2025-10-04 1:32 PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #KeyOrganizations #Lobby ![[image-141.png|791x178]] # Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) - The Jewish Federations of North America, also called "The Jewish Federations" and "The Federations" and "JFNA" is the umbrella organization that coordinates Jewish fundraising activity in the United States. - There are 146 separate local Jewish Federations in the United States. - These local federations run fundraising campaigns and funnel a large percentage of the money to the JFNA. - The JFNA distributes part of the money to domestic Jewish organizations and projects and another part to Israel via the [[Jewish Agency]]. - In addition to fundraising, in recent decades the JFNA has become more active in political lobbying and Jewish-advocacy. #### Founding and Structure - The JFNA was formed in a 1999 merger between the [[United Israel Appeal]], the [[United Jewish Appeal (UJA)]], and the Council of Jewish Federations (CJF). - [[Charles Bronfman]] was the founding chairman from 1999-2001. - The United Israel Appeal (UIA) and United Jewish Appeal (UJA) were the 20th century precursor to the JFNA. - The UJA, founded in the 1930s, served as the overall umbrella organization - The UIA was a wing of the UJA which operated as the conduit for the UJA money designated for Israel. - The UIA money was received by Israel through the [[Jewish Agency]]. - The Jewish Agency is a quasi governmental organization closely tied with the [[World Zionist Organization]]. - The WZO and Jewish Agency are sometimes defined as the same organization. - The JFNA was initially called the United Jewish Communities (UJC) after the 1999 merger. - In 2009 the UJC was renamed the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). - The [[United Israel Appeal]] remains a subsidiary of the JFNA, operating as the "Israel-connection" within the JFNA. - The United Israel Appeal maintains ~30% of the seats within the [[Jewish Agency]] board of governors. - The JFNA holds influence within Israel through the UIA's position within the Jewish Agency. - The JFNA leadership is split between a Board of Trustees and professional leadership. - The Board is comprised of lay leaders of the many local federations. - JFNA Board positions are also often held by influential Jewish donors, businessmen, and philanthropists. - The professional leadership is comprised of executive positions including: CEO, CFO, Rabbinic Scholar and Public Affairs Advisor, numerous Vice Presidents, etc. - The Current President and CEO of the JFNA is [[Eric Fingerhut]]. - The Current Board Chair is [[Gary Torgow]]. - [[Julie Platt]] is the immediate past chair of the JFNA. - Both Fingerhut and Platt are former leaders of [[Hillel International]]. #### US Activities - In 2004 the Jewish Federations partnered with the [[Conference of Presidents]] to form the [[Secure Community Network (SCN)]]. - The mission of the SCN is to coordinate and provide security for the entire Jewish population of North America. - The SCN describes its purpose as "Building a security shield over the North American Jewish community." - There are 16 SCN regions compromising the United States and Canada. - The SCN works with federal and local law enforcement on matters of Jewish security. - The SCN receives significant funding from the federal government through the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). The program was first proposed by the JFNA following 9/11. - The JFNA influences American universities through working partnerships with [[Hillel International]], [[Birthright Israel]], and [[Les Wexner]]'s [[Wexner Foundation]]. - In 2021 the JFNA launched the LiveSecure program. - LiveSecure was launched with $130 million as the "largest security campaign in the history of the North American Jewish community." - LiveSecure works closely with the JFNA and the [[Secure Community Network (SCN)]] to coordinate security for "every single Jewish community in the U.S. and Canada." - After [[October 7th]], the JFNA and the [[Conference of Presidents]] organized the November 14, 2023, *March For Israel*. - Almost 300,00 people attended the *March For Israel*, much more than expected. - Jewish groups were paying pro-Israel students to attend the rally. - The [[Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC)]] paid $250 to any pro-Israel student who would attend the rally. - In August of 2025, the JFNA joined the [[ADL]], [[Conference of Presidents]], and [[Hillel International]], to