Empowering Jewish women to drive social change for women and girls—locally and globally.
The Jewish Women’s Foundation (JWF) serves as a hub for informed Jewish philanthropists and leaders, offering a unique opportunity to become an empowered funder. Trustees engage deeply with pressing issues affecting women and girls, taking a hands-on approach to philanthropy.
JWF is a network of women committed to fostering enduring social change. We aim to advance the lives of women and girls locally, in Israel and Budapest.We envision a world where gender is not a barrier to safety or success and where women and girls have equal social, political, economic and religious opportunities.
Through shared purpose and collective giving, we turn vision into action. Since 2002, our grants have invested more than $3.6 million in programs that drive social change, advancing justice, equality, and empowerment for women and girls
JWF Chair: Sydelle B. Sonkin
Immediate Past JWF Chair: Helene Weingarten
Anita Naftaly
Diane Kershenbaum
Deena Lockman
Cindy Pollack
Liz Reitman
Denise Silverman
Lauren Stuhmer
Laurie Winston
Women and girls face real challenges, but together we are changing the story.
Nearly half of women (45.1%) in the United States experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes (Source CDC 2023/2024 Sexual Violence Data Brief)
We invest in programs that provide safety, advocacy, leadership training, and support for women and girls across generations.
Since 2002, JWF has granted more than $3.6 million to organizations that create social change for women and girls.
More than one in 10 women aged 18 and older – over 14.8 million – lived in poverty in 2024 (Source:National Women’s Law Center)
We support initiatives that provide mentorship, education, entrepreneurship training, and pathways to financial independence.
Our grantees empower women and girls with skills that expand opportunity and break cycles of vulnerability.
Only 1.9 percent of philanthropic dollars in the United States support women and girls (Source: The Women’s Philanthropy Institute).
We ensure more resources reach women and girls by centering them in our philanthropy and grantmaking decisions.
Our trustees use collective giving to direct funds where they create the strongest long-term change.
As a JWF Trustee, you play a direct role in shaping the impact of your philanthropic investment. Trustees are invited serve on the grants committee, review proposals, interview applicants, and vote on the projects that drive the greatest impact. Through this hands-on process, trustees gain insight into how strategic philanthropy drives meaningful social change. Participation is flexible, allowing each trustee to engage at a level that feels right for them.
Become a Trustee with a tax-deductible commitment of $2,000 per year for three years (totaling $6,000).
For women under 50, join with a contribution of $1,000 per year for three years (totaling $3,000).
Secure Lifetime Trustee status with an endowment gift of $50,000 to fund grants in perpetuity.
With an endowment gift of $100,000, you and one immediate female family member can participate for life, ensuring your legacy continues.
Our trustees are champions of change. Their leadership, commitment, and vision ensure that women and girls have the support and opportunities they deserve for generations to come.
Renee Bearak
Isabel Berg
Margie Berg
Judy Bergman
Eileen Berman**
Jill Bernstein
Trudy Bilfeld
Sandra Bornstein*
Cynthia Brown
Carol Crawford*
Amanda Cummings
Mindy Diamond
Mindi Fetterman
Julie Fisher Cummings**
Edith Gelfand*
Hilary Gould
Marcia Grosswald
Ellie Hart
Mona Joffe
Jennifer Josephberg
Judy Kamensky
Lynn Kaston
Diane Kershenbaum
Brenda Korach
Judith Krandel
Melissa Leiberman
Patti Lehrhoff
Clare Lesser*
Tami Lesser*
Syndie Levien
Vivian Lieberman*
Rachelle Litt
Deena Lockman
Paula Lustbader*
Anita Naftaly
Susan Pertnoy**
Cindy Pollack
Katie Prince**
Caroline Rafferty**
Elizabeth Reitman
Alexis Rivero
Janice Romley
Marcy Russo
Sarah Salter Levy
Suzan Sankel
Cindy Schlossberg
Lisa Schneider
Carla Schwartz
Shirley Siff
Denise Silverman
Hope Silverman
Sydelle Sonkin**
Heidi Spizman
Lauren Stuhmer
Linda Teitelbaum*
Terry Vaccaro
Kelly Warsaw
Beth Wayne
Arleen Wayte
Helene Weingarten*
Debra Weinstein
Laurie Winston
Carolyn Yasuna
* Lifetime Trustees
**Intergenerational Trustees
Our grantees are transforming the lives of women and girls through education, empowerment, leadership, and wellness. Together, we advance equality and opportunity in Palm Beach, Israel, and beyond.
