With more than 250,000 Jews living in the Bay Area, our community requires dynamic leadership. The Leadership Development department enhances and ensures a life-long commitment to the Jewish community by expanding and helping sustain volunteer leadership for the Federation and its beneficiary agencies, as well as synagogues and other Jewish organizations. We do this by:

• Identifying members of our community who have the desire and the potential for leadership
• Recruiting community members for available leadership positions
• Educating new and prospective leaders of all ages to support their future leadership aspirations
• Recognizing and placing volunteers in various positions within the Jewish Community Federation and its constituent agencies

There are various ways to become more involved in the Jewish community, and the Leadership Development department matches your skills and interest with the right opportunity. For more information on how to get involved, please contact Rebecca Diamondstein at 415.512.6265 or RebeccaD@sfjcf.org.

Get involved in one of our leadership programs

Women in Leadership Mentoring Program (WIL)

Supported by the Women in Leadership Mentoring Fund of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, the WIL program was reestablished in 2008 following the success of the 2002 program.  The program matches 20 emerging and semi-established women leaders with 20 experienced and well respected women from the community.  Together they embark on a 15-month program with the goal of helping to create a strong and valuable new cadre of women leaders for the Federation and greater Jewish community.  Application process is closed.

For more information about the WIL program, please contact Jim Offel at 415.512.6428 or jimo@sfjcf.org.

Get involved with your community through Leadership Development

Annual Campaign

Business Leadership Council (BLC)

Russian Division

• Jewish Community Federation Institute (JCFI)

Young Adults Division (YAD)

YAD looks to identify and train the next generation of Federation, agency and synagogue leaders through a variety of local and national programs:

• Club Fed
• UJC National Young Leadership Cabinet

Women's Philanthropy

• The Judith Chapman Memorial Women in Leadership Fund

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Alliance

Regional Councils

• Marin County
• North Peninsula
• Sonoma County
• South Peninsula

Israel Center

Wexner Alumni Programming

Programs are coordinated for alumni of the Wexner Heritage Program.  If you are a past Wexner participant currently living in the Bay Area, please take a moment to ensure an invitation to upcoming alumni events by completing the profile form.

For more information on how to get involved through Leadership Development, please contact Rebecca Diamondstein at 415.512.6265 or RebeccaD@sfjcf.org.

Awards

Each year, the Leadership Development department honors members of our community with a wide array of leadership awards:

Awards of Excellence

The Awards of Excellence salute the best people and programs working to enhance Jewish life in our community.

• Volunteer of the Year
  This award is given to a volunteer committed to Jewish values, whose contributions of time, creativity, energy and resources sustain and enrich the Jewish community.

• Program of the Year
  This award is given to a program that addresses a need of recognized importance and successfully maximizes community resources through the creative management of financial resources and interagency cooperation.

• Agency Staff Members of the Year
  This award is given to an exceptional staff member or executive of an agency or organization who strengthens the Jewish community.

• JCF Staff Member of the Year
  The Jewish Community Federation values its staff.  Therefore, we recognize one outstanding staff member who has been employed by the JCF for at least three years.  This individual embodies the highest values and ethics of Judaism and makes contributions towards the enhancement and quality of Jewish life.

To learn more about the Awards of Excellence, please contact Rebecca Diamondstein at 415.512.6265 or RebeccaD@sfjcf.org.

The Harvey Koch Leadership Award

The Harvey Koch Leadership Award was established in 1991 to honor Harvey Koch, a pioneer in helping to develop the local Federation community in the South Peninsula and the first president of the Federation’s South Peninsula Council.  The award is presented to a South Peninsula leader who has made a significant and lasting contribution over many years to this community.

To learn more about the Harvey Koch Leadership Award, please contact Stephanie Rosenbaum at 650.852.9020 x 8002 or StephanieR@sfjcf.org.

The Jim Brooks Achievement Award

The Jim Brooks Achievement Award was established in 1995 to commemorate the memory of Jim Brooks, who dedicated himself to carrying on the work that his father-in-law, Harvey Koch, had begun many years before.  Jim served with distinction as president of the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center and a friend to many in the community.  The award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the South Peninsula within a relatively short period of time, and who has shown potential for future leadership.

To learn more about the Jim Brooks Achievement Award, please contact Stephanie Rosenbaum at 650.852.9020 x 8002 or StephanieR@sfjcf.org.

The Judith Chapman Memorial Women’s Leadership Award

The Judith Chapman Memorial Women in Leadership Fund honors a woman from the Federation’s service area who exemplifies significant and sustained volunteer leadership, and who values her Jewish identity and the importance of tzedakah in her life.  The award is presented each year at the Women’s Philanthropy Power of One event and acknowledged at the Federation’s Annual Meeting.

To learn more about the Chapman Award, please contact Jim Offel at 415.512.6428 or jimo@sfjcf.org.

See all of our past award recipients.