan and the Builders of Jewish Education.
Community Response to COVID
ONLINE EVENT
Israel’s Elections: Take Three! Post-Election Scenarios & Opportunities

Join Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute and a former Member of Knesset, for an in-depth analysis of the March election results in Israel. Plesner will discuss who won, who lost, and what the future holds in store for Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, and the State of Israel.
JFN Young Funders Forum
JFN Young Funders Forum is happy to invite you to a morning on
Jewish/Israeli Identity and Philanthropy
Featuring Shmuel Rosner
Researcher, journalist and co-author of
#IsraeliJudaism: Portrait of a Cultural Revolution
ONLINE EVENT
Seeding Opportunity: Growing the Jewish Future on the Farm

What’s so Jewish about a farm? A lot it turns out. A new study reveals new metrics on the effectiveness of Jewish farms in engaging with new generations of Jews and addressing important social justice and community food system goals. Please join us for a first look at the data and analysis by practitioners in the field.
Moderator:
Charlene Seidle, Executive Vice President, Leichtag Foundation
Speakers:
Jakir Manela, Executive Director, Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center, Baltimore
Yoni Yefet, Founder and CEO, Kaima Farm, Jerusalem
Nati Passow, Founder, Jewish Farm School
This program is part of a series on sustainable food systems and creating impact through food. Look for more programs on this subject at the JFN 2020 Conference in Palm Beach.
Beyond Money- Donors on boards
Practical tools workshop for donors who serve/ are exploring serving as Ngo’s board members
For additional details please contact: [email protected]
ONLINE EVENT
Impact Investing Virtual Meetup: ESG Funds

Join us for a one-hour, participatory video/conference call with other JFN members where we will discuss ESG funds in the impact investing space.
Funders have a full range of tools to invest capital for good. Some philanthropists use impact investing as a complementary tool with their grantmaking to diversify their portfolio or to use the returns as a way to fund more giving. Either way, the attraction is the same: investing to make a difference. For funders engaged in this work, peer learning can help us achieve more.
This call is not a traditional webinar — it will be an interactive opportunity to learn and share with one another. We’ll begin with a 30-minute briefing by JFN Member Marla Stein and Noga Levtzion Nadan, CEO, Greeneye and Value^2 as they take veteran impact investors on a "deeper dive" into the data behind ESG funds.
Participants will then have an opportunity to ask questions, share their methods and approaches, and get feedback from other participants.
Marla Stein Entrepreneur and passionate supporter of the Israeli impact field. Committed social justice activist and philanthropist. Member of the Jewish Funders Network, the Forum of Foundations, and Toniic. |
Noga Levtzion Nadan Co-founder and Managing Partner of Value^2, Founder and CEO of Green Eye - For more than 15 years Noga is leading the Israeli impact and responsible investment field. In 2016 she received the Green Globe Business Award for her groundbreaking work. |
ONLINE EVENT
Book Club—Ben Hecht: Fighting Words, Moving Pictures

In the second meeting of the JFN Book Club, we'll discuss Ben Hecht: Fighting Words, Moving Pictures, and we'll be joined by the book's author, Adina Hoffman.
About the book: From the prizewinning Jewish Lives series, a vibrant portrait of one of the most accomplished and prolific American screenwriters, by an award-winning biographer and essayist He was, according to Pauline Kael, “the greatest American screenwriter.” Jean-Luc Godard called him “a genius” who “invented 80 percent of what is used in Hollywood movies today.” Besides tossing off dozens of now-classic scripts—including Scarface, Twentieth Century, and Notorious—Ben Hecht was known in his day as an ace reporter, celebrated playwright, taboo-busting novelist, and the most quick-witted of provocateurs. During World War II, he also emerged as an outspoken crusader for the imperiled Jews of Europe, and later he became a fierce propagandist for pre-1948 Palestine’s Jewish terrorist underground. Whatever the outrage he stirred, this self-declared “child of the century” came to embody much that defined America—especially Jewish America—in his time. About the author: Adina Hoffman is an award-winning essayist and biographer. The author of four previous books, including Till We Have Built Jerusalem: Architects of a New City and My Happiness Bears No Relation to Happiness: A Poet’s Life in the Palestinian Century, she lives in Jerusalem and New Haven. |
LIVE EVENT
Community Development in Israel’s Mixed Cities

