The Foundation team carries out the Foundation’s grantmaking, manages the program of evaluation, and shares models of success and key learnings to improve the field of Jewish education.

Karen Baskind

Karen Baskind joined the Jim Joseph team in 2023. As a Grants Management Associate, she works with grantee-partners, program officers, and the finance team to support the grantmaking process.

Prior to the Jim Joseph Foundation, Karen held many positions in both Jewish and secular nonprofits throughout the Bay Area. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a minor in Jewish Studies from San Francisco State University.

Having worked in the Jewish community and been very involved in leadership organizations for many years, she especially enjoys supporting the mission of the Foundation. Karen lives in Santa Clara where she also enjoys reading, home DIY’s, and volunteering.

Valerie Cadrett

Valerie Cadrett is the Accounting Manager at the Jim Joseph Foundation. Prior to becoming a Foundation employee in 2018, she worked for Interland, Jim Joseph’s real estate company based in Davis, CA for over 21 years. She assisted the CFO in setting up the Foundation in 2006 and has been an integral part of the Foundation’s accounting team since.
Valerie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting and a minor in Psychology from CSU Sacramento. She and her husband Paul live in Elk Grove with their 2 children.

David Carroll

David Carroll joined the Jim Joseph Foundation in 2022 as its Chief Financial Officer. He manages the finance, tax, and accounting of the Foundation’s more than $1 billion in assets and also oversees the Foundation’s grants management, human resources, and IT functions.

David coordinates with RVK, the Foundation’s investment consultant, to manage the Foundation’s investment portfolio. He provides the Board of Directors and operations managers with reports, analysis, tools, and policies to govern the Foundation. He also works closely with the COO and the President & CEO on the Foundation’s strategic direction.

David previously served for seven years as Chief Financial Officer and Senior VP of Finance and Administration at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. He earned his Master’s Degree in Public Policy at UC Berkeley and his BS in Molecular Biology at MIT; he is also a CFA charterholder.

Leah Chakoff

Leah Chakoff joined the Foundation as a Program Officer in August 2024. Her work is primarily focused on the Foundation’s Exceptional Jewish Leaders and Educators strategic priority area, which includes a range of grantee-partners that train and develop dynamic, pioneering leaders and educators who are attuned to the needs of young people today.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Leah spent a decade working for Hillel in various roles, including on campus with college students, in the community with lay leaders, and most recently with Hillel International as the Director of Strategic Grants. Leah is originally from Miami, Florida and has lived in San Francisco, California since 2017.

Leah received her Bachelor of Science from The University of Central Florida and Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership and Innovation from Hebrew Union College’s Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management. When she is not at work, you can find Leah exploring San Francisco’s urban hiking, traveling to new places, cruising in her convertible, or discovering new restaurants.

Stacie Cherner

Stacie Cherner joined the Jim Joseph Foundation in 2014 and currently serves as its Director of Research and Learning. In that role, she oversees the Foundation’s program of research, evaluation and applied learning.

Stacie has an extensive background in the non-profit world, including working on a wide variety of program evaluations with SRI International’s Center for Education and Human Services. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation facilitating the collaborative efforts of three grantees to improve the use of analytic data in school systems.

Stacie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Duke University, an MA from The American University in Washington, D.C., and an MSW from the University of California at Berkeley. She and her husband live in Marin and are proud parents of two children.

Barry Finestone

Barry Finestone is President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation. With more than $800 million granted in its first 18 years of operation, Barry oversees all aspects of finance and grantmaking at the Foundation.

Prior to the Jim Joseph Foundation, Barry was Executive Director of the Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund. He moved to the Bay Area in 2010 to become CEO of the JCC of San Francisco, where he oversaw dramatic growth and built it into the second largest JCC in the country. Earlier in his career he served as Executive Director of the two-campus Isaac M. Wise Temple and earned the Harris K. and Alice F. Weston Award for Outstanding Leadership.

Barry’s first job out of college was as a residential camp director in Waupaca, Wisconsin for Young Judaea. Barry says, “he never would have hired himself,” but the experience was invaluable in helping him learn how to run and operate an entity. His philosophy in work is to have a vision, start going there, and then hire the very best people you can and get out of the road!

