Jewish Teen Foundations Impact Report A program of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund

Celebrating a Landmark Achievement

2004 - 2012 9 years, 500 teens, over $1 million granted to nonprofits in the Bay Area, , and worldwide Jewish Teen Foundations address issues locally, in Israel, and around the world

Countries where teens have distributed grants

The causes teens support include: Creating a culture of giving for the next generation As a parent…

I am humbled and inspired by the powerful “It is probably one of the transformations our Jewish teens experience when they most worthwhile activities our go through this program. Their journey is transcendent daughter has participated in. It and leaves me with the hope for a better world that only not only helped her to further youthful commitment can inspire. For the past nine years, on a weekend in late November, 100 nervous adolescents develop a sense of empathy, in new business attire walk into a hotel, kicking off but taught her how to turn their membership and commitment to the Jewish Teen empathy into positive action.” Foundations for one year. Each joins with a desire to – Cheryl Sue Schwartzman make a difference, but most have no clue what a room Director of Philanthropic Education full of Jewish teens with a common purpose can ignite. First-year participants are guided by returning teens, As a participant… ready to teach their peers how collective effort and individual fundraising translate into real and profound impact – water systems for entire communities, school scholarships for needy “The Jewish Teen Foundations kids, medicine and proper nutrition for ailing Holocaust survivors, help for impoverished acted as a stepping stone for Jewish babies in Argentina, and a brighter future through education for children who understanding how philanthropy otherwise would have fallen through the cracks of poverty. and grant-making work in the real Believing that you can change the world – and then actually doing it – not only instills world. It was incredibly powerful confidence in teens, it transforms who they are as adults. I am grateful to the Federation to see what impact we, as a group and our many funders who had the foresight to invest in this innovative program and who of teens, had on issues that we continues to support it today. And I am blessed to have taken this journey with 500 teens, deemed important.” amazing staff, and nonprofit partners. These teens are my moral compass. May their stories and accomplishments inspire us all to fulfill our philanthropic potential. – Allison One Alumna’s journey to discovering her passion “Teens step up when they are I do not know even where to begin or how to express the importance of the entrusted with responsibility.” Jewish Teen Foundations on my life. Starting with the JTF board from 8th grade onwards, this experience has been one of, if not the most important thing for helping me find my personal interest and think critically. The Teen Foundations provided me a place to interact with adults as peers, and I owe a lot of my personal growth to the program. It made me step back and think about what my role – as a Jew and as a global citizen – was and is in the larger worldwide community. I had to think about ways to integrate my Jewish values into projects that are bigger than just the Jewish community. The Teen Foundations helped me find what I am passionate about. This year, I am starting a job in Malawi where I will be running an evaluation of a project that reduced barriers to accessing savings accounts. I could not be more excited to be part of an organization working to measure effectiveness. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am today without the Teen Foundation.

Rachel Levenson, JTF alumna

Where is Rachel today? Rachel focused her university studies on international development in Africa. She conducted research over the course of four months in Uganda, which ultimately led to her thesis. She participated in American Jewish World Service learning in Nicaragua and Uganda, and studied in Senegal where she perfected her French. Rachel spent a year at Oxford studying international development. Today, Rachel is a Wesleyan University graduate, who has opened a donor advised fund at the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and has pledged to give at least 10% of her income to charities until her retirement. “I will bring forward Instilling teens with the skills needed for life-long the skills I have learned, activism and philanthropy but also a stronger Philanthropy requires training, experience, and a commitment to understanding of the tzedakah (justice). The Jewish Teen Foundations (JTF) offer select groups of Bay Area Jewish teens (9th-11th grade) the opportunity world, its conflicts, to explore Jewish values, address social justice issues, develop and its peoples.” leadership skills, and practice informed and directed philanthropy. – Leah The participants make a one-year commitment to serve on one of JTF board member the four Jewish Teen Foundations (North Peninsula, South Peninsula, Marin/, and East Bay). This responsibility includes attending a weekend retreat and seven, youth-led “You can look at a list of Sunday board meetings. Guided by a talented group of staff, teens learn how to fundraise, distribute grants, and run their own nonprofit foundations. twenty Jewish values in Sunday school and it’s just As a program of the Bay Area Jewish Community Federations, our teens gain access to resources, expertise, and opportunities, as well that, a list of great values. as share in the mission and work of these philanthropic institutions. But doing this work has The JTF exposes Bay Area teens to local and worldwide social, actually made those political, economic, and environmental issues. It also introduces values a physical, them to a variety of on-the-ground organizations working to tangible experience.” address these issues. From runaway San Francisco youth, to a Darfur refugee’s journey to Israel, to the atrocities in the Congo and elderly Ukrainian Jews living on $2 a day – the intent – Ryan is to create awareness, deepen their commitment to social action, and empower them JTF board member through responsibility and decision-making. Within the process, teens find real joy in giving. Organizations funded The Jewish Teen Foundations are proud to have funded over 100 nonprofit organizations*.

