JFN: A Powerful Force Behind Jewish Philanthropy

by Mark Pearlman of JInsider

To complement our Top Jew columns, which feature individuals making a difference, JInsider is introducing a certification of excellence for organizations – the Yasher Koach “hechsher.” We will profile distinctive profit and non-profit organizations that deserve recognition for their outstanding and essential work in the community.

For the inaugural Yasher Koach column, we felt the Jewish Funders Network deserved this JInsider stamp of approval for its invaluable guidance during the current economic crisis and the impactful leadership of Mark Charendoff, whom we interviewed for this article.

JFN has organized funders along crucial causes and helped troubled organizations through an innovative bridge loan program. On topics such as the value of Jewish philanthropy and organizational disclosure and transparency, JFN is a powerful voice.

For more information, please visit www.jfunders.org and JInsider for videos and highlights from the 2009 conference.

Unique Role
Our work is with private foundations and independent Jewish philanthropists. Their ability to marshal resources and create new projects or fund existing non-profits is measured in the billions of dollars. If we can help them use that money more effectively, to collaborate more, to create more good and more value, then we believe we can foster a much more vibrant non-profit community here and around the world. Our focus is on the funder; we are not in the business of raising money.

Community
We have about 900 members in the network from all over the world. I’m very proud that we can have a meeting where someone sitting in the room gives away $100 million a year and someone sitting in the room gives away $25,000 a year and they are equals in that discussion. We’ve created terrific tables that are a safe space to raise any issue where there are no sacred cows and people can be really honest.

Culture
We are a place where any idea is a good idea as long as it can exist on its own merits. There is no bureaucracy, and committees do not saddle us. Any idea that comes up at a staff meeting is an idea that’s going to get played out and it’s collaborative.

New Approaches to Philanthropy
There is still money out there. We don’t want people to get the impression that the money has suddenly vanished. It’s just going to be scarcer and you have to be smarter. I think funders are going to look for two things: There will be far more competition for their dollar, so non-profits are going to have to make the case that they are a much better investment than everyone else, and funders are going to want to see that a non-profit understands the circumstances they are living in.

I think not-for-profits have a challenge. They have to show funders that they are being very realistic and very responsible about what they are doing. At the same time they have to provide increased value and that’s difficult to do during tough economic times. In the past, so much money was available you just had to have a good pitch and you could get money. Now it’s not enough. It’s a much more competitive environment.

Personal Humility
There is an often-quoted verse from Micha where it talks about what God wants of you and Micha instructs “to walk with humility before God.” I always thought that was a great teaching. It’s vitally important to have colleagues and friends who remind all of us that we are not as smart as we think we are.

In the world of philanthropy this is especially dangerous, because all day long people tell you how smart you are and how right all of your ideas are, but [you have to] to retain your humility and realize that God gave you some gifts, He gave you some resources to try to help other people with – that’s part of your purpose in the world. And just because you were a genius at making widgets doesn’t mean you are a genius at overhauling Jewish education. Listen to the smart people who are out there and make some smart choices.

Being Jewish
For me being Jewish is important for two reasons. It’s important because that’s my family and I believe that I’m part of a nation. I’m part of a family and I have a great love for other members of that family. I think on a second level, I believe that Judaism changed the world. At every point in Jewish history we’ve risen to the occasion; whether we were in a position of power or we were in a position of powerlessness.
We’ve been able to teach the world how to be a little better, how to be a little more moral, how to care for the most vulnerable people in our communities and our societies, how to aspire to greater things, and I firmly believe that’s not an historical lesson, that’s still our opportunity today, to use the teachings of Judaism to make the world a better place.

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