The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia welcomes Karen Kramer and Mark Fishman as the newly appointed co-chairs of the Jewish Community Foundation – the new name for the Jewish Federation’s endowments program.
With extensive leadership experience within the Jewish Federation, both Kramer and Fishman are ready to guide the Jewish Community Foundation to new heights, fostering growth and increasing the collective philanthropic investment in the Jewish community’s future through building a robust endowment.
An endowment ensures permanent funds are available to support an organization’s mission and long-term priorities. It is through these secured dollars that the community’s ever changing and diverse needs – from combating food insecurity to responding to global emergencies – can be addressed, not just for today, but for years to come.
Kramer has been active in the Philadelphia Jewish community for over 30 years. In addition to her role as co-chair for the Jewish Community Foundation, Kramer is the chair for the Jewish Federation’s Life & Legacy initiative, and a member of the Jewish Federation’s Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Recognized for her vast achievements, Kramer has served in a variety of leadership positions within the Jewish Federation and the community at-large.
“I want to ensure that our donor conversations include discussing the need to grow a strong endowment for our Jewish future while they are also considering their current gifts to our Annual Campaign", said Kramer. “It's understanding the impact of your philanthropic dollars now, while also understanding the importance of preserving funds to sustain a vibrant future for the community.”
Fishman was the former CEO and chairman of Fishman & Tobin, Inc, a Philadelphia-based clothing manufacturing company. In addition to his role as co-chair for the Jewish Community Foundation, he has actively contributed to the Jewish Federation’s Board of Directors, Campaign Cabinet, New Prospective Donor Committee and served as a mentor for the Sharon and Joseph Kestenbaum Legacy Philanthropy Program.
“My parents taught me the responsibility to give back,” he said. “They instilled in me that being Jewish means to help others, and they always encouraged me to be a saver and to plan for a rainy day.”
Deeply influenced by his parents’ teachings, Fishman shares a personal connection to the importance of creating a strong endowment.
“I grew up knowing that the Jewish Federation brings all Jews together to work as one,” he reflected. “As co-chair, I aim to help the Jewish Community Foundation secure a bright future for the coming generations. I’m raising money for my grandchildren and those after them, to ensure that no Jewish organization ever finds itself in need without a cushion of support for the future.”
Together, Fishman and Kramer will be working with the Jewish Federation’s professional team to implement strategic initiatives to reach the larger community and provide accessible and deep-rooted understandings of planned giving, its importance for sustaining legacy organizations and the benefits people receive through this vehicle of philanthropy.
“Working with both Karen and Mark is an exciting opportunity for the Jewish Community Foundation,” said Chief Planned Giving Officer Jennifer Brier of the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Foundation. “As we continue to grow and embark on our rebrand, their dedication and vision align perfectly with our mission. I’m confident that together we’ll make a lasting impact on our Jewish community’s future.”
Kramer and Fishman are not only leading the charge, but have also set an example through their own philanthropy. Each has established personal endowments, demonstrating their belief in the power of giving back.
Kramer and her husband, Bill, purchased a life insurance policy with the Jewish Community Foundation which will fund an endowment upon their deaths. Their endowment will make annual gifts in each of their names to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign in perpetuity, as well as provide annual support to their synagogue and other organizations they care about.
Beyond personal investment of donations, Kramer invests her time into teaching about the importance of philanthropy to the community and to her children.
“We feel it is our obligation and privilege to have these meaningful conversations with our children and inspire them to give back and understand the importance of creating a safety net for our community,” Kramer said. “They saw us live a blessed and beautiful life, and now they understand that we want to ensure we continue to support our community beyond our lifetime. We believe that a strong Jewish Community Foundation endowment leads to a strong Jewish people.”
Fishman and his wife, Jill, established an unrestricted endowment fund to help sustain the Jewish Federation and to provide it with the flexibility to meet any crisis that might arise.
“In today’s world, we want to ensure that there are plenty of funds available for years to come so we are never left without a safety net,” said Fishman. “With the crises of today and the rampant rise in antisemitism we are seeing – it is even more critical to have a strong, robust endowment for what our future generations may need to protect themselves for tomorrow.”
According to Kramer and Fishman, their vision for the Jewish Community Foundation underscores the need for stability – particularly after a year of uncertainty and unprecedented challenges.
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Learn more about the Jewish Community Foundation at jewishphilly.giftplans.org.
