The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is proud to announce that Karen Kramer and Susanna Lachs Adler have been appointed as the new co-chairs of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish Community Foundation, ushering in a new era of vision and stewardship for our community’s endowment and legacy initiatives.

With deep roots in Jewish communal life and decades of leadership experience, Kramer and Lachs Adler bring a shared passion for ensuring the Jewish Federation’s long-term vitality and impact. Together, they will guide the Foundation’s mission to grow and sustain endowment resources that protect and strengthen Jewish life — today and for generations to come.

Kramer, who has served on the Foundation board since 2012, became its co-chair in 2024 and a member of the Jewish Federation’s Board of Directors. She has been active in the Philadelphia Jewish community for over 30 years, holding numerous leadership positions at the Jewish Federation, including Women’s Philanthropy chair, Endowments vice chair, and LIFE & LEGACY chair and JFGP’s Campaign Cabinet. She is an alumna of JFNA’s National Young Women’s Leadership Cabinet and National Women’s Philanthropy.

Outside of the Jewish Federation, Kramer has held roles with Abramson Senior Care, OROT, Our Closet (JFCS) and her synagogue, Temple Sinai

Kramer has been essential in the success of the LIFE & LEGACY program, a partnership of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, that helps 13 local Jewish institutions create, grow and sustain endowments. Since its inception in November 2023 through September 2025, the program has raised $43.4 million. 

“When we talk about our future, we truly mean our future,” explained Kramer. “Through the LIFE & LEGACY program, we are providing resources and training to our community's institutions, working closely together so that we can plan for, guide and secure our Jewish community through after-lifetime giving that will sustain a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come."

Lachs Adler brings a wealth of professional and communal experience to her new role. She has retired from the practice of law as a commercial litigator, and she now dedicates herself to community volunteerism and philanthropy. Within the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Lachs Adler is a past chair of the Board of Directors and its then Board of Trustees, is a current member of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and has been a past chair of the Ethics Committee and the Governance and Nominations Committee, among many others. She is an alumna of the Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) National Young Women’s Leadership Cabinet and National Women’s Philanthropy. She represents Greater Philadelphia at the national level on the board of JFNA. 

In other civic engagements, she is a trustee of Temple University and a member of the Board of Visitors at its Beasley School of Law. She also co-chaired its Blue Ribbon Commission to Combat Antisemitism. She is a past trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and served on its Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. She serves on the National Board of Governors of Penn Hillel, Penn’s Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation Board of Advisors. 

“Growing endowments is the key to long-term financial security, and can be tailored to an individual donor's priorities or be given on an unrestricted basis,” said Lachs Adler. “We were fortunate to have endowments designated to provide emergency support to Israel, which we were immediately able to activate after Oct. 7.”

Currently, the Foundation manages over $440 million in total endowment assets that support community needs locally and worldwide.

Together, Kramer and Lachs Adler will guide the Foundation’s efforts to expand legacy giving, enhance endowment growth, and steward philanthropic investments that sustain vital programs and institutions across Greater Philadelphia, Israel, and the global Jewish community.

Their leadership reflects a shared belief: that true continuity comes from foresight — and from building the financial and moral foundation that will support the next generation.

Kramer and Lachs Adler officially assumed their roles on Sept. 1, 2025.

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The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia is a branch of the Jewish Federation. The Foundation is steadfast in its commitment to providing top-tier, customized service to individuals, families, and Jewish institutions. The Foundation helps grow aspirations to create a better future and actualize them through smart investments today. Learn more about the Jewish Community Foundation by clicking here.