Israel’s mixed cities face some of the country's most complex social and economic challenges, while representing some of the greatest opportunities to strengthen Jewish-Arab community relations. In January, the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood in Lod, one of Israel’s lowest-income neighborhoods, will be the site of a new model for social urban revitalization efforts in Israel, including mixed-income housing, and public schools, facilities and social services catering to a mixed population. Join the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues, in partnership with UJA-Federation of New York and Jewish Funders Network, to hear from the project’s local civil society and government leaders, Avital Blonder of JINDAS and Ben Mayust of the Lod Economic Corporation, and renowned American urban revitalization expert Richard Baron about the prospects and scalability of such community development initiatives in Israel.
Green Funders Forum: Renewable Energy 101
“The How’s and Why’s” of different energy sources — what do we need to know?
Including how the various solutions Impact the environment and climate change
Specific considerations and challenges for Israel
Join us for a funders discussion with former MK and CEO of the Green Movement, Yael Cohen Paran and Dr. Shachar Dolev, CEO of the Israel Energy Forum.
Young Funders Forum
JFN’s Young Funders Forum is happy to invite you to a morning dedicated to
Arab Philanthropy in Israel
Join us for breakfast and conversation with Arab funders and professionals who will share with us their story and provide an inside look into a philanthropic community in the making.
LIVE EVENT
How do we know we're maximizing impact? An evening with Deena Fuchs

Join other funders at the San Francisco home of JFN members Suzanne and Elliot Felson to get to know JFN's new Executive Vice President, Deena Fuchs. Over coffee and dessert, Deena will share insights from her extensive past experience at the AVI CHAI Foundation on how collaboration can enhance impact. Together with Tzivia Schwartz Getzug, JFN’s West Coast Director, she’ll lead a discussion of potential ideas for how JFN members can innovate and collaborate in the future.
Kashrut will be observed.
ONLINE EVENT
Successful Leadership Transitions in the Jewish Community

We are in the midst of a major demographic shift in leadership in the Jewish community. By some counts, 75-90% of our leaders are turning over right now. And a CEO transition can be a time of great potential risk or reward for an organization. So what makes for a successful CEO transition? How can lay leaders ensure a smooth leadership succession process?
Leading Edge, an organization founded in 2014 to address the leadership pipeline challenges in the Jewish community, recently published six case studies that break down successful CEO transitions at American Jewish World Service, Bend the Arc, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, a JCC in the Midwest, Spertus, and Tufts Hillel.
Join our speakers for a conversation about the stories they unpacked and the lessons they learned from these case studies.
Senior Editor at the Harvard Business Review and author of the case study series |
President & CEO of Leading Edge |
ONLINE EVENT
Book Club—Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal & Social Change

In the first meeting of the JFN Book Club, we'll discuss Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal & Social Change, and we'll be joined by the book's author, David Jaffe.
Please note: while everyone is encouraged to read the entire book, the discussion will focus chiefly on two chapters: Chapter 4 ("The Power of Choice") and Chapter 7 ("Creative Discomfort").
About the book: Winner, 2016 Jewish Book Council Award for Contemporary Jewish Life & Practice An inspiring and accessible guide, drawn from Jewish wisdom, for building the inner qualities necessary to work effectively for social justice. The world needs changing—and you’re just the person to do it! It’s a matter of cultivating the inner resources you already have. If you are serious about working for social justice and change, this book will help you bring your most compassionate, wise, and courageous self to the job. Bringing positive social change to any system takes deep self-awareness, caring, determination, and long-term commitment. But polarization, the slow pace of change, and internal conflicts among activists and organizations often leads to burnout and discouragement among the very people needed to make a difference. Changing the World from the Inside Out distills centuries of Jewish wisdom about cultivating and refining the inner life into an accessible program for building the qualities necessary to accomplish sustainable change. Through explorations of deep motivation, inner-drive, and traits like trust and anger, this book engages the reader in a journey of self-development and transformation, demonstrating that sustainable activism is indeed a spiritual practice. Jaffe offers accessible and meaningful guidance for this journey—with exercises, contemplations, and discussion points that can be used individually or in a group. About the author: David Jaffe is a rabbi, a social worker, and an educational consultant to many major Jewish institutions in North America. He's a nationally recognized leader in the field of Mussar and applied Jewish ethics, and he is a frequent speaker at synagogues and Jewish conferences around the country. He's spent twenty-five years teaching and working in various areas of social justice outreach, including homelessness and interfaith community organizing. |
Art for Social Change in Israel: Exclusive Sotheby's Exhibit Preview & Salon

