Insider Report
Grantee Spotlight
Amid rising antisemitism across college campuses, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has taken measures to continue standing with Jewish students, protecting their physical safety as well as their mental health and wellbeing.
That’s why the Jewish Federation supports organizations like Temple Hillel, which allows Temple University’s Jewish students to decompress as well as connect with like-minded peers and their Jewish identity.
As part of its work to combat antisemitism and increase mental health support, the Jewish Federation allocated $90,000 to Temple Hillel this past year to secure a full-time social worker to help students mitigate the challenges of the rising antisemitism. The hiring of the social worker was vital since the socioeconomic status of Temple University’s student body is lower than that of other Greater Philadelphia’s schools, leading to a financial barrier in accessing the support Jewish students need.
In addition to the special allocation, the Jewish Federation provides yearround funding to Greater Philadelphia Hillels to support their work of Jewish enrichment, engagement and connection. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Jewish Federation allocated approximately $716,300 to Hillels throughout the region.
Hillel is like a home for me. As a Master of Law student participating in the exchange program, the feeling I miss the most is that of home. Every time I enter the Hillel building, it’s a safe place where I can be myself to study, relax and enjoy.”
Shulamit Laniado, Israeli exchange student from Temple University
We are growing a better tomorrow, together.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Endowments Program is now the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, a branch of the Jewish Federation. Our name has changed to better showcase our steadfast commitment to providing top-tier, customized service to individuals, families and Jewish institutions. We help grow aspirations to create a better future and actualize them through smart investments today.
With more than a century of experience in charitable giving, our expert team of professionals work with you and your clients one-on-one to channel their philanthropic dollars to make a lasting impact within the Jewish community and beyond for today and generations to come.
Department Updates
Strategy and Impact
• FY25 grant disbursements have started for agencies that have submitted all of their compliance documentation.
• The Israeli office is gathering reports from the FY24 Israel emergency grantees for a deeper understanding of JFGP’s impact.
• Tali Lidar and her team, along with Alix Caplan, just finished leading the men’s mission in Israel where they met with Oct. 7 survivors, injured soldiers and visited agencies doing crucial emergency work. It was both an incredibly difficult and also deeply inspirational trip for all staff and participants involved.
FRD/Affinity/Endowment
• The Jewish Federation is thrilled to report that the 2024 Annual Campaign raised a total of $38.5 million to include: $14 million for the unrestricted campaign, $8.7 million for the restricted campaign and $15.8 for the emergency campaign.
• On Sept. 1, the Jewish Federation’s endowments program was officially renamed the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia. The name change was announced through an ad in the Jewish Exponent, letters to stakeholders, at events and will continue to be publicized through multiple channels throughout the fall.
• To date, the Life & Legacy initiative has generated an estimated $12.3 million in legacy gift intentions to the 13 synagogues, schools and Jewish agencies in the cohort, with commitments from 137 donors.
• The 2024 Bronstein Seminar for Professionals took place on Sept. 6 and was attended by 120 tax, estate and financial planners. Lawrence Brody, Esq., spoke about Insurance Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them and Mitchell Benson received the Edward N. Polisher Award for his distinguished service to the endowments program.
• Philadelphia was represented by 11 young leaders at National Young Leadership Cabinet’s Retreat in Seattle, WA from Sept. 8-11. This group includes four first-year Cabinet members.
• Women’s Philanthropy’s newly restructured Board has worked strategically to identify the best ways to engage women in order to increase the overall campaign. The 22 Women’s Philanthropy Executive Board members are divided into four teams including philanthropy, engagement, education, and liaisons, and all are tasked with specific responsibilities and roles.
• Women of Vision welcomed 46 new members in the past fiscal year, surpassing the goal of 30. The affinity group looks forward to another successful year and is gearing up for the grants process, reviewing proposals that will create social change for Jewish women and girls in Israel.
Community Leadership Development / Engagement
• The kehillot have kicked off the new year with Apples and Honey events. Over 200 people joined the kehillot at Indian Orchards in Media and Tabora Farms in Chalfont to pick apples, hear the shofar and connect with their community.
• The community engagement team welcomes Greta Wrigley as the community engagement specialist for Bucks County. She most recently worked as the Golden Slipper Gems program manager in Bucks County and is familiar with the community. The search for additional staff members to the team to serve Northeast Philadelphia and Old York Road kehillot is still ongoing.
• The leadership team and coalition in each kehillah continues to work with their community engagement specialist to develop a calendar of meetings and events that will build relationships with each other, with the community at large and with the Jewish Federation.
• The Board of Trustees have all been invited to serve on the Jewish Federation Community Council, the Board of Ambassadors and/or the Agency Forum. The Board of Ambassadors will have an orientation session in October and will share the impact of the work of the Jewish Federation in their own communities three times over the course of the year.
