Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Topic: Looking Outwards

Topic: Looking Outwards   Guest: Rabbi Erica Gerson   Bio:    Rabbi Erica Gerson graduated from Amherst College, magna cum laude, and received both rabbinical ordination and a Masters in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Erica served as the inaugural Director of Jewish Life at JCP Downtown in Manhattan before relocating to NJ, where she taught in the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Rodeph Sholom School, a Reform Jewish day school. Erica is also a member of the international board of United Hatzalah of Israel. She and her husband are the co-founders of the Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson L’Chaim Prize, an annual $500,000 award for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service. It is administered by the African Mission Healthcare Foundation, of which Mark is a co-founder. *In this episode we hear a very unique perspective on Jewish philanthropy including donating significantly to non-Jewish causes and not diversifying too much.  

Topic: Leading in Challenging Times

Topic: Leading in Challenging Times   Guest: Maayan Aviv   Bio:    Israel is facing multi-generational trauma. NATAL, based in Israel, is a non-profit organization founded 25 years ago. The organization specializes in the field of war-and-terror-related trauma, PTSD and resiliency-building among civil society.   American Friends of NATAL (AFN), supports the efforts in Israel. It also engages in innovative collaborations, partnering with US organizations who seek NATAL’s expertise in the field of trauma preparedness and recovery. For example, work is being done in Chicago and Ukraine.   Maayan Aviv is CEO of AFN, was in the IDF, and has dedicated her life to Jewish non-profits.     *In this episode we learn about balance and how to manage those around us including board members & volunteers. We also hear about having flexibility in leadership and managing expectations.  

Topic: A Thoughtful Leader

Topic:A Thoughtful Leader   Guest: Arnon Kraft   Bio:    Arnon Kraft's most recent job was Chief Operating Officer at Payoneer, Inc.  He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer at Big 4 Strategic Consulting Ltd. from 2019 to 2021. Prior to that, he worked at Microsoft Corp. as the GM-Partner Management & Strategic Sourcing from 2012 to 2018. From 2008 to 2011, he held the position of Vice President-Operations at Modu Ltd. Prior to that he worked at SanDisk. Mr. Kraft obtained an MBA from Tel-Aviv University in 2000 and completed his undergraduate studies at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in 1996.   *In this episode we learn the skills necessary to become an impactful manager and skillful worker plus how to multitask effectively.  

Topic: Fundraising Strategy

Topic: Fundraising Strategy   Guest: Elizabeth Abel   Bio:    Elizabeth is a thought leader in philanthropy and expert in fundraising. She has led capital campaigns and development initiatives that have collectively raised nearly one billion dollars for education, healthcare, arts and culture, and advocacy organizations. She is a Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, a global fundraising consulting firm for nonprofits. Since joining CCS in 2013, Elizabeth has partnered with institutions to plan and implement multi-million-to-billion-dollar campaigns. In this role, she provides counsel on strategic planning, major gifts fundraising, and board engagement. Elizabeth has directed campaign planning studies, served in interim development roles, and managed annual campaigns and special fundraising events. Elizabeth is an Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches a fundraising course to graduate students in the Nonprofit Leadership Program. Elizabeth serves on the Board of the Nonprofit Leadership Program Alumni Association, and in 2020, she was inducted into the School of Social Policy and Practice Alumni Hall of Fame for her work with mission-driven organizations. Elizabeth has been recognized by the New York Jewish Week as a "thought leader in Jewish philanthropy" in their 36 to Watch and by BELLA Magazine as a "Woman of Influence in Philanthropy." You can find Elizabeth offering her fundraising expertise at industry conferences, on nonprofit podcasts, and on social media platforms including LinkedIn and Instagram (@ElizabethBerniAbel). She lives in New York with her husband and their two daughters and is an avid hiker and tea drinker.   *In this important episode we learn the skills necessary to become an impactful solicitor and steward of philanthropy.

Topic: Global Jewry

Topic: Global Jewry   Guest: Sandy Cardin   Bio:    Sanford “Sandy” Cardin is the founder of Global Jewry. A graduate of Harvard University, Sandy is a member of the bar of DC, Florida, Maryland and the United States Supreme Court, as well as the Senior Consultant for Philanthropy and Impact at Cresset Capital. After a short stint practicing law, Sandy shifted into the NGO world. He started as the Mid-Atlantic Director of the Jerusalem Foundation before moving to Tulsa, OK in 1994 to become the first executive director, then first president, of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Sandy spent 25 years guiding the CLSFF before leaving to become the CEO of Our Common Destiny, a global effort to bridge the widening gap between the Jews in Israel and those living elsewhere. Sandy has served on many Jewish boards, and is currently involved in the JCC Association of North America. He has also held leadership posts at the Council on Foundations and National Center for Family Philanthropy. Sandy lives with his wife, Melody, in Queenstown, MD.   *In this insightful episode we learn about an incredibly important initiative in these trying times for World Jewry.