Empowers 30-40 female Jewish students through immersive experiences that build community, deepen connection and inspire leadership.
Connects high school girls with pre-teens to build relationships and promote growth through sessions on wellness, confidence, and social challenges.
Provides mental health support, SEL programming, and digital wellness tools for underserved girls.
Provides transformative cultural arts and service-learning experiences designed to help girls ages 11-18, helping them heal, build confidence and strengthen emotional resilience.
Engages Jewish women ages 18-39 in meaningful acts of service that strengthen community and deepen Jewish identity.
Engages men and boys through education to prevent intimate partner and dating violence and promote healthy relationships.
Improves maternal health for Black and Haitian women through culturally matched doula care, while creating economic opportunities and supporting safer births for families.
Offers therapeutic outdoor adventures for girls and gender-diverse youth survivors of sexual trauma, building resilience, confidence, and hope.
In partnership with Alpert JFS, Jewish community leaders receive training and resources to address domestic and gender-based violence.
Supports Jewish women at every stage of breast or ovarian cancer through culturally relevant, nonclinical emotional and peer support.
Advances reproductive healthcare access for women and girls through education, advocacy, and comprehensive, affordable services statewide.
Chimes Israel has been a leader in special needs support for over 25 years. This 12-week workshop serves 15 girls (ages 11–21) with disabilities in Chimes Israel’s afterschool programs. The topics cover gender, body image, self-awareness, cyber safety, relationships, consent, and recognizing, avoiding and seeking help against abuse.
For nearly a decade, ELI has worked with the IDF to combat sexual abuse by addressing root causes. The program trains 220 Quality-of-Life Officers, women responsible for soldiers' wellbeing, by equipping them to identify abuse, seek help, and report cases. This program raises awareness of sexual abuse in the army while also providing therapeutic support to victims identified as a result of these awareness efforts.
itworks is a non-profit organization dedicated to narrowing employment gaps and promoting diversity in Israel's high-tech industry. This program supports 100 mothers who are unemployed due to the war. From Destruction to Growth offers targeted job training in English and technology, along with empowerment workshops, to help these women rebuild their futures.
Founded in 1929, JAFI connects Israel with Jewish communities worldwide. Its all female residential educational program supports young Israeli women from disadvantaged backgrounds with training, counseling, leadership development, and social action opportunities, helping them secure meaningful IDF placements to improve their life trajectories.
Yozmot Atid works to reduce socioeconomic and gender disparities in Israel by empowering women facing financial challenges with the training and tools to start successful small businesses. This program supports women from Israel's periphery, including Arab, Ultra-Orthodox, Druze, and Bedouin communities, helping them develop sustainable businesses, achieve financial independence, and strengthen their families and communities.
A trauma-recovery program supporting 300 frontline women hospital workers since October 7 with therapeutic care to heal, prevent PTSD, and build resilience in Israel’s southern communities.
A 24/7 Jerusalem center providing homeless young women ages 18–26 refuge, trauma-informed care, and pathways to healing and independence.
Empowers Ethiopian-Israeli and other at-risk girls in grades 7–12 with academic skills, emotional resilience, and confidence to succeed and shape their futures.
Closes Israel’s high-tech gender gap by building a pipeline for girls and women into STEM through coding education, mentorship, and career support.
Provides long-term, holistic support for women and children after domestic violence, bridging the gap between emergency shelter and lasting independence.
A national initiative driving systemic legal reform to dismantle economic barriers and secure lasting independence for women survivors of abuse.
