Grantee Spotlight
Jewish Learning Venture
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia funds organizations that provide opportunities for the local community to connect with each other and to their Jewish heritage.
The Jewish Federation is proud to support the Jewish Learning Venture (JLV), which works to inspire and empower individuals to make Jewish life, learning and community relevant and meaningful. The organization focuses on empowering families with children from birth to high school to find deeper significance in Judaism. Through innovative programs, it guides families and leaders of Jewish organizations to see Judaism as a pathway to a thriving life.
In addition to supporting the organization overall, the Jewish Federation also funds JLV’s Venture Israel Fellowship program, which cultivates a diverse network of Jewish professionals and lay leaders dedicated to creating engaging programs that explore the complexities of Israel through the lens of Jewish identity. The 13-month Fellowship equips participants, including educators, rabbis, and community leaders, with knowledge of Israeli culture, society, history, and politics, empowering them to facilitate meaningful conversations about Israel in their communities.
JLV’s Impact:
• 13,000 people served through JLV programs
• 137 JLV jkidphilly programs offered throughout the year
• 71% of JLV participants identify with traditionally underrepresented groups
THE PAST YEAR was met with profound challenges. Yet, in the face of unprecedented hate and antisemitism, we witnessed a surge of Jewish pride, unity and resilience. It is moments like these that reiterate the Jewish Federation’s commitment to stand with the people of Israel, combat antisemitism and safeguard our Jewish institutions. We are proud to share our Annual Report for 2024.
click to read the annual report
Department Updates
Strategy and Impact
• Program Officers Daria Barkai and Beth Razin recently attended the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Leaders Assembly in Chicago, where they were able to connect with Pennsylvania-based, grantfunded camps and networked with other federations providing camp scholarships.
• The window for FY26 proposals for Weinberg, Women of Vision and JFRE is now closed. Jewish Federation staff will review the proposals over the next few weeks before moving to committee. JFRE did an open RFP process for local submissions. WOV is focused on Israel agencies this year.
• The Strategy and Impact department has reorganized and introduced program officers. Agencies have responded very positively to this new structure, which is enhancing Jewish Federationagency relationships.
• The Adopt a Community initiative continues as a collaborative effort with the Sdot Negev Regional Council. It identifies 16 kibbutzim and moshavim in the Gaza envelope with significant fundraising needs for post-Oct. 7 rebuilding. Local synagogues and agencies are partnering with Jewish Federation staff to “adopt” a project in an identified community.
Finance/IT/Operations/Real Estate/Donor Services and Data Services
• Operating results continue to perform ahead of budget. First quarter results are $275,000 better than budget.
• Staffing sits at 83 compared to 87 budgeted positions.
• Operating cash has reached a five-year high of $9.5 million, with net of Israel Emergency Funds to be disbursed.
• A regular cyber security training and testing program has been implemented to ensure all staff are current on the latest cyber security risks
• The Jewish Federation is working with Cheder Chabad on vacating Heubner Hall, as well as their efforts to settle into the Harcum Building and secure a Certificate of Occupancy
• As Gratz will be exiting the Mandell campus in July 2025, the Jewish Federation is working to engage Jewish agencies that have been casual renters of space in the Gratz building. The plan is to secure rental income from those who would like to continue utilizing portions of the space that Gratz will be vacating.
• The demolition phase of the senior housing project is approaching. A communications plan will be developed to update stakeholders on construction activities and expected changes for campus tenants.
• An implementation of the new accounting system continues with the target go-live date set to March 2025.
Community Leadership Development / Engagement
• The Kehillot took part in four Chanukah events, including hosting the Israeli Consul General, State Representative Ben Waxman and PA State Senator Nikil Saval at a candle lighting in Rittenhouse Square.
• The Jewish Federation’s professional team members have taken part in a variety of professional development experiences with JFNA, Assembly, Gather, The Ringel Group and more, with the goal of moving the focus of the work towards relational engagement.
• Over 60 Jewish Federation committee members participated in a Committee Member Orientation, which provided an opportunity for shared understanding of the Jewish Federation’s mission and implementing structure, and to build community strength across the organization.
• About 40 congregational presidents gathered for an orientation session on Jan. 9, which gave Jewish Federation staff an opportunity to hear the issues congregations are facing while providing an update on the resources that the Jewish Federation provides local synagogues and organizations.
• The Jewish Federation Community Council met for a high-level update from Michael Balaban and Michael Markman on Jan. 15, and the Board of Ambassadors is working to share the impact of the Jewish Federation’s work in 10 congregations around the region.
Marketing/Events/PR
• The FY24 Annual Report has been printed and mailed out. In addition to the printed version, a robust digital version of the report is being built, which is slated to be published in early March. Here is the report in PDF format and here is the report as a flipbook.
• The marketing team published its FY25 Jewish Community Fund grantee booklet and one-sheets to showcase grantees for the Bernard and Etta Weinberg Family Fund, Jewish Federation Estate Fund and Women of Vision Fund.
• In total, the Jewish Federation secured 13 pieces of coverage in December, spotlighting its work to bring the community together for Chanukah and the response to the Philadelphia School Board OCR investigation. These articles included features in The Philadelphia Inquirer, 6ABC, WHYY, and Broad+Liberty. Articles featuring the Jewish Federation were exposed to an estimated audience of over 7.29 million people and received over 39,000 estimated views, further underscoring the Jewish Federation’s work as both a convener and voice for the local Jewish community. More details can be reviewed in this report.
FRD/Affinity/Endowment
• Fifty-five women from Greater Philadelphia attended the International Lion of Judah Conference in Atlanta, in late December, for a three-day, transformative gathering of dynamic, philanthropic women from around the world. The Jewish Federation’s Annual Lion of Judah Event will take place on the evening of Tuesday, May 20. This year’s program is Co-Chaired by Gail Norry and Tracey Specter and will honor Margie Honickman with the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award.
• Young JFRE hosted a lunch and learn with key state officials at the Jewish Federation office to educate its members on how they can utilize those agencies as it relates to their professional endeavors. Additionally, JFRE has relaunched its mentor program with a kickoff meeting between mentors and mentees prior to the Members Dinner in early February.
• NextGen hosted its Signature Event in December, attracting 90 young Jewish leaders, of which 50 were brand new to the Jewish Federation. The year ahead includes a mission to Israel in June, recruitment of the community’s rising leaders for the National Young Leadership Cabinet and continued efforts to engage local young professionals.
• In April, there will be a March of the Living mission to Poland and Israel. The mission will start in Krakow, coinciding with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), and will join the March of the Living with over 10,000 people from around the world. The mission will continue to Israel where the group will visit Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Jewish Federation’s Partnership2Gether area of Netivot and Sdot Negev.
• Director of Annual Campaign Alix Caplan has been selected to participate in The Mandel Institute Executive Leadership Program. The cohort is composed of 18 exceptional fellows who represent a breadth of Jewish nonprofits, including Federations, JCCs, Hillels, foundations; and environmental, religious, advocacy and educational organizations. Working in a diversity of Jewish organizations and communities, fellows share a track record of leadership, great intellect and creativity, a passion for Jewish communal life, and are on track for executive leadership. During the program, fellows will engage in collaborative learning to strengthen their capacity to lead with vision and values, incorporate research to analyze community opportunities and challenges, and draw on Jewish thought to envision and communicate organizational purposes.
• The Professional Advisors Network, chaired by Amy Ufberg, Esq., hosted an evening of networking followed by a presentation on “The Post-Election Tax Outlook for 2025” by Steven Woolf, tax policy consultant for JFNA, on Jan. 29.