issue a joint "framework of recommendations" for American education. - The framework demands colleges appoint title 6 and title 7 (Civil Rights Act) compliance officers. - Colleges must oppose boycotts of Jewish or Israeli entities. - Colleges must collect data and issue reports on "antisemitic incident frequency." - Colleges must monitor antisemitism online. - College faculty must be purged of anyone hostile to Israel. - The JFNA boasts that the *March For Israel* engaged 250 members of Congress to support Israel. - The JFNA hosts an annual General Assembly in Washington, D.C. - The General Assembly is a large multi-day conference style event. - The General Assembly commonly hosts US elected representatives and government officials from both the US and Israel. - You can attend the General assembly for $849, or $799 for "early bird" pricing. >[!info] US Government and Lobbying Efforts - The JFNA continues to lobby for increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). - Congress passed a 2024 minibus spending bill allotting $274.5 million for the NSGP. - This was a 10% cut from the previous year which horrified the JFNA. - In its opposition to the spending cuts, the JFNA referenced an [[ADL]] report claiming a 360% increase in antisemitic incidents. - The JFNA then lobbied multiple members of Congress and secured additional funding for the NSGP in 2024. - The JFNA lobbies for continued weapons shipments to Israel from the United States and an aggressive American posture towards Iran. - The JFNA lobbies for anti-BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) laws. - The JFNA lobbies for hate crimes laws which obligate law enforcement to crack down on antisemitism. - The JFNA is partnered with the US Department of Health and Human Services on a "Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP)." - The HSAP receives $8.5 million annually to aid "the unique needs of the country's aging Holocaust survivor population." - The JFNA claims that without government funding, "Holocaust survivors are subject to increased risk of depression." ---- - The JFNA, though outwardly non partisan, supports generally left wing positions in the United States. - The JFNA supports abortion and voices opposition to pro-life legislation. - The JFNA supports "minority rights." - The JFNA supports mass immigration to the United States. - The [[UJA-Federation of New York]] is the largest of the local JFNA federations. - The UJA-FNY boasts of being the "largest local philanthropy in the world." - The UJA-FNY is so large it is almost separate organization. - The JFNA has long been partnered with the [[Claims Conference]] to extort money out of Germany for the holocaust. - The Claims Conference "negotiates" (blackmails and extorts) Germany for reparations. - Some of this money is funneled through the Federations in the name of aid for aging holocaust survivors. #### JFNA in Israel - The primary JFNA connection to Israel is through the [[Jewish Agency]]. - The JFNA subsidiary United Israel Appeal, has a 30% share of seats on the board of the Jewish Agency. - The Jewish Agency is a quasi governmental body in Israel - In 1952 the Israeli Knesset passed the "[[World Zionist Organization]] - Jewish Agency (Status) Law" which defined the WZO and the Jewish Agency as the same organization. - The WZO was to therefore handle immigration, settlement, and national development. - The Jewish Agency was to serve as the fundraising and social outreach arm for the Jewish diaspora. - The Jewish Federations fund the [[Masa Israel Journey]], which brings American Jewish young adults to Israel on long term educational and job internship programs. - Immediately after [[October 7th]], the JFNA launched the Israel Emergency Fund (IEF). - Within a month the IEF raised over $600 million to aid Israel. - IEF money was distributed to Israel through the [[Jewish Agency]], [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]], World ORT, [[Chabad Lubavitch]], and numerous emergency response organizations in Israel. #### Funding and Donors - The JFNA reported $702 million in revenue in 2024, a 151% increase from 2023.[^1] - The JFNA distributes over $2 billion annually from endowments and other revenue streams. - The JFNA claims to distribute over $3 billion annually towards social services, aid to Israeli nonprofits, and domestic initiatives. - In less than nine months following [[October 7th]], the JFNA raised $833 million. - A study published in 2018 by the [[Avi Chai Foundation]] reported JFNA is more reliant on a small subset of megadonors compared to the federations of the mid 20th century. - ~80-90% of contributions come from this small minority of megadonors. - JFNA megadonors include: - [[Bernard Marcus]]'s [[Marcus Foundation]] - [[Charles Schusterman]] and [[Lynn Schusterman]]'s [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]] - [[Jim Joseph Foundation]] - [[Sheldon Adelson]] and [[Miriam Adelson]] via the [[Adelson Family Foundation]]. - [[Tepper Foundation]] - $17.75 million from 2024-2025 - [[Daniel Och]] - [[Michael Dell]] - [[Paul Singer]] and the [[Paul E. Singer Foundation]] - [[Les Wexner]] - [[Mark Wilf]] - [[Bill Davidson]]'s Davidson Foundation - [[Morton Mandel]] - US Federal Government - Tens of Millions (~$36 million) since 2015 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). #### Notable Figures - The first leader of the JFNA after its merger in 1999 was [[Charles Bronfman]]. - Charles Bronfman founded [[Birthright Israel]] in 1999. - [[Les Wexner]] is a large JFNA benefactor and his Wexner Heritage Foundation is partnered with the JFNA on a number of programs. - Les Wexner and Charles Bronfman are the founders of the elusive [[Mega Group]]. - The Mega Group was a loose collective of elite Jewish figures working on behalf of Israel and world Jewry. - The Mega Group was a major source of [[Jeffrey Epstein]]'s influence. - The JFNA mourned the passing of megadonor [[Sheldon Adelson]] in 2021 stating "He was a longtime supporter of our Federations for decades." --- - Notable JFNA leaders include: - [[Charles Bronfman]] - Board Chair 1999-2001 - [[James Tisch]] - Board Chair 2001-2003 - [[Joe Kanfer]] - Board Chair 2006-2009 - [[Kathy Manning]] - Board Chair 2009-2012 - [[Michael Siegal]] - Board Chair 2012-2015 - [[Richard Sandler]] - Board Chair 2015-2018 - [[Mark Wilf]] - Board Chair 2018-2022 - [[Julie Platt]] - Board Chair 2022-2025 - [[Gary Torgow]] - Board Chair 2025- - Executives: - [[Stephen Solender]] - CEO 1999-2001 - [[Stephen Hoffman]] - CEO 2001-2004 - Howard Rieger - CEO 2004-2009 - Jerry Silverman - CEO 2009-2019 - [[Eric Fingerhut]] - CEO 2019- #### References - “The Jewish Federations of North America.” _Wikipedia_. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America). - “$8.75M Tepper Grant to Protect Jewish Children, Build Interfaith Bonds.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, September 30, 2025. https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/the-tepper-foundation-security-fund-502004. - “Developing Resources to Provide Services for Jewish Nazi Victims.” _Claims Conference_, 2006 (PDF). [https://www.claimscon.org/forms/developing_resources.pdf](https://www.claimscon.org/forms/developing_resources.pdf). - “FY 2024 NSGP Update: $274,500,000 Made Available.” _Federal Emergency Management Agency_. https://www.fema.gov/vi/print/txt/node/676094. - “JFNA Names Eric D. Fingerhut as New President & CEO.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, May 16, 2019. https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/jfna-names-eric-d-fingerhut-as-new-president-ceo. - “Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund - Our Grantees.” _Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation_. https://www.mandelfoundation.org/grants/our-grantees/jewish-community-response-and-impact-fund. - “Jewish Federations Applaud House Vote to Increase Nonprofit Security Grant Program.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, June 26, 2024. https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/jewish-federations-of-north-america-applaud-house-vote-to-increase-nonprofit-security-grant-program-470598. - “Julie Platt Confirmed as Chair of Jewish Federations of North America.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, June 13, 2022. [https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/julie-platt-confirmed-as-chair-of-jewish-federations-of-north-america-409050](https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/julie-platt-confirmed-as-chair-of-jewish-federations-of-north-america-409050). - “LiveSecure - A $130 Million Campaign for Community Safety and Security.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_. [https://www.jewishfederations.org/our-work/livesecure](https://www.jewishfederations.org/our-work/livesecure). - “Following LiveSecure Launch, Jewish Security Programs Increase by 42%.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, October 30, 2022. https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/jewish-communal-security-programs-increase-by-42-following-livesecure-launch-420792. - “Meet Our Leadership.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_. [https://www.jewishfederations.org/about-us/our-leadership](https://www.jewishfederations.org/about-us/our-leadership). - Schultz, Kenneth. “New Communal Entity Chooses Name, Appoints Temporary Head.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, April 12, 1999. [https://www.jta.org/1999/04/12/lifestyle/new-communal-entity-chooses-name-appoints-temporary-head](https://www.jta.org/1999/04/12/lifestyle/new-communal-entity-chooses-name-appoints-temporary-head). - Platt, Julie. “Shalom from Our New Board Chair.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, June 17, 2022. [https://jewishfederations.org/blog/all/shalom-from-our-new-board-chair-409585](https://jewishfederations.org/blog/all/shalom-from-our-new-board-chair-409585). - “Jewish community and allies to unite in commemorating October 7th” _The Jewish Federations of North America_. August 22, 2024. [https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/jewish-community-and-allies-to-unite-in-commemorating-october-7th-475003](https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/jewish-community-and-allies-to-unite-in-commemorating-october-7th-475003). - Anti-Defamation League; Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Hillel International; Jewish Federations of North America. _“ADL, Conference of Presidents, Hillel International, and Jewish Federations Call for Universities to Address Persistent Campus Antisemitism.”_ August 18, 2025. [https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-conference-presidents-hillel-international-and-jewish-federations-call](https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-conference-presidents-hillel-international-and-jewish-federations-call). - “The Tepper Foundation Grants $9M to Jewish Federations to Protect Spaces, Promote Interfaith Unity.” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, July 10, 2024. https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/tepper-foundation-grants-9m-to-jewish-federations-to-protect-spaces-promote-interfaith-unity-471301. - Berkman, Jacob. “UJC Closing in on New Leadership Team.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, May 26, 2009. https://www.jta.org/2009/05/26/united-states/ujc-closing-in-on-new-leadership-team. - “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living - Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Service: Advancing Care for Holocaust Survivors and Older Adults with a History of Trauma.” _Administration for Community Living_, last modified February 4, 2025. [https://acl.gov/programs/strengthening-aging-and-disability-networks/advancing-care-holocaust-survivors-older](https://acl.gov/programs/strengthening-aging-and-disability-networks/advancing-care-holocaust-survivors-older). - “Federations Grants to Serve Holocaust Survivors, Older Trauma Survivors (Record Grants).” _The Jewish Federations of North America_, March 14, 2024. [https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/record-grants-set-to-serve-holocaust-survivors-461996](https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/record-grants-set-to-serve-holocaust-survivors-461996). - “$80 Million Fund Set for Jewish Organizations.” _The NonProfit Times_, April 20, 2020. [https://thenonprofittimes.com/foundations/80-million-fund-set-for-jewish-organizations/](https://thenonprofittimes.com/foundations/80-million-fund-set-for-jewish-organizations). - “Charles Bronfman to Head New CJF–UJA Partnership.” _J. – The Jewish News of Northern California_, February 19, 1999 (archive). https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/jweekly/1999/02/19/article/57. - “James S. Tisch.” _Wikipedia_. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tisch. - Jacob, Bob. “JFNA GA: LA Mayor Grabs Spotlight.” _Jewish Federation of Cleveland News Blog_, November 13, 2017. https://www.jewishcleveland.org/news/blog/jfna_ga_la_mayor_grabs_spotlight/. - Berkman, Jacob. “Manning Nominated to Become Next UJC Chair.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, May 13, 2009. [https://www.jta.org/2009/05/13/united-states/manning-nominated-to-become-next-ujc-chair](https://www.jta.org/2009/05/13/united-states/manning-nominated-to-become-next-ujc-chair). [^1]: “The Jewish Federations of North America Inc.,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131624240](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131624240).