• A Child’s Right • Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society • North American Conference of • Sumba Foundation • A Glimmer of Hope • Herschel Center Ethiopian Jews • Sustainable Cambodia • Advancement for Rural Kids • Himalayan Cataract Project • One Family Fund • TanzSolar • A.H.A.V.A. • Holocaust Center of Northern • Polish American Jewish • Tel Hai Academic College • Magen David Adom Alliance for Youth Action • Tibet Fund • American Jewish World Service • The Hunger Project • PlayPumps International • Trailblazer Foundation • American Nicaraguan Foundation • I Have a Dream • Real Options for City Kids • Trips for Kids • Arava Institute • International Rescue Committee • Resource Foundation • The Vaccine Fund • Art of Yoga • Israel Union for Environmental • Reut Sderot • Verde Partnership Garden • Ashok Gadgil Research Laboratory, Defense • Riders for Health • Vitamin Angels UC Berkeley • Israel Venture Network • Riekes Center • Water Partners International • Bay Area Outreach and Recreation • Jaffa Institute • Room to Read • World Medical Fund USA Program • Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center • Sexto Sol • World ORT • Bedouin Women’s Embroidery • Jewish Agency for Israel • Shelter Network • Yad Sarah Project • Jewish Coalition for Literacy • The Sierra Club • Yemin Orde • Beit Issie Shapiro • Jewish Community Free Clinic of • Sociedad Israelita de Beneficencia • Youth Renewal Fund • Ben Shemen Sonoma County de Mendoza • Blue Planet Network • Jewish Family and Children’s • Solar Electric Lightg Fund *This*This iiss a parpartialtial lilisting.sting. • Bread Project Services • buildOn • Jewish Heart for Africa • Canal Alliance • Jewish Home of San Francisco • Center for Independent Living • American Jewish Joint Distribution • Charity: Water Committee (JDC) • College Track • Jewish National Fund • Direct Relief International • Jewish World Watch • Earth Justice • Journeys Within Our Community • Eastside College Preparatory School • Life Learning Academy • East Meets West Foundation • Lift Up Africa • Ecumenical Hunger Program • Living Compassion • ELI • Malaria No More • Enrich the World • Meir Panim • Freedom From Hunger • Midrasha of the East Bay • Fresh Lifelines for Youth • Migdal Ohr • Friends by Nature • The Mosaic Project • Yad b’Yad (Hand in Hand) • mothers2mothers • Heal Africa • Nepal Youth Foundation • Heartland Alliance • Nomad Foundation Here are some examples of our impact Partnering with: • Jewish Heart for Africa and utilizing Israeli solar technology, our teens have powered a school, an orphanage, and two medical clinics and provided refrigeration for vaccines. • Yemin Orde (an Israeli youth village serving adolescent survivors of trauma and displacement), our teens have funded a volunteer project, a learning center, rebuilt their water system after a devastating fire, and supported a post-high school preparation program. • Friends by Nature, our teens supported two years of a community garden project for Ethiopian Israelis that fostered a connection between the youth and elderly, provided nourishment, and ultimately led residents to take pride in their local community. • American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, our teens provided medical assistance and vaccines to impoverished Jewish babies and children in Argentina and funded three water wells in Ethiopia. Measuring success Over the course of our nine years, the Jewish Teen Foundations have conducted both qualitative and quantitative studies on the impact of our programs on teens and families. The results highlight the program’s success in developing leadership skills, enhancing Jewish identity, and increasing awareness of local, Jewish and global problems. We are proud to be a leader in establishing a set of best practices in the field of youth philanthropy.

