The Heart of Grantmaking: Relationships, Empathy, and Trust

Insights from One of the Foundation’s Newest Team Members

Last August, I stepped into my role as a Program Officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation. As I’ve settled in, I’ve reflected on how my professional journey helped to shape the perspective I bring to my work.

Relationships have always been at the heart of my professional life. Prior to my time at the Foundation, I worked for a decade at Hillel in various capacities. From engaging students as an early-career Hillel professional, to cultivating meaningful partnerships with donors, and into my last job as the Director of Strategic Grants at Hillel International, the principle of centering relationships has been my guiding star. This is why I was especially pleased to learn that “Build Meaningful Relationships” is one of the Foundation’s First Principles.

Much of the relational wisdom I gained from my work with Hillel is applicable to my new job too, and the last six months have heightened my awareness about some key lessons.

1. See someone as a person and as a professional: Even in my interview process, I spoke about how important it is that people see me as Leah the human and as Leah the professional. I strive to do the same with all of my colleagues. At Hillel, building relationships meant sitting with students to hear their stories, engaging community stakeholders, and partnering with organizations to amplify impact. But I never immediately asked a student to become a student leader, nor immediately asked a donor for money. I started by simply getting to know them. The Foundation takes this approach too. From day one, I saw that calls begin with asking how people’s kids are, how their winter holidays were, and the like. People’s lives outside of work matter and certainly can impact how they are on a given day during work hours. I want to know who a person is, what brings them joy in their lives, and learn how they got to where they are. This makes the working relationship more meaningful and less transactional.
2. It’s a blessing to carry old professional relationships into new jobs: One of the most beautiful lessons I’ve learned is that professional relationships often come full circle. I’m currently in a conversation with a colleague I met 10 years ago whose organization is now a grantee-partner of the Foundation. I have known a handful of other CEOs of grantee-partners in my portfolio for about five years each. When I went on my first site visit, I spotted someone I knew well as soon as I arrived. I met my graduate school mentor from years ago for the first time in person at a conference; we rejoiced and shared a big hug upon seeing each other. At Hillel International’s Global Assembly in December, I couldn’t even make it across the room without running into people I had worked with over the years and stopping to have a conversation. These moments remind me that the relationships we build are enduring – they transcend job titles and responsibilities, and maintaining relationships is central to how I approach my work.
3. Bring more empathy into our work: While frequent communication is a hallmark of relational grantmaking, that relationship cannot just be premised on exchanging emails or reading reports. Cultivating and practicing empathy—truly feeling for someone’s situation and all that they bring into their work—is critical to maintaining a healthy funder-grantee relationship. Practicing empathy is most important when a grantee-partner faces unexpected challenges (we’ve all had plenty over recent years). I’m heartened by how the Foundation team practices empathy, both in personal interactions (including actively listening or offering support through difficult conversations) and in policy (adjusting reporting requirements and deadlines that account for challenges).

Seeing the whole person; Maintaining meaningful professional connections; Expressing and practicing empathy—I already see how approaching work with these three mindsets is critical to cultivating trust with the Foundation’s grantee-partners. This opens the lines for honest communication and working together to overcome challenges— ultimately enhancing our collective impact.

As I continue to grow in this role, I remain guided by a belief that we all should feel seen and valued in our work. One of the Foundation’s staff values is b’tzelem elohim – to value each person and their perspectives as unique and deserving of respect and attention. When we support each other beyond transactional grant dollars, and approach our work with trust, authenticity, and empathy, we increase our chances to create real change. At the end of the day, I aim to be Leah the human first, just as I strive to see others as their full selves.

I’m excited to continue building relationships, learning from colleagues, and supporting the meaningful work of grantee-partners. If our paths cross in this work, I hope we can connect – not just as professionals, but as people invested in creating a thriving, inclusive Jewish future.

Leah Chakoff is a Program Officer at the Jim Joseph Foundation, helping to lead the Foundation’s work in its Exceptional Jewish Leaders and Educators focus area.