Join other funders for a breakfast salon and a tour of an Israeli art exhibit before it opens to the public!
Rivka Saker, a longtime advocate of Israeli art and culture and founder of the Sotheby's Israel office, will join Israeli visual artist, Izhar Patkin for a conversation over breakfast on the role of art and culture in the changing political climate around the world.
This will be an opportunity to discuss the Greenbook: Arts as a Driver for Social Change in Israel and to showcase diverse Israeli voices in art and film.
The talk will be followed by an exclusive tour of a tour of the Israeli and International Art Auction at Sotheby’s, which will be opening an exhibit and auction to the public on November 21st.
Rivka is the Chair of the Board of Artis. She also serves on the Board of Governors of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. She is the Co-Chair of the Israel Museum’s Here and Now Contemporary Art Acquisitions Committee and serves on the Boards of the The Center for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv; The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; Kunst-Werke, Berlin; and the Middle Eastern Circle of the Guggenheim Museum. Born in Tel Aviv, Saker has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Haifa in Economics and History of Art. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in Urban Planning from Technion in Haifa.
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ONLINE EVENT
Impact Investing Virtual Meetup: Investor Advocacy

Join us for a one-hour, participatory video/conference call with other JFN members who are involved in impact investing. Virtual Meetups are not traditional webinars — they are interactive opportunities to learn and share with one another.
We’ll begin with a 30-minute briefing by Julie Hammerman & Rabbi Jacob Siegel of JLens. They’ll discuss investor advocacy, an increasingly influential strategy used by impact investors to change corporate behavior. Powerful economic entities, namely institutional investors and large companies, have become key levers for advocacy on a range of social and environmental concerns. Unlike other faith communities, the Jewish community has largely been absent from the investor advocacy arena. This has been a missed opportunity for pursuing positive change, and a critical gap in our community’s ability to respond to concerns ranging from the BDS movement, to antisemitism and religious intolerance.
For the second half hour, the floor will be open to all participants, who can ask questions of the presenters, share your own methods and approaches in impact investing, float new ideas, and get feedback from other participants.
Please note: This virtual meetup is for funders who are actively working on impact investing initiatives, and is not intended to be an introductory conversation.
ONLINE EVENT
Briefing: Antisemitism in Brooklyn and Community Solutions

The startling spike in antisemitic crimes in Brooklyn in the past few months is part of a larger trend occurring more broadly across the country and the world.
Faith and community leaders representing populations in New York’s diverse neighborhoods have banded together to find solutions and reverse this trend. What are some of the best practices that are working and can they be replicated in other communities nationwide?
Please join these leaders in their discussion:
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LIVE EVENT
What’s Urban Planning Got to do with it? Solving Housing and Economic Challenges for Israel’s Arab Citizens

Closing economic gaps and addressing housing shortages in Israel’s Arab society, 20% of the population, has become a major priority for Israel’s overall strength. Yet many government efforts to fast-track economic and housing development in Arab communities stall when faced with the mismatch between Israel’s planning procedures and the crowded, under-planned realities on the ground. Why are urban planning needs so different in Israel’s Arab society? How do planning barriers affect economic development initiatives and state-minority relations overall? What solutions are underway or proposed to mitigate these challenges?
Join JFN and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues for a breakfast discussion with urban planning experts Dr. Enaya Banna and Dr. Emily Silverman, who will shed light on one of the most important and most complex issues facing Israel’s Arab society today.
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ONLINE EVENT
Waste Not, Want Not: Strategic Interventions for Sustainable Food Systems