Barry is a proud Glasgow, Scotland native with 34 years of experience in the Jewish nonprofit world. Along with his passion for the work of the Foundation, he loves football—the real kind played with your feet—and above all else, family.

He and his wife, Ellen, reside in Marin County and have three children—Gabrielle, Ethan and Mia.

Christina Gilyutin

As Senior Portfolio Lead of R&D for the Jim Joseph Foundation, Christina Gilyutin supports an expansive portfolio of projects and partners, working to redefine what the Jewish experience looks like.

Christina has spent her career building expertise in leadership development, supporting social entrepreneurs who are ready to scale, and finding creative ways to support communities of practitioners. She previously served as Director, Community & Outreach at REDF, a venture philanthropy organization that invests in employment-focused social enterprises, where she launched leadership development programs, an accelerator, and a membership network. In 2023, she also co-founded Strange Exchange, a project dedicated to building community among neighbors, supporting local nonprofits in San Francisco, and diverting waste from landfills. She is on the Board of Positive Planet, US and a member of the Advisory Council for Farming Hope.

Christina is passionate about creating experiences, events, and networks that foster belonging and allow individuals to thrive both professionally and personally. She has an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, an MS from the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, and a BA in International Relations from Stanford University.

Orly Goldsmith

Orly Goldsmith joined the Foundation as a Program Officer in September 2024. Her work is primarily focused on the Powerful Jewish Learning Experiences strategic priority area, which includes a range of grantee-partners that provide program models for Jewish learning with deep and enduring effects on participants. 

Orly has over a decade of experience in business leadership, program design, and community engagement, including leadership roles at organizations like LATAM's largest coding BootCamp, DEV.F, and the Institute of International Education, managing large-scale educational programs, fundraising efforts, and strategic partnerships. She holds an MBA from MIT, an MSc in Environment and Development from LSE, and a BA in Communication from Universidad Iberoamericana. Fluent in Spanish and English, Orly is passionate about fostering inclusive, impactful learning experiences. Originally from Mexico City, she currently lives in the South Bay with her husband, daughter and dog Benita.

Jenna Hanauer

Jenna Hanauer joined the Foundation as a Program Officer in August 2022. Her work is primarily focused on the Foundation’s Exceptional Jewish Leaders and Educators strategic priority area, which includes a range of grantee-partners that train and develop dynamic, pioneering leaders and educators who are attuned to the needs of young people today.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jenna worked at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle where she served as Associate Director of Jewish Engagement and stewarded the Israel & Overseas grantmaking process. Before relocating to the Pacific Northwest, Jenna lived and worked in a variety of international settings across multiple sectors and cities.

Jenna received her Bachelor of Arts from University of Wisconsin, Madison (On Wisconsin!) and her Master's of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. She grew up in Los Angeles and is excited to be back in California with her husband, young son, and dog.

Rachel Heiligman

Rachel Heiligman is the Strategy Advisor & Senior Portfolio Lead for R&D, where she spearheads initiatives that reimagine Jewish identity, community, and spirituality. Her work focuses on creating meaningful and relevant ways for people to connect with tradition, purpose, and one another in today’s world.

Rachel brings extensive experience in complex project management, organizational innovation, and creative problem-solving. She has successfully led initiatives across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including overseeing major civic infrastructure projects and launching a community advocacy organization. Known for her entrepreneurial spirit, Rachel also created a major food festival and managed multifaceted business operations for a beloved artisanal cheese company.

She earned her Bachelor’s in Spanish and Sociology from Whittier College and a Master’s in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Based in New Orleans, Rachel lives with her two children and serves on the Board of the Alliance for Affordable Energy.

Mikelle Humble

Mikelle Humble joined the Jim Joseph Foundation in 2022. Currently a Senior Operations Associate of R&D, Mikelle works closely with the Chief R&D Officer to support the Foundation’s strategy to experiment and explore within Jewish education and expression and to evolve for the future of Jewish life.

Before joining the Foundation, Mikelle supported the activation and success of clinical research trials and advanced public health efforts through the Louisiana State Office of Public Health.

