Foundation News —Chip Edelsberg

Foundation News
—Chip Edelsberg, Executive Director

September 2008

It is a time of special anticipation in the Jewish calendar year. As we approach the high holy days, we are called to engage in our faith traditions of communal gathering, personal introspection, and prayer and worship. The holidays ask us to participate in acts of contrition, repentance, forgiveness, and kindness.

Most importantly, however, Selichot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer us the promise of renewal—of creating a better future by atoning for our transgressions and extending ourselves to our fellow human beings in committing to make the world a better place.

Given the rituals and rhythms of the season, it seems especially appropriate that the Jim Joseph Foundation will reunite September 21 and 22 with the ten Madrichim (see a look back at the guidance the Madrichim gave JJF in 2006) whose consultation with the JJF two years ago has become part of the bedrock of JJF’s philanthropy.

We are of course a different organization than we were in August of 2006. The numbers alone tell one story: 165 grants awarded totaling more than 92 million dollars of funding with another $24 million in grant proposals to be considered by the Board at the September 23/24 JJF Board Meeting immediately following the retreat with Madrichim.

Much more importantly, the partnerships JJF has forged with grantees; the work they have accomplished in putting JJF funding to work, and a host of indicators evidence that beneficiaries of JJF’s philanthropy—teens, young adults, and educators are being well served.

We will enjoy spirited conversation about big ideas and challenging opportunities at this upcoming retreat. I look forward to sharing a summary of what we’ve learned and, more significantly, to leading the foundation to act on new fundable ideas.

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