How well do you know the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia? We’ve made a lot of changes over the past year and want to make sure you know about them. This month’s FedFive is dedicated to breaking down our business strategy, governance structure, opportunities for your voice to be heard and the vision for the future.

Making Your Voice Heard

“Our investors are essential partners in the Jewish Federation’s mission. Their commitment means they have a crucial stake in our future direction as we continue to serve our community.”

 –  Michael Markman, Jewish Federation Board Chair

New this year is that Jewish Federation Members, recognized by annual donations of $180 or more, will now have the opportunity to vote on the next fiscal year's Board of Directors.

Voting will take place at the upcoming Spring Annual Meeting, which is open to all in the community. Anyone who is passionate about our Jewish future is invited to this program, where you can connect with your community, celebrate acheivements and be inspired by bestselling author and Jewish Federations of North America's Chief Jewish Learning Officer Rabbi Mike Uram.

You can learn more and register for the Spring Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 28 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel by clicking here. Advanced registration is required by Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 9 a.m. 

Making the Jewish Federation the Best We Can Be  

“The Jewish Federation has been a hub for Jewish Greater Philadelphia since 1901. And while our values and mission have remained the same, how we serve the Jewish community must evolve with the times. With our strategic plan, we are aiming to incorporate innovative solutions to create a Jewish Federation that you can be proud of and is an example for other Jewish institutions across the country.”

 –  Mark Fishman, Jewish Community Foundation Co-Chair

We know that how we run our organization today dictates how we are there for the community in the future. Our commitment to you is that we continue to evolve our business to stay ahead of the curve so that we can better serve you and be here for the community for the long-haul.

That's why we launched our strategic planning process in 2021 with these key goals:

• Create a premier philanthropic investor experience so community members can trust where their donations go and know that it is making an impact
• Deliver philanthropic opportunities with meaningful social returns
• Build a high-performing professional infrastructure
• Establish a Jewish Community Foundation which will prioritize a strong endowment to sustain the organization and its work for generations to come
• Implement best-in-class governance

Establishing Best-in-Class Governance

“Two years ago, we embarked on revising the Jewish Federation's by-laws. Working with a multi-generational, energized committee, we aimed to make governance practices and the written document simpler, more defined and reflective of the organization's strategic plan. The new bylaws support the Jewish Federation in becoming a more intentional and efficient business.”

 –  Julie Perilstein Mozes, Chair of the Governance Task Force

• Sunset our Board of Trustees to realign our governing bodies to reflect the optimal number of leaders best suited for maximum efficiency, based on research from Dynamic Change Solutions, our hired strategic plan consultants
• Ensure continuity of leadership through newly defined term limits, which retains two-thirds of the Board of Director leadership with each rotation
• Establish Jewish Federation Members as the voting body for each fiscal year's Board of Directors, which is decided at the
  Annual Spring Meeting

You can view the updated bylaws by clicking here. 

Engaging Leaders

“The Jewish Federation depends on its leadership to provide their time, talent, and treasure in supporting the organization’s vital mission of caring for those in need locally, supporting Israel and global Jewry, and securing a vibrant Jewish future. Our leaders are our eyes and ears to the community that we work each and every day to serve. This is why we are focused on creating meaningful opportunities to engage our leaders and discover new leaders, ready to rise.” 

– Lauren Danneman, Co-Chair of the Leadership Development Advisory Board 

The Jewish Federation values each community member and actively works to empower them through our Leadership Development Advisory Board. The board engages leaders through workshop trainings and opportunities to build skills.

Pipelining leadership is overseen by Director of Leadership Development and Governance Lori Rubin. Rubin conducts one-on-one meetings to match community members with leadership experiences within the Jewish Federation that best suit their interests and talents. She also connects individuals with grantee and partner organizations that are looking for strong leaders. 

In addition, Rubin manages the newly established Jewish Federation Community Council and the Board of Ambassadors, which you can learn more about below: 

Jewish Federation Community Council
A community of leaders who want to be connected to the work of the Jewish Federation at a high level. They will hear from speakers and educators on significant issues impacting the Greater Philadelphia Jewish community and will be provided with the opportunity to learn together. Minimum gift required: $5,000 or Legacy Society commitment.

Board of Ambassadors 
A community of trained leaders who promote the work of the Jewish Federation at Jewish institutions, congregations and beyond. Ambassadors include: Congregational Ambassadors, Community Ambassadors, Federation Mentors and Federation Amplifiers. Minimum gift required: $1,800 or Legacy Society Commitment. 

You can learn more about our committees and leadership opportunities by clicking here. If you would like to have a leadership conversation, email lrubin@jewishphilly.org.

Envisioning the Future

“A Strategic Plan is only as good as its implementation. If we want to be a leading philanthropic organization then we have to take the plan off the paper. We not only have to incorporate the various components of the plan into our everyday operations of the business, but we also have to be vigilant in ensuring these added elements are sustained and continuously improved upon. That is how we can inspire the kind of trust that community members expect from our Jewish Federation.”

 – Ande Adelman, Chair of the Strategic Planning Audit Committee

Many organizations create strategic plans, but many times those plans end up forgotten about – lost in desks or bookshelves. To avoid this same fate, the Jewish Federation established a Strategic Planning Audit Committee to oversee the plan’s implementation and longevity. The committee’s goal is to ensure that the Jewish Federation remains accountable to the plan through maintenance, consistent analysis of progress, and making improvements along the way.

To stay informed about what is happening at the Jewish Federation, visit our social channels, including: news about us, Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. 

HERE AS ONE

Show the world that we are Here As One by supporting the Jewish Federation’s mission of Caring for Those in Need, Supporting Israel and Global Jewry, and Securing a Vibrant Jewish Future. Make your gift before year’s end by clicking here.