Up to 40% of the food produced in the United States is wasted, while one in five Americans is unsure where their next meal is coming from. Similar statistics are true in Israel and throughout much of Europe.
This webinar brings together field experts Lisa Moon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Food Banking Network, Michal Bitterman, CEO and Co Founder of The Natural Step, and Aviva Paley, Senior Director and Co-Founder of Kitchens for Good, to discuss models for changing how we approach food waste and food rescue, and explore how philanthropy can work towards a more sustainable food system. Mitchell Davis, Chief Strategy Officer of the James Beard Foundation will be moderating.
This program is part of a series on sustainable food systems and creating impact through food. Look for more programs on this subject in the winter and at the JFN 2020 Conference in Palm Beach.
LIVE EVENT
A Powerful Platform and Service: Celebrate the Goodnation Partnership Launch
JFN members are invited to celebrate of the launch of our partnership with Goodnation, a new values-based philanthropic platform that can help you achieve more impact.
We'll also hear introductory remarks by Prof. Jack Wertheimer, Joseph and Martha Mendelson Professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Among many other works, Prof. Wertheimer is the author of Giving Jewish: How Big Funders Have Transformed American Jewish Philanthropy.
ONLINE EVENT
The Israeli Elections: What Just Happened?

Join Yohanan Plesner, former Member of Knesset and current president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), for an in-depth analysis of the September 17 election results in Israel. Plesner will explain who won, who lost, and what are the long-term policy implications for Israel and the Jewish People.
Joining Plesner will be former Justice Ministry official Edna Harel-Fisher, Director of IDI’s anti-corruption program, who will explain the unique legal reality in Israel as the country faces the possibility of a sitting prime minister serving while under indictment, and the implications of such a situation for the political system.
Related:
ONLINE EVENT
Building Community: A New Agenda For Adult Jewish Learning

When you think about adult Jewish education, what comes to mind? Is it Jewish literacy? Jewish History? The weekly Torah reading? Hebrew?
While the enterprise of adult Jewish education may provide different things for different people, there is one significant benefit that is generally not considered:
Rich Jewish learning can actively build community.
Join Ruth Messinger, former president and CEO of American Jewish World Service and inaugural JTS Finkelstein Institute Social Justice Fellow at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Rabbi Morey Schwartz, International Director of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, for an interactive discussion on the impact of Jewish adult learning. JFN member Susan Weiss Firestone will introduce the discussion.
The Jewish landscape is changing. Join us to learn about how adult Jewish education can deepen engagement and strengthen the very fabric of our Jewish communities.
ONLINE EVENT
Redesigning the Jewish Future: A Case Study from Hillel

The future of North American Jewish life is evolving more quickly than ever, and in order to help the Jewish community thrive, funders need to embrace new approaches and perspectives in order to re-position our institutions and initiatives for greater impact.
This webinar will share a high-impact case study piloted with a cohort of Hillels, using quantitative and qualitative data results to show the impact of applying a Design Thinking methodology. With an eye to the future, we will re-imagine how and what we fund and support as community builders.
Speakers:
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Karyn Cohen, Director, Jewish Life and Israel, One8 Foundation |
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Yonah Schiller, Executive Director of Tulane Hillel, and Founder & Senior Project Advisor of the Organizational Design Lab |
Background reading: Redesigning Hillel Work: A Report from the Organizational Design Lab Pilot
LIVE EVENT
Family, Money, and Values: A Week of Workshops & Lectures in Israel
Joline Godfrey
From the Center for Family Philanthropy at JFN Israel, this week of English-language events features Joline Godfrey, author of Raising Financially Fit Kids; Our Wildest Dreams: Women Making Money, Having Fun, Doing Good; No More Frogs To Kiss: 99 Ways to Give Economic Power to Girls; and 20 $ecrets to Money and Independence: The DollarDiva’s Guide to Life.
ONLINE EVENT
Israeli Elections 2019, Take 2 — What's at Stake?

Just days before Israel’s unprecedented second national election this year, join former Member of Knesset Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute, for a deep dive into the latest trends and issues impacting this historic vote. This exclusive webinar will feature new polling and data presenting insights into what Israelis are thinking as they enter the polling station and the possible scenarios we can expect to see as the results come in.
LIVE EVENT
The Israeli Philanthropy Conference 2019
The 2019 Israeli Philanthropy Conference is presented by JFN Israel in partnership with Tel Aviv University's Institute for Law and Philanthropy, the Forum of Foundations in Israel, and Committed to Give.
Please note, the conference is conducted in Hebrew.
Click here to read a blog post by JFN member Philippe J. Weil about the first Israeli Philanthropy Conference, which was held in 2017.
ONLINE EVENT
Controversy at the Dyke March: Jews in Progressive Activism

Earlier this month, the DC Dyke March became the second such event to ban the Jewish Pride flag. Are Jews becoming unwelcome in social justice spaces because of a perception for their support for Israel—or are "anti-Israel"/"anti-Zionist" beliefs providing cover for antisemitism? How can progressive Jews work effectively in their communities to stand up for their beliefs without being attacked for being Jewish or Zionist? This webinar brings together two progressive, Zionist activists who led the response to the DC Dyke March; a funder; and the President and CEO of Jewish Council of Public Affairs to discuss what happened and what steps funders might take in their own communities to support full inclusion for Jews and prevent such situations.
Speakers:
![]() Amanda Berman (Executive Director, Zioness) |
![]() David Bernstein (President and CEO, Jewish Council for Public Affairs) |
![]() Archie Gottesman (Co-Founder, JewBelong) |
![]() Tyler Gregory (Executive Director, A Wider Bridge) |
LIVE EVENT
Sports for Peace
An exclusive funders meeting on creative philanthropic approaches for peace alliances through sports
The field of shared society is supported by many JFN members. The goal of this meeting is to meet like-minded funders and present a new assessment of Peace and Sports Alliance, followed by a roundtable discussion to share experiences and various perspectives. Our hope is to explore the opportunity to create an interest group in this area.
Sport have the unique ability to connect, empower and mobilize diverse communities. The universal language of sport promotes people-to-people encounters that are essential for breaking down barriers of hate and building bridges of hope in our region. These encounters help to equip the next generation with the skills and values needed to lead social change in their communities.
History has shown how sport can serve as a catalyst for bringing former enemies together and the global Sports for Peace Community has developed into a powerful movement for social change with a rich network of stakeholders.
Israel needs to use this platform to create a more tolerant shared society and to develop closer ties in the region.
LIVE EVENT
The Transportation Revolution in Israel: Reducing Gaps through Transportation Accessibility
What is the connection between the traffic jams and the housing shortage? The price of parking and the cost of living? How are congestion fees on the roads related to social justice, and what is the correlation between cooperative transportation, productivity and economic growth?
Join us to discuss with experts, entrepreneurs and social activists about the deep problems of Israeli transportation, tomorrow's solutions and their impact on Israeli society.
This event is for JFN members only.
ONLINE EVENT
Arts & Culture for Driving Social Change (Webinar)

Arts and culture are the natural habitat of the human heart and mind. Culture frames, reflects, exposes, enhances, and changes everything about the lives and actions of people and societies, and the arts play a vital role in how cultures evolve.
For funders who want to drive social change, therefore, arts and culture are a powerful and under-appreciated vector.
Join two leaders engaging deeply with arts and culture to make change for a webinar in which we'll discuss their work in particular and principles of social change through culture in general.
Speakers:
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Isaac Luria, Director of Voice, Creativity, and Culture at The Nathan Cummings Foundation. The Foundation holds a U.S.-focused portfolio in Voice, Creativity, and Culture, which aims to shift culture to transform communities, making them more just, more vibrant, more generative, and more fully realized through arts and culture as well as through spiritual and religious traditions. The Foundation also is exploring how their funding in Israel can nurture narratives of shared belonging and push back on narratives of hate and division.
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Jenny Steingart, Producer, Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish. Jenny is developing an initiative using the success of Fiddler as a Jewish story of tradition and expulsion, to shine a light onto the international migration and refugee crisis. By partnering with Reboot, a premier Jewish arts and culture organization, Fiddler is using the show as well as a collective of artists, to create mechanisms to capture and share contemporary stories that resonate with Fiddler’s themes. The launch date is World Refugee Day on 6/20 and will extend well beyond.
Related: World Refugee Day information
- Moderator: Lou Cove, Senior Advisor, The Harold Grinspoon Foundation. As Senior Advisor at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation Lou co-founded the PJ Alliance, a partnership of donors supporting PJ Library’s expansion in North America and internationally. He is the author of Man of the Year an Amazon Best memoir of 2017, and previously served as Executive Director of Reboot, Vice President of the National Yiddish Book Center, Senior Producer at Advance Digital, and Associate Publisher at American News Service. Lou also led a partnership with Righteous Persons Foundation and JFN to produce two studies examining the intersection of the Jewish philanthropic community and the Jewish arts & culture ecosystem: "
ONLINE EVENT
What JFN Members Saw at the Border (Webinar)