75%75% 83%83% 995%5% of participants say that they of participants said they left the of parents said that JTF had a apply the leadership and program understanding more strong or extremely strong impact grantmaking skills they learned in about Jewish organizations that on their teens. the program to other endeavors. help the world. The Jewish Teen Foundations timeline

2004: The South Peninsula 2006: The Marin JTF was launched with pilot board and the East support from the Federation and other Bay Teen Foundation were generous funders. A total of $91,500 established. They raised was raised by the three Teen a total of $23,200, Foundations. The JTF won the which was granted to six Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy organizations dedicated to award by the Association of Fundraising improving quality of life Professionals. through education and eradicating hunger.

2004 2006 2008

2005 2007

2005: Building on the momentum of the 2007: The Federation and other funders first year’s program, the 2005 JTF helped launch two additional participants raised more than $36,250, Teen Foundations in the North Peninsula which was distributed to 19 different region and in San Francisco, doubling nonprofit organizations. program participation in a single year. A John and Marcia Goldman created an total of $95,501 was raised by the five endowment for the South Peninsula JTF. Teen Foundations. 2008: The Marin and SF JTF 2010: A philanthropist 2012: In its 9th year, our merged in the fall of 2008. endowed the landmark program raised More than 150 organizations Marin/SF Jewish Teen $220,000 reaching over a submitted grant proposals Foundation, ensuring million dollars granted for teen board review and that it will exist in by over 500 teens to selection. That year a total perpetuity. more than 100 nonprofit of $204,011 was raised. That year $177,856 organizations practicing was raised. tikkun olam.

2010 2012

2009 2011

2009: The JTF was named Program of 2011: Marin/SF region launches the Year by the Jewish Community first-ever Alumni Council, in which Federation and noted in the June program graduates spread their 2009 San Francisco Magazine cover philanthropic knowledge to the story, “In Good We Trust, Ideas community by teaching in schools, Changing the World.” A total of synagogues, and creating a national $168,206 was raised by the Teen network of teen philanthropists. A Foundations. total of $194,129 was raised. An optimist and an activist “If 22 Jewish teens can help I try to keep myself busy. I run track & field. I’m a leader of my school’s Jew at-risk youth on the streets Crew, Model United Nations team, and Eco-Council. I am also passionate about of Tel Aviv, anything is photography and love the outdoors. I first heard about the Jewish Teen Founda- possible.” tions at a program fair at my synagogue, and was immediately interested because it was a way for me to make a difference in my community. The more I read about it, the more interested I became, and so I decided to apply. JTF is a group of teens that raise money to work towards solving a certain issue in the world. We choose a cause – any problem that needs solving – and spend months writing letters and making phone calls to raise money. Then we review grant proposals and choose five or six great nonprofits to receive grants. By learning about the issues that face us and the groups working to solve them, I see the world through the lens of an activist and an optimist. If 22 Jewish teens in San Francisco can help at-risk youth on the streets of Tel Aviv, anything is possible. What I have been most surprised by is how many people are willing to support a worthy cause. It gives me hope that so many people, even in these economic conditions, want to help in any way they can. Consensus, leadership, and outreach are some important life skills I will definitely take away from the Jewish Teen Foundation and will be able to apply in college and beyond. I know I will look back on this experience with pride, and view it as a reminder that a small group of dedicated people really can change the world!

Ari Goldstein, JTF board member Jewish Teen Foundations in the headlines Skills JTF board For the past nine years, the JTF has been featured in various online and print publications, members acquire distinguishing themselves from a myriad of other youth philanthropy programs across the country.