• Women of Vision will go on its first official Mission to Israel March 6-11. WOV Members will experience the work that WOV does in Israel to transform the lives of self-identifying women and girls. This will be a unique opportunity to meet and connect with those individuals who the group benefits. In addition to the mission, on Jan. 23, WOV hosted a virtual program on Reproductive Rights Today. There will be a book review of “The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance” with author Rebecca Clarren on Feb. 3, and WOV will co-host a program with Women’s Philanthropy on “Antisemitism in Philadelphia” on Feb. 27.
JCRC and Government Affairs
• JCRC helped to coordinate a Chanukah gathering for Jewish community members in Delaware County at the Twentieth Century Club in Lansdowne. This gathering followed a year of antisemitic incidents in Lansdowne and featured local elected officials, who are allies, along with local Jewish community members, musicians and other community representatives.
• JCRC is conducting a workshop with ADL for all Lower Merion School District employees. The workshop will focus on the history and current status of antisemitism in our society. All Lower Merion elementary, middle and high school employees will attend it.
• JCRC is a co-sponsor of the Global Citizen MLK Day of Service, the largest MLK Day event in the nation. The JCRC team will be present at different service projects on MLK Day and will partner with the New Golden Age coalition to do work together in local communities.
Phil Holtje, has been promoted to the position of Mitzvah Food Program Site & Analysis Manager. Holtje began his career at the Jewish Federation more than eight years ago as an associate in the Mitzvah Food Program (MFP). He has proven himself to be a leader during his tenure with MFP. He managed the center city food distribution site at Arch Street and helped to oversee the program changes during the COVID pandemic. Holtje currently coordinates the High Holiday food and grocery gift card drive. He also oversees all aspects of the food distribution and volunteer engagement at the Main Line facility. He is a nonprofit professional with an extraordinary attention to detail and has additional experience with personalized program development and design. In his new role, Holtje will take the lead on statistics and impact reporting, process mapping, as well as overseeing the implementation of technology to automate processes and workflows.
Christina Webb has been promoted to the position of Donor Services Coordinator. Webb began her career at the Jewish Federation in 2021 as a customer care associate, in Donor Services. She has proven herself to be an excellent multi-tasker and has taken the lead in multiple processes that include formtesting, credit card processing, account research and the acknowledgement process. Prior to joining the Jewish Federation, Webb worked at the State Of Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia and other non-profit entities, providing support for clients in search of energy assistance, housing and community outreach. As the donor services coordinator, Christina will continue to provide both internal and external support to donors as well as the finance, data and the fundraising teams. She will take on special projects and continue to support finance and Donor Services.
Joanna Volpe has joined the Marketing team as the senior marketing communications account manager. Prior to joining the Jewish Federation, Volpe worked at the University of the Arts as the director of alumni communications and family relations, where she developed and executed a comprehensive marketing strategy to engage with alumni and donors. She was responsible for writing content for email and social media campaigns, in addition to writing talking points for the university’s president. Prior to her role at the University of the Arts, Volpe was the digital communications manager at Germantown Friends School, where she supported the crisis communications during COVID and led a full-scale website redesign. Volpe holds a B.A. in English Writing from West Chester University and serves as a Board Member of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association.
Finance Snapshot
Operating Results FYTD ............................................................................... November 2024
Compared to Operating Forecast
Operating Surplus ............................................................................................
$275,244
Staffing Levels ................................................................................................... 83
Surplus (Deficit) from staffing levels
$67,000
Surplus (Deficit) from Bond Interest Expense ....................................... $(14,000)
Surplus (Deficit) from All Other Areas ...................................................... $222,244
JCF Pledge Accounts Receivable as of January 9, 2025
FY 2023 Campaign
$92,066
FY 2024 Campaign........................................................................................... $1,543,173
FY 2025 Campaign ........................................................................................... $0
Total ...................................................................................................... $1,653,239
Operating Cash Balance ................................................................................. $9,500,000 Provisional and subject to final audit adjustments
Summary by Fiscal Year Campaign (BBEC Gift Year Specified by Donor)
Source: Financial Accounting System As of 1/7/25
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Unrestricted, Allocable & Net Restricted
