Women IN Philanthropy
Welcome to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Women IN Philanthropy – where Jewish women who are INvolved, INspired, and INclusive connect and make a difference. Our mission is to bring engaged women with shared values together to leverage our collective power and strengthen our community.
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News that matters to Jewish Cleveland
Women IN Philanthropy Mission
We are committed to creating diverse strategies, programs, and opportunities to inspire and engage increasing numbers of women across their life cycles as leaders, donors and volunteers. We empower women to be community leaders and strengthen the Cleveland Jewish community.
Coaching Circles
Coaching Circles are small groups of individuals focused on exploring, reinforcing, and sustaining progress on a selected topic as it relates to leadership skills for professional and lay leader roles. Groups might explore communication styles, personality types, or self-care.
Four to six participants, including a Mentor
Six month timeframe, meeting at least once per month
Complete confidentiality of all discussions
Contact Rebecca Sattin to learn more about joining the next cohort.
“Women in top leadership roles are directly tied to our success as an organization.”
—Reneé Chelm, Past Board Chair
Irene Zehman Volunteer Award
Mazel tov to Judy Immerman Payne for receiving that 2023 Irene Zehman Volunteer Award for her outstanding volunteer efforts with the founding of Goods Bank NEO.
Established in 1980 by Irene Zehman's daughters, the award is presented by the Federation's Women's Philanthropy to recognize outstanding volunteer leadership in the community.
Lois Marcus Leadership Award
Leslie Holz and Amy Nadler have been selected as the inaugural 2024 Lois Marcus Leadership Award honorees for their admirable dedication to community volunteerism.
The Lois Marcus Leadership award recognizes a Lion of Judah Society member that has shown commitment to the Cleveland Jewish community through emerging leadership and volunteerism and who proudly promotes the values of women’s leadership and philanthropy, cares for our community and its future, and leads with integrity, compassion, and kindness.
Empowering Women
A gift in your own name means that you will:
Connect to the Jewish community in a personal, powerful way
Become a role model to thousands of other women
Inspire the next generation to stand up and be counted
“When there is a need to lobby for human rights, fight against hunger, educate our children, and make the world a better place, my gift matters because together we are heard loud and strong.”
—Beth Wain Brandon, Women IN Philanthropy Past Chair
Impact365
When we work together to make a difference in people’s lives, even one dollar a day can do so much.
With just $1 a day, you can provide:
18
HOURS
of homecare for adults with disabilities
14
SESSIONS
of job counseling for the unemployed
30
MEALS
for homebound senior
25
NEW TOYS
for a community preschool program
Monthly
FOOD
packages for an elderly adult in the former Soviet Union
Making a Leadership Gift
Become the change you want to see in your community. Leadership giving is a way to make a significant impact on our local and global Jewish world. With just one gift, you are helping tens of thousands, locally and globally.
Pomegranate Society
The pomegranate is one of the seven fruits named in the Bible, said to contain 613 seeds – one for each of the commandments (mitzvot) found in the Torah. This ancient symbol is one of the oldest found in Jewish art and ritual. It has been carved in the entranceways of the earliest synagogues, woven into fabrics, and hammered into silver and gold. The intricate covers for the handles of the Torah scrolls are called pomegranates (rimonim). All women donors who commit an individual gift of $1,800 - $4,999 to the annual Campaign for Jewish Needs are part of the Pomegranate Society.
Lion of Judah Society
Created in 1972, the Lion of Judah Society is an international symbol of a woman’s commitment to the global Jewish community. Women donors who commit an individual gift of $5,000 or more to the annual Campaign for Jewish Needs proudly wear a Lion pin, which represents the strength, honor, and dedication of the Tribe of Judah, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Being part of the Lion of Judah Society is a declaration of your personal commitment to honor traditional Jewish values of justice (tzedek) and acts of loving kindness (gemilut hesed).
Forever starts today. When you create a Lion of Judah Endowment (LOJE), you enable future generations to benefit from your values, interests, foresight and generosity by making a charitable commitment of at least $125,000 in your name. This endowment fund will provide annual support to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Campaign for Jewish Needs forever. You also become a member of Federation’s Legacy Society, which honors those who create a gift that will last for generations and are invited to sign the Endowment Book of Life. For more information about Lion of Judah Endowment funds, please contact Lisa Hacker, Director, Women’s Philanthropy / Assistant Managing Director of Development, Planned Giving and Endowments at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, 216-593-2792 or lhacker@jcfcleve.org.
All inquiries are confidential.
Building Community
We are diverse women with a shared common bond. Our values guide us. Our passion for Jewish life and culture connect us. Together, we are exploring new interests and ideas on topics that matter to us. We are discussing key issues facing women and the world today. We are having powerful conversations with other Jewish women, who live down the street, across the country, and around the globe. We are networking, we are learning, we are connecting; and together, we are making a difference in the lives of people everywhere.
“Very strong people ask for help when they need it because none of us can do it alone.”
—Sally Wertheim, Past Board Chair
Making Connections
Each year, women’s engagement grows. Focused outreach efforts have resulted in an array of activities and events designed by women, for women. From mission trips to hands-on volunteer projects, our community’s women are inspiring others to take action.
A few great moments captured
Meet our Women’s Philanthropy Staff
Contact Jessie Bruder, Director, Women IN Philanthropy
216-593-2869 jbruder@jewishcleveland.org
