SAN FRANCISCO—The Jewish Community Federation today announced that it has appointed Jennifer Gorovitz as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Gorovitz becomes the first woman CEO within the largest 20 Federations in North America.

Gorovitz became acting CEO in 2009, upon the unexpected departure of the previous Chief Executive Officer. James Koshland, Federation President, elaborates: “We are delighted to appoint Jennifer Gorovitz to this position and we believe that she has given us strong and decisive leadership during the past six months.”

Ms. Gorovitz’s family history of involvement with the Federation spans four generations, starting with her great grandfather, Isaac Isaacson, who was part of the founding generation of the Hebrew Free Loan Association. Ms. Gorovitz’s own Federation volunteer experience began as an undergraduate at Stanford University where she chaired the Federation’s student campaign, was invited on a student trip to Israel and led a special campus appeal for Operation Moses, Israel’s first covert campaign leading to a modern-day exodus for Ethiopian Jews.

In 2004, with the encouragement of long-time Federation leader Phyllis Cook, Ms. Gorovitz left the practice of law to enter the non-profit sector and to fulfill her desire to connect her profession with her passion through the Jewish community. Ms. Gorovitz advanced from her role as Senior Development Officer to Associate Director of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. She was subsequently promoted to Director of Funds and Foundations, followed by a brief role as Chief of Staff before her appointment as Acting CEO.

“The appointment of Jennifer signals our continuing commitment to strategically re-organizing the Federation and making it stable and relevant to current and future Jewish community needs,” Koshland said.

A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Stanford University, Ms. Gorovitz clerked for the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington DC, was a litigator for Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, a Public Defender for Santa Clara County, and counsel to public charities and private foundations for Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass.

Jennifer is married to Eric Gorovitz, also an attorney, and has two children, Jessica and Noah.

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The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties works to protect and enhance Jewish life in our community. Through fundraising, strategic planning and grantmaking, we care for those in need, strengthen and secure the safety of the Jