Foundation News —Chip Edelsberg

Foundation News
—Chip Edelsberg, Executive Director

February 2009

It is safe to say that those of us who work at the Jim Joseph Foundation (JJF) feel extremely fortunate these days. We have been spared the job loss inflicted on scores of organizations that have been buffeted by the economic maelstrom. Furthermore, we recognize that we are not contending with the mounting pressure non-profits confront having to raise funds in a distressed environment.

Given the challenging times in which we work, we are acutely aware of the responsibility JJF has to its grantees. JJF’s grant making portfolio is substantial. We have awarded $125 million dollars in grants. In preparation for the Foundation’s initial 2009 Board meeting on April 5th and 6th, we are working with several organizations on significant grant proposals.

In addition, JJF has awarded $4 million to contractors for assessment of major JJF-funded initiatives. Please see the grantee assessment link for a list of our contractors and their assignment to various JJF-funded initiatives. Our contractors are diverse, experienced and talented. They guide us in creating and refining the Theory of Change (ToC) and Logic Model tools we use to frame our initiatives. We have added both the Pardes Educator Alumni ToC and revised Birthright NEXT ToC to this website for your information.

Our relatively healthy Foundation finances have enabled us to gradually build JJF’s staff. The Board expects that we will have capacity to efficiently and effectively manage a growing scope of work. In addition to me and Associate Director Sandy Edwards, JJF now employs two Program Directors (Adene Sacks, and our newest professional, Dawne Bear Novicoff) and one program officer (Josh Miller). I anticipate that by early April we will have in place a Program Assessment/Research Specialist (see attached job description).

I assure you that no one at JJF takes his or her privileged position for granted. In fact, given the gravity of these times, we are redoubling our efforts to support grantees. We believe as a Jewish Foundation that it is an obligation for us to do so: “he who lends (money) is greater than he who performs charity (gives money); and he who forms a partnership is greater than all (Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 63a).”

In the next six months, we will convene two groups of JJF grantees for the purpose of expressing our appreciation for their work in implementing JJF-funded initiatives. We will provide structured opportunity for networking and the sharing of insights grantees have gained in their JJF-funded work.

We will also facilitate a session in which the assessment teams for the JJF-supported Hillel Senior Educator and Birthright NEXT projects meet. In this forum, we are going to explore ways for the assessment teams to cooperate and collaborate, hoping that coordinated effort might lead to more fruitful assessment.

Internal to JJF, we are preparing to begin a program of professional learning designed to help us develop our knowledge and skills; sharpen our tools in providing grant making counsel to JJF Directors; and, ultimately, develop a clearly articulated JJF Theory of Change that we can share with stakeholders. (If you are interested, you can link to the literature that JJF professionals will be studying in our initial program of professional development.)

Finally, let me say that you as a reader of this column are very likely a stakeholder of JJF’s. I would welcome hearing from you—either as a response to what you see on this site or to inform JJF of important matters that should be brought to the Foundation’s attention.

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