Mikelle is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where she studied History and Political Science. She has a passion for streamlining administrative systems and creative problem solving, loves podcasts and plants, and spends much of her free time exploring New Orleans with her French Bulldog, Bianca.

Emily Judice

Emily Judice is the Senior Accountant at the Jim Joseph Foundation. Prior to working at the Foundation, she worked at a forklift dealership in Oakland and another non-profit in San Francisco. Emily graduated with a Bachelor’s in Accounting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She lives in the East Bay and during her free time enjoys eating tasty food, hiking, and taking road trips.

Margaux Krane

Margaux Krane joined the Jim Joseph Foundation in January of 2024. Today she serves as the Communications and Marketing Lead for R&D. By crafting compelling stories and managing strategic campaigns, Margaux collaborates with her teammates to raise awareness and engage target audiences through digital and media campaigns, program launches, email campaigns, and institutional messaging.

Margaux brings more than 15 years of experience in various marketing and communications roles, ranging from in-house to agency, for-profit to non-profit. In past roles, Margaux oversaw digital strategy for global CPG brands, and was responsible for all marketing, communications, and digital initiatives for a world-renowned arts institution, working with her team to produce award-winning content and design.

Born and raised in Baltimore and proudly residing in New Orleans, Margaux is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Art History and Archaeology. She is inspired by Saints and Ravens football, pop culture, yard work, and innovation.

Amanda Leal

Amanda Leal is the Operations Associate at the Jim Joseph Foundation. Prior to working at the Foundation, she worked in operations in the semi-conductor industry, where she also focused on improving workplace culture.

Amanda graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology as well as a minor in Justice Studies from San Jose State University. She lives with her roommates in the East Bay and during her free time enjoys eating Vietnamese food, going to concerts, reading, and traveling.

Nicole Levy

Nicole Levy is Senior Executive Assistant at the Jim Joseph Foundation, contributing to both the grants administration and program teams. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with an Art History emphasis from San Diego State University. She has held several internships and volunteer positions in museums and art galleries in San Diego and San Francisco. She lives in San Francisco.

Cynthia Megino

Josh Miller

Josh Miller joined the Jim Joseph Foundation in 2008 and currently serves as its Chief Program Officer. In this role, Josh is responsible for the planning and development of the Foundation’s grantmaking strategies to ensure achievement of its mission. Josh also oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking team and manages a portfolio of special projects and major grants that have strategic implications for the Foundation.

Prior to transitioning into the field of philanthropy in 2008, Josh spent fifteen years as an experiential educator, community builder, and social entrepreneur in a range of settings. Josh holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.A. from Brown University. He was the 2014 recipient of the JJ Greenberg Memorial Award for extraordinary leadership in Jewish philanthropy. As a volunteer, Josh is the immediate past Board Chair of the Berkeley Public Schools Fund and remains actively involved. When he isn’t working, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons cooking, hiking, trail running, and exploring the great outdoors.

Dawne Bear Novicoff

Dawne Bear Novicoff is the Acting President and CEO and Chief Operating Officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation, and has served in other leadership roles at the Foundation since 2007. She is responsible for shaping the Foundation's strategic vision and culture, leading its staff, and ensuring effective execution of the Foundation’s grantmaking. Dawne also oversees the Foundation’s internal operations and planning and manages a portfolio of grants and special projects focused on leadership and Israel Education.

Prior to her position at the Foundation, Dawne worked for a decade at the Jewish Community Federation in San Francisco as the Director of Israel & Overseas Planning and Programming.

Dawne received her BA from Columbia University and List College: Jewish Theological Seminary and is a proud alum of the JDC: Jewish Service Corps in Sofia, Bulgaria. Dawne and her husband, Gregg, live in San Francisco and have two children – Arlo and Rayna.

Aaron Saxe

Aaron Saxe joined the Jim Joseph Foundation in 2015. Currently Program Director, Powerful Jewish Learning Experiences (PJLE), he guides the PJLE team in vision-setting, strategy development, and implementation oversight. His grantmaking portfolio includes a wide range of grants reflecting the numerous age cohorts and educational settings the Foundation addresses.