• Fundraising • Creating mission What makes this program unique? statements The JTF offers a tangible way for teens to practice tikkun olam in order to make a • Evaluating grant proposals significant impact in the world. • Vetting nonprofit • The JTF’s are based on a youth empowerment model. Teens work with local and global nonprofit organizations leaders and innovative philanthropists. • Allocating funds • Board members make all decisions by consensus, a throught-provoking and challenging group • Consensus process that ensures every voice is heard. decision-making • Program alumni are some of the first in the field to design curricula and educate the broader • Researching community about the principles and practice of youth-led philanthropy. • Meeting, planning, • Each year, our teens raise more money than any other Jewish youth philanthropy program in the world to and facilitating support the causes they care about. • Event planning A chance to do good

I first heard about JTF from a good friend and I ended up joining because I wanted to meet Jewish teens who had similar interests. It’s a way to raise money for all sorts of important issues that need to be addressed throughout the world. It’s also a way for teenagers to develop fundraising skills, working to make important decisions that most teens don’t get an opportunity to make. In the final meeting, when we make the official decisions of where the money is going and how many projects we’re funding, as the meeting leader, I had to listen to a group of 24 teens and do my best to help the group come to a consensus on where the grants would go. Before I was on teen board, I was a loud voice in the group, and afterwards, I learned to

Andrew Gerson, JTF alumnus be present in a different way. I’m not the main voice, but facilitate groups instead. It’s more rewarding. “Participating has definitely Participating has definitely helped me figure out what my Jewish identity is. I want to helped me figure out what serve my community in a way I wouldn’t have wanted to before. I also recruited three my Jewish identity is.” close friends, who today have significantly benefited from the program. I see how much teenagers can grow from this experience. You can see someone completely change from who they were, and you’ve helped that happen, that’s awesome!

Where is Andrew today? Andrew is attending summer courses at Stanford and entering UCLA in the fall. He is still involved in the Jewish Teen Foundations by helping to staff retreats and takes part in interviewing candidates for the Foundation program director positions. A Giants baseball fan and movie buff, his career goals include making films one day. “It's remarkable to see The Future of the Jewish Teen Foundations what happens when the students realize that their Building on the success of the past nine years, our goals for the future include: choices are between a new iPhone or iPad, and • Increasing philanthropic and educational opportunities for Jewish Teen then they meet people Foundation families; who have to decide which • Expanding opportunities for program alumni to share their experience and child to feed.” knowledge about philanthropy; – Jackie • Creating a powerful and engaged alumni network in order to continue this work; parent of JTF board member • Securing long-term funding to ensure the continuity of the North Peninsula and East Bay Teen Foundations. “When we met the Jewish Teen Foundations, we had never gotten a penny from a teenager. Thanks to [their leadership], word spread and now we've been able to do a lot of good as a result.” – Jewish Heart for Africa JTF Grantee Realizing I could make a difference

I first heard about the JTF at my synagogue’s teen involvement fair. I remem- ber hearing about the program, and knowing that it was something I could definitely envision myself being a part of. This experience has taught me that, even as an individual in a world of close to seven billion, I can make a difference. From the time I was little, I have been taught that, but never really believed it until I became a part of JTF. I realized that it is totally possible to make an impact on the world, and as an active member of the Jewish community, I feel it is an obligation to continue this philanthropic work in any and every way possible. The most interesting thing I discovered by participating is that adults will take you more seriously in the nonprofit world than I had previously expected. Often adults will overlook your potential and might not always take you Hallie Goldstein, JTF board member seriously. However, throughout this process, we have met with dozens of adults “Often adults will overlook your from various nonprofits who have taken us very seriously – and it feels good! potential and might not always I plan to use the knowledge I gained involving nonprofits, budgets, overhead, take you seriously. However, impact, and reliability throughout my life. I plan to be someone who stays involved and connected in my community and in the greater Jewish community throughout this process, we have as well, whether it is monetarily or through service. Despite feeling very met with dozens of adults from satisfied about my fundraising, I am still a firm believer in practicing tikkun various nonprofits who have olam through service as well. taken us very seriously – and it feels good!” The work of the Jewish Teen Foundations would not be possible without the generous support of many families and individuals

