Press Releases

 BBYO Launches $90 Million Campaign with $30 Million of Support

Gifts totaling $28.8 million from two long-time funders lead effort for BBYO to expand its capacity and double its growth rate over the next five years

WASHINGTON, DC— BBYO is pleased to announce it has received an unprecedented $28.8 million in support from two long-time funders toward its newly launched $90 million five-year “This Moment in Time” campaign. The campaign will enable BBYO to double its annual growth rate, with the goal of having 27,000 members annually by the end of the 2022 school year. BBYO will also expand its...

Jim Joseph Foundation Announces November 1, 2016 as New Start Date for Incoming President and CEO Barry Finestone

San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco-based Jim Joseph Foundation today announced that incoming President and CEO Barry Finestone will assume his new role effective November 1, 2016. Founded in 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than $420 million in grants to foster compelling, effective Jewish education for youth, teens, and young adults in the United States. Finestone will assume this role as Chip Edelsberg, the Foundation’s first executive director, steps down. “The Jim Joseph Foundation already has left an indelible mark on Jewish education in North America,” says Barry...

Jim Joseph Foundation Announces Additional Grants From Spring Board Meeting of 2016

More than $17.4 million awarded to support Jewish education

San Francisco, CA – The Jim Joseph Foundation today announced that more than $17.4 million were awarded in new grants at its spring 2016 Board meeting to support effective Jewish learning experiences and the educators who help make those experiences possible. Based in San Francisco, the Foundation is in its eleventh year of grantmaking and has awarded more than $420 million in Jewish education primarily for youth, teens, and young adults in the United States. “Taken together, this newest slate of...

Early Career Fellowship Program Launches with $1.5 Million Jim Joseph Foundation Grant

Gann Academy, Abraham Joshua Heschel School, and de Toledo High School to lead Innovative Program to Develop Young Leaders For Careers in Jewish Education

San Francisco, CA  — A new Early Career Fellowship Program will launch later this year to develop and position young leaders for careers in Jewish education. The pilot program is led by Gann Academy in Waltham, Massachusetts; Abraham Joshua Heschel School in New York, New York; and de Toledo High School in Los Angeles, California and is supported by a $1.5 million grant from the Jim Joseph...

Barry Finestone Named Incoming President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation

Effective January 1, 2017, Finestone to Lead SF-based Foundation Committed to Jewish Education

 San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco-based Jim Joseph Foundation today announced that Barry Finestone will become its President and CEO effective January 1, 2017. Founded in 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than $400 million in grants to foster compelling, effective Jewish education for youth, teens, and young adults in the United States. Finestone will assume this role as Chip Edelsberg, the Foundation’s first executive director, steps down.  “I watched admiringly over the last ten years...

Jim Joseph Foundation Announces New Grants From Final Board Meetings of 2015

More than $6.3 million awarded to organizations in a range of Jewish education areas

San Francisco, CA – After completing its tenth year of grantmaking, the Jim Joseph Foundation today announced $6,355,000 in new grants awarded at its fall and winter 2015 Board meetings. Based in San Francisco, the Foundation has awarded nearly $400 million in grants to organizations that help create effective and compelling Jewish learning experiences for youth, teens, and young adults in the United States. “The Foundation is deeply grateful to partner with these innovative grantees committed...

JFNA and Houston Federation Offer Scholarships to Families Affected by Flood

Grants Awarded by Jim Joseph and AVI CHAI Foundations for day schools, preschools, & overnight camps

Houston area families affected by the Memorial Day Flood received scholarships for Jewish day schools, early childhood programs and overnight camps, thanks to two grants totaling $300,000 from the Jim Joseph and AVI CHAI Foundations. The grants were awarded to the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and were allocated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Money was distributed to the schools and camps and designated for families who applied for FEMA support...

Hillel International Receives $16 Million Grant From Jim Joseph Foundation

Major Gift in Hillel’s “Drive to Excellence” Campaign to Deepen and Expand Jewish Learning Experiences for Students

WASHINGTON — Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, has received a new $16 million grant over five years from the Jim Joseph Foundation, positioning the organization to provide significantly more and better educational experiences to Jewish students on college campuses. The Foundation’s grant—the largest it has ever awarded—comes as Hillel begins its Drive to Excellence, which will help campuses and communities around the world implement the best practices for...

Jim Joseph Foundation Announces New Grants Awarded at Special Board Meeting in Israel

More than $13.6 million awarded at Board Meeting coinciding with Foundation’s 10^th Anniversary

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Earlier this summer, the San Francisco-based Jim Joseph Foundation awarded more than $13.6 million in new grants at a special Board Meeting in Israel to mark the Foundation’s 10th anniversary. The Foundation’s founder, Jim Joseph, z”l, was laid to rest in Israel upon his passing in 2003. Today, the Foundation that bears his name has awarded more than $370 million in grants to organizations that help create effective and compelling Jewish learning experiences...

Jim Joseph Foundation Welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Solomon & David Agger as Members of Board of Directors

Each brings unique expertise to San Francisco-based foundation committed to Jewish education

San Francisco, CA — The Jim Joseph Foundation today announced that Dr. Jeffrey Solomon and David Agger have joined its Board of Directors. The new Directors bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the San Francisco-based foundation committed to fostering compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for youth and young adults in the United States. Dr. Jeffrey Solomon joins the Board after an illustrious and deeply impactful career dedicated to Jewish philanthropy. He served for 18 years as President of...

New Case Study Details Characteristics of Successful Teen Education Funder Collaborative

Space for Sharing Challenges, Commitment to Evaluation Two Key Reasons Noted in Report

San Francisco, CA — A group comprised of 15 national and local funders committed to investing in community-based Jewish teen education initiatives today released a commissioned case study detailing insights and lessons learned from their first two years working together. The case study—Finding New Paths for Teen Engagement and Learning: A Funder Collaborative—prepared by Informing Change, is designed to inform other co-funding and shared learning efforts both within and outside of the Jewish philanthropic community. “Bringing together...

Chip Edelsberg to Step Down in December 2016 as Jim Joseph Foundation Executive Director

Led Foundation Since 2006, Will Remain Involved Professionally As Consultant

San Francisco, CA – The Jim Joseph Foundation Board of Directors and founding Executive Director Chip Edelsberg, Ph.D., today announced that he will step down effective December 31, 2016. Edelsberg has served in the position since 2006, shortly after the Foundation became a private foundation. The Foundation seeks to create compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for youth and young adults in the United States. “Serving as the executive director of the Jim Joseph Foundation has been the professional opportunity of...