Aaron grew up in the Bay Area and has been an active member in the Jewish community both professionally and personally. Most recently, he worked at the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund in San Francisco as a Philanthropic Advisor, serving a number of roles in the Endowment, Development, and Marketing departments. He spent three years as Program Director at Camp Alonim, a residential Jewish camp in Simi Valley, CA.

Aaron received a B.A. in Business from the University of Puget Sound, where he played varsity baseball, and an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson School of Management. He lives in Orinda with his sons, Levi and Oliver.

Yonah Schiller

Yonah Schiller is the R&D Officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation. Yonah oversees the Foundation’s R&D Strategy to stimulate and foster experimentation and exploration in Jewish education and expression. Our ability to sustain and thrive into the future as a Jewish community will depend upon our ability to be in step with, and anticipate, where we are going as part of a larger society and community. Through the R&D strategy at the Foundation, it will be critical to pursue new ideas and creative partnerships to best plan and envision for the future, today.

Formerly, Yonah was the Executive Director at Tulane Hillel. Under his leadership, he oversaw a process for organizational re-imagining and change at Tulane. He scaled these efforts across the Hillel field by founding and serving as the Senior Project Advisor to the Organizational Design Lab (ODL); a national initiative utilizing Design Thinking methodology focused on organizational change and transformation for Hillels on 22 campuses across the United States and Canada.

In 2017, Yonah was named one of the 50 most influential American Jews by Forward magazine for having “revolutionized Jewish outreach using a model that is being examined and replicated across the nation.” He received the Edgar M. Bronfman Award, a distinction presented to a current or former professional whose impact on the National Hillel movement is outstanding and lasting.

Yonah has also served as Special Projects Consultant at the Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking at Tulane. He was an adjunct lecturer at Tulane in various areas; Ecumenical spirituality, Jewish Civilization and Mysticism. Schiller also has been a consultant to a number of local and national organizations and projects for leadership development, community building, strategy and organizational visioning, impact and change management.

A Brown University graduate, he received his rabbinic degree in Israel and an MBA from Tulane University. Yonah is also a visual artist focused on abstract mixed media work.

Rachel Shamash Schneider

Rachel Shamash Schneider joined the Foundation as a Program Officer in 2019, where she focuses on teen education and engagement and cohort-based learning experiences within the Foundation’s Powerful Jewish Learning Experiences strategy.

She has across sectors in and out of the Jewish community as an entrepreneur, community builder, communications and development manager, and programming and operations director. Prior to joining the Foundation, Rachel was the Director of Operations for The Hivery, a community space and inspiration lab in Marin, CA with a mission to elevate the potential of women. Previously, she worked for several nonprofits and social impact consultancies, notably the JCC East Bay in Berkeley and TCC Group in San Francisco.

Rachel received her MS in Organizational Leadership & Innovation at The Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. She earned her BA in International Studies Political Science, with an emphasis on Communication, at the University of California, San Diego. She is a Bay Area native and lives in Marin with her family.

DB Soiu

DB Soiu is the Jim Joseph Foundation’s Director of Information Technology and is responsible for every aspect of the Foundation’s technology needs.

He first worked with Interland, the real estate company founded by Jim Joseph, as a technology consultant in 1992. He then brought his experience and skills as a full-time Interland employee in 1995.

DB continued to work with Interland and established the IT infrastructure when the Jim Joseph Foundation was formed in 2005. His focus today is wholly directed toward the Jim Joseph Foundation, as Interland closed its operations. Twenty-eight years working passionately for both Interland and the Foundation has given DB a unique understanding of what is needed to continue the growth and development of the Foundation’s core values and principles.

His many years working reflects his passion and love for technology that continues to add to the success of the Jim Joseph Foundation.

Sossena Walter

Sossena Walter, joined the Foundation in August, 2017 as its Director of Finance and Accounting. Previously, Sossena served as the Controller at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. She has extensive accounting experience in non-profit organizations. Sossena received a BS in accounting from Golden Gate University and is a CPA. Originally from Ethiopia, Sossena has lived in the Bay Area for most of her life. In her free time, Sossena and her husband enjoy hiking and traveling.