The Youth Philanthropy Initiative and the Jewish Teen Foundations of the North Peninsula, South Peninsula, San Francisco/Marin, and the East Bay are sponsored by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties (JCF), in cooperation with the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay, and with the support of many generous funders over the last nine years:

An anonymous funder* Shoresh Foundation† Susan Lowenberg and Joyce Newstat who is endowing the M/SF JTF Herbert and Marianne Friedman Family Dana Cohen and Jeff Simon John and Marcia Goldman* Philanthropic Fund† Len and Roberta Cohn Family Philanthropic Fund† who have endowed the SPJTF The Etrog Fund 2 Ellen and Jerry Saliman Laura and Gary Lauder Philanthropic Fund* Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund† Selma and Stanford Tandowsky Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies** Diane and Howard Zack Philanthropic Fund* Jay Cohen Alexander M. and June L. Maisin Foundation** Nanci and Gary Fredkin* June Cooperman † Morton and Amy Friedkin Supporting Foundation Richard and Lindsay Ehrman The Purple Lady Jim Joseph Foundation Stacy Mason and Tod Cohen Ann and Irwin Bear L and R Lawrence Family Foundation** Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund† Adam Greenstone † Sandy and Jean Colen Family Foundation The Piser Family Bob and Valli Benesch Tandler Philanthropic Fund* Fanny Bess Philanthropic Fund* Matthew and Shelly Stein Philanthropic Fund* Terry and Suzan Kramer† Stanley S. Langendorf Jewish Fund** Maurice Kanbar Charitable Trust* All Voices Welcome Fund† Breetwor-Evans Philanthropic Fund Serena and Lily Foundation Julie and Todd Kaye of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Newt Harband Traeger-Muney Philanthropic Fund Jewish Teen Funders Network Leslie Family Foundation David and Mary Cohn Charitable Trust Frederick J. Isaac Philanthropic Fund† Diana Grand Philanthropic Fund† Funders as of June 2012 Steirman Family Philanthropic Fund* Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund Due to space limitations, this is a partial listing. Dana Corvin and Harris Weinberg Alijon Charitable Trust* Philanthropic Fund* Additional grants and contributions continue to be accepted. Warren and Barbi Lazarow Philanthropic Fund* Rothenberg Family Philanthropic Fund* Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation ** denotes a supporting foundation of the JCF The Libitzky Family Foundation† The Schwartzman Family Philanthropic Fund* * denotes a fund of the JCF Zoe and Dan Scheinman † The Mildred Tillman Teen Philanthropy Fund* denotes a fund of the Jewish Community Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Hurst of the East Bay The Kohn Fund** Joshua and Siobhan Korman Philanthropic Fund Staff members working on the Jewish Teen Foundations over the past nine years include Phyllis Cook, Judy Bloom, Mark Reisbaum, Amy Rabbino, Sue Schwartzman, Rabbi Serena Eisenberg, Sheila Devore, Sara Nesson, Gilad Salmon, Elana Isaacs, Loal Isaacs, Lisa Tabak, Rabbi James Brandt, Caroline Poland, Michelle Schechtman, Sarah Grossman-Kahn, Anya Schulz, Simon Shachter, Rachel Levenson, Ariel Kurland, Allison Hargreaves, Laura Ruth Rheinheimer, Emily Schoenfeld-Blum, and many others on the JCF staff. “Our long-term success as a Jewish community depends on cultivating Jewish leaders. The Jewish Teen Foundations are a cornerstone of our work.”

– Jennifer Gorovitz Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, CEO

For more information about the Jewish Teen Foundations call 415.512.6263 and visit jewishteenfoundations.org

JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE PENINSULA, MARIN AND SONOMA COUNTIES 121 STEUART STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 | 415.777.0411 | JEWISHFED.ORG