• The Leadership Development Advisory Board co-chaired by Jon Stevens and Lauren Danneman is working on developing workshops for leaders including Jewish Federation committee chairs and members, as well as congregational and agency leaders.
Marketing/Events/PR
• In August, the Jewish Federation secured five pieces of coverage, highlighting Jewish Federation’s support of local organizations through grants focusing on security, education, and supporting domestic violence survivors. These articles included features in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Exponent, and the Bucks County Beacon. Articles featuring the Jewish Federation were exposed to an estimated audience of 3.4 million people and received an estimated 15,700 views, underscoring the impact of the Jewish Federation’s role in bolstering up the critical work of Greater Philadelphia organizations. View more details about the Jewish Federation’s press coverage in this report.
• In August, the Jewish Federation released two statements: “Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Receives Security Grant from the Tepper Foundation and Jewish Federations of North America to Safeguard Children” and “Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and RUVNA Collaboration Enhances School Safety for Thousands.”
• Launched website for the Oct. 7 commemorations at israel.jewishphilly. org. The Jewish Federation is proud to host a virtual vigil with the Board of Rabbis on Oct. 7 and an in-person commemoration on Oct. 27 at Har Zion Temple as well as promote other community-wide commemorations that remember this solemn day and the countless lives lost, stolen and forever changed.
• Launched the FY25 Annual Campaign with the theme: “Here As One.” After a year of both unprecedented Jewish hate and Jewish pride, this theme underscores the powerful unity that the Jewish community and its allies show in times of crisis and calm. Lay leaders are encouraged to use this marketing kit to promote the campaign and work of the Jewish Federation.
JCRC and Government Affairs
• In partnership with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, JCRC helped plan a mission to Harrisburg on Oct. 1 for student leaders from campuses across the commonwealth to advocate for Pennsylvania to endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s definition of antisemitism. Students met key legislators and policymakers and spoke about the importance of IHRA and the need for Pennsylvania to take a stronger stance against antisemitism.
• JCRC hosted a multi-session program for parents and students to prepare for the new school year. The sessions, each of which was attended by over 100 community members, featured guided presentations from experts in the field of parent education, advocacy, and antisemitism and presentations from parents who successfully lobbied on behalf of their children.
• JCRC is hosting an invite-only town hall for members of the Black and Jewish communities in partnership with Pastor Carl Day and Culture Changing Christians. The goal of the listening session is for members of each community to hear and better understand each other’s history and contemporary struggles.
Finance/IT/Operations/Real Estate/Donor Services and Data Services
• Completed another fiscal year with a budget surplus, our fourth consecutive budget surplus.
• Completed the implementation of the Ruvna software platform to help schools quickly account for students and faculty. Twenty-two schools were implemented, covering 4,000 students and 1,000 faculty.
• Completed year two working with SCN to enhance community security.
• Hired a Deputy Security Director through SCN to supplement the work of the Community Security Director.
• Launched the migration from the Jewish Federation’s current finance and accounting system to Sage Intacct, representing a continuation of the strategic initiative to futureproof the organization.
• Eclipsed one million pounds of food distribution through the Mitzvah Food Program.
• Initialized a research program to support the development of social return on investment (SROI) relating to food insecurity.
• Initiated a program to work with JCHAI to develop the baseline for an SROI model for their areas of focus.
• Executed the first major incomeproducing lease on the Mandel campus, enabling Mandell to be a performing real estate asset for the first time.
• Executed an asset purchase agreement with Jack Barrack Hebrew Academy to purchase their portion of the Schwartz Campus. The execution of the agreement was accompanied by a $500,000 initial payment. The closing of the transaction is pending.
• Executed a lease with Cheder Chabad to relocate them to Foundation Hall (also known as the Harcum Building) under a lease to purchase agreement.
• Completed significant improvements at the Mitzvah Northeast Pantry to increase efficiency in space utilization and client interactions.
• Completed a settlement agreement with Gratz College to assign their lease to the Jewish Federation and vacate the Mandell Campus by July 2025.
• Implemented another layer of access control for all staff computer equipment, servers, and cloud software applications.
Finance Snapshot
Operating Results FYTD ............................................................................... August 2024
Compared to Operating Forecast
Operating Surplus ............................................................................................
$623,000
Staffing Levels ................................................................................................... 82
Surplus (Deficit) from staffing levels
$200,000
Surplus (Deficit) from Bond Interest Expense ....................................... $(40,000)
Surplus (Deficit) from All Other Areas ...................................................... $463,000
JCF Pledge Accounts Receivable as of September 30, 2024
FY 2023 Campaign
$123,383
FY 2024 Campaign........................................................................................... $4,412,159
Total ...................................................................................................... $4,535,541
Operating Cash Balance ................................................................................. $3,300,000
Provisional and subject to final audit adjustments
Summary by Fiscal Year Campaign (BBEC Gift Year Specified by Donor)
Source: Financial Accounting System
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Unrestricted, Allocable & Net Restricted