A pilot cohort of Jewish women building grassroots leadership through retreat, mentorship, and microgrants, creating a secular cultural space to connect and lead.
Empowers 30-40 female Jewish students through immersive experiences that build community, deepen connection and inspire leadership.
Connects high school girls with pre-teens to build relationships and promote growth through sessions on wellness, confidence, and social challenges.
Provides mental health support, SEL programming, and digital wellness tools for underserved girls.
Provides transformative cultural arts and service-learning experiences designed to help girls ages 11-18, helping them heal, build confidence and strengthen emotional resilience.
Engages Jewish women ages 18-39 in meaningful acts of service that strengthen community and deepen Jewish identity.
Engages men and boys through education to prevent intimate partner and dating violence and promote healthy relationships.
Improves maternal health for Black and Haitian women through culturally matched doula care, while creating economic opportunities and supporting safer births for families.
Offers therapeutic outdoor adventures for girls and gender-diverse youth survivors of sexual trauma, building resilience, confidence, and hope.
In partnership with Alpert JFS, Jewish community leaders receive training and resources to address domestic and gender-based violence.
Supports Jewish women at every stage of breast or ovarian cancer through culturally relevant, nonclinical emotional and peer support.
Advances reproductive healthcare access for women and girls through education, advocacy, and comprehensive, affordable services statewide.
Chimes Israel has been a leader in special needs support for over 25 years. This 12-week workshop serves 15 girls (ages 11–21) with disabilities in Chimes Israel’s afterschool programs. The topics cover gender, body image, self-awareness, cyber safety, relationships, consent, and recognizing, avoiding and seeking help against abuse.
For nearly a decade, ELI has worked with the IDF to combat sexual abuse by addressing root causes. The program trains 220 Quality-of-Life Officers, women responsible for soldiers' wellbeing, by equipping them to identify abuse, seek help, and report cases. This program raises awareness of sexual abuse in the army while also providing therapeutic support to victims identified as a result of these awareness efforts.
itworks is a non-profit organization dedicated to narrowing employment gaps and promoting diversity in Israel's high-tech industry. This program supports 100 mothers who are unemployed due to the war. From Destruction to Growth offers targeted job training in English and technology, along with empowerment workshops, to help these women rebuild their futures.
Founded in 1929, JAFI connects Israel with Jewish communities worldwide. Its all female residential educational program supports young Israeli women from disadvantaged backgrounds with training, counseling, leadership development, and social action opportunities, helping them secure meaningful IDF placements to improve their life trajectories.
Yozmot Atid works to reduce socioeconomic and gender disparities in Israel by empowering women facing financial challenges with the training and tools to start successful small businesses. This program supports women from Israel's periphery, including Arab, Ultra-Orthodox, Druze, and Bedouin communities, helping them develop sustainable businesses, achieve financial independence, and strengthen their families and communities.
A trauma-recovery program supporting 300 frontline women hospital workers since October 7 with therapeutic care to heal, prevent PTSD, and build resilience in Israel’s southern communities.
A 24/7 Jerusalem center providing homeless young women ages 18–26 refuge, trauma-informed care, and pathways to healing and independence.
Empowers Ethiopian-Israeli and other at-risk girls in grades 7–12 with academic skills, emotional resilience, and confidence to succeed and shape their futures.
Closes Israel’s high-tech gender gap by building a pipeline for girls and women into STEM through coding education, mentorship, and career support.
Provides long-term, holistic support for women and children after domestic violence, bridging the gap between emergency shelter and lasting independence.
A national initiative driving systemic legal reform to dismantle economic barriers and secure lasting independence for women survivors of abuse.
A pilot cohort of Jewish women building grassroots leadership through retreat, mentorship, and microgrants, creating a secular cultural space to connect and lead.
To learn more, please contact Shari Mac Keen, Director of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, at jwf@jewishpalmbeach.org.
Thank you for your interest in joining as a Trustee. Please complete the form below, and a member of our team will contact you with next steps.
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Thank you for your interest in the Intergenerational Trustee opportunity. Complete the form below, and our team will follow up with more information.