Hear directly from your fellow funders what they saw at the United States-Mexico border.
On that border, those seeking entry to the United States face enormous challenges and complications in a rapidly-changing environment. On June 2–4, Jewish Funders Network and HIAS brought a delegation of funders and foundation professionals to bear witness to the situation, deepen our knowledge, sharpen our analysis of the issues, and strategize Jewish communal responses.
In this intimate webinar for JFN members only, funder participants will share what they saw and learned, and how we as a Jewish philanthropic community might respond and act. Funders who did not attend the delegation are welcome to participate in this webinar, and to ask questions of those who made the trip.
Speakers:
- Sonia Cummings
- James Cummings
- Others TBD
LIVE EVENT
Taking Your Vision into Philanthropic Action (Purpose & Penty)
Part of the Purpose & Plenty event series
In this last session, we’ll weave together the themes we’ve been discussing and begin to think about how to consider translating values into individual and/or family philanthropic visions. Having clarified issues of identity and mission, we’ll discuss ways to incorporate these concepts into a strategy for philanthropic impact. This session will prepare you to take your vision into action.
Register >>
LIVE EVENT
Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish: A JFN Night at the Theater
Join fellow JFN members for a night of theatre and discussion! We'll attend the critically acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (with English supertitles). Following the performance, join a special talkback with cast members, members of the creative team, and the producer, Jenny Steingart, moderated by JFN Board Chair Dr. Georgette Bennett. They'll discuss how Fiddler, and the Jewish experience more broadly, intersect with the issues of immigration and refugees.
JFN member rate (your purchase through this page includes your Fiddler ticket): $99
Space is limited. Register now.
LIVE EVENT
Black Power, Jewish Politics: Book Talk with Marc Dollinger & Ilana Kaufman
PLEASE NOTE UPDATED TIME & LOCATION (ABOVE).
JFN members and the broader community are invited to a book talk and conversation with Marc Dollinger (author, Black Power, Jewish Politics: Reinventing the Alliance in the 1960s) and Ilana Kaufman (Director, Jews of Color Field Building Initiative).
In this book, Marc Dollinger charts the transformation of American Jewish political culture from the Cold War liberal consensus of the early postwar years to the rise and influence of Black Power-inspired ethnic nationalism. He shows how, in a period best known for the rise of black antisemitism and the breakdown of the black-Jewish alliance, black nationalists enabled Jewish activists to devise a new Judeo-centered political agenda, including the emancipation of Soviet Jews, the rise of Jewish day schools, the revitalization of worship services with gender-inclusive liturgy, and the birth of a new form of American Zionism.
Marc will be joined by Ilana Kaufman in a conversation on these overlooked historical trends and their urgent implications for contemporary social issues. Bringing together history and current events—identity politics and Peoplehood, and disrupting the entire notion that Blacks and Jewish are separate—Marc and Ilana will get into issues of race, power, and what’s really good for the Jews. Ilana will also touch upon findings from the newly released Counting Inconsistencies: An Analysis of American Jewish Population Studies, with a Focus on Jews of Color.
An audience Q&A and book signing will follow the program.
Co-presented by:
Bend the Arc | IKAR | Jewish Funders Network | Temple Beth Am | Temple Israel of Hollywood
LIVE EVENT
JFN Funder Delegation to the U.S.-Mexico Border in Partnership with HIAS

וְאֲהַבְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הַגֵּ֑ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
You must love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19
On the United States-Mexico border, those seeking entry to the United States face enormous challenges and complications in a rapidly-changing environment.
Jewish Funders Network and HIAS are convening a two-day delegation for funders and foundation professionals to bear witness to the situation at our border, deepen our knowledge, sharpen our analysis of the issues, and strategize Jewish communal responses.
The home base for this experience is San Diego, the city with the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere. HIAS resettles refugees in San Diego in partnership with Jewish Family Service of San Diego, an agency that also provides legal representation to asylum seekers.
Potential sites that the group may visit include the shelter for asylum seekers run by Jewish Family Service; an Operation Streamline hearing; and the Consulate General of Mexico. In addition to briefings with HIAS’ leadership — including legal experts and advocates — we will also meet with local organizations that work with asylum seekers, as well as meeting with asylum seekers themselves. Depending on political and security conditions, we may or may not cross the border into Tijuana. Safety will be our top priority.
Cost: $750 per person.
Space is limited to 20 participants, and will be offered at a first-come-first-served basis.
Logistics:
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Delegation Co-Chairs: Sonia & James Cummings
Related:
What I Saw with #JewsAtTheBorder: Witnessing the Crisis
ONLINE EVENT
The Threat to Israel's Supreme Court (Web Briefing)

Israel may be headed toward what some are calling a crisis of democracy.
According to media reports, Israel's incoming governing coalition in the Knesset may seek to pass a law that would drastically change Israel’s system of government. Under the proposed law, whenever Israel’s Supreme Court overturns a law passed by the Knesset or an action taken by a government ministry for being against Israeli Basic Law (the rough equivalent of courts ruling laws unconstitutional in the U.S.), the Knesset would be able to vote—by simple majority—to override that Supreme Court ruling. This would severely weaken the judicial branch by effectively removing its power to hold the Knesset and ministries accountable to Israeli Basic Law, and virtually eliminating the important democratic principle of checks and balances from Israel’s political system.
Many Israelis—including JFN members of all political persuasions—are concerned about this development, and funders in the Diaspora are also following the issue with growing concern.
Join Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), for a briefing on state of Israeli democracy, with a focus on the potential coming crisis for judicial independence in Israel.
Scroll down to RSVP.
Related article by IDI: It’s the Knesset, not the Court, that has potentially dangerous, unchecked power
LIVE EVENT
Who’s Your Bubbe Now? And Why Does it Matter?

Come learn about the first ever study of Jewish grandparents in the United States and how the findings can affect our work not only with this overlooked population, but with all generations in Jewish families.
The national study of Jewish grandparents collected data on their attitudes, behaviors, needs and demographics. Two funders active in this space will discuss what the findings suggest about creating experiences that will help unleash grandparent-grandchild “magic” in the Jewish community; ways to put grandparents on the agenda for your grantees; and how your experiences with (or as!) grandparents can help to guide the organizations you feel most passionate about. Scroll down to RSVP.
Speakers:
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Lee M. Hendler is a JFN member, a trustee of the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Charitable Funds, and the president and co-founder of the Jewish Grandparents Network, which commissioned the study. She will share results and insights.
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Winnie Sandler Grinspoon is President of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and a JFN Board member. She will discuss how an exciting pilot program at PJ Library has started to engage grandparents.
We’ll open the floor to questions and discussions after the presentations.
Related article: Who’s Your Bubbe Now? Some Surprising Findings from the 1st National Study of Jewish Grandparents
LIVE EVENT
Growing Goodness: Understanding Ourselves, Raising Our Children (Purpose & Plenty)
Part of the Purpose & Plenty event series
Building on the previous session of the series, we’ll explore how to “grow goodness” in families with considerable wealth, and continue to reap insights from how each of us talks about money and experiences it in our lives.
Facilitator:
Debbie Tuttle Berkowitz
Senior Philanthropy Advisor
“I thrive on helping individuals and families identify their values and connecting these values to philanthropy for meaningful impact in our community and beyond. I believe that each person has the ability to change the world and that philanthropy is an important piece of that journey.”
About Debbie:
- 15 years’ experience in the Jewish and non-profit sector
- Special focus on Family Philanthropy, Multi-Generational, Emerging Philanthropists
- Extensive experience in giving circles and group giving — including running multiple Impact Grants Initiative groups at the Federation; founding board member of the Giving Circles Fund
- B.A. from UCSD in Religious Studies; M.S.W. from the University of Southern California; M.A. in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles
- Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy and 21/64 Certified Advisor
LIVE EVENT
Antisemitism and Israel Hatred in U.K. Politics

Join experts and other funders for a roundtable discussion on antisemitism and Israel hatred within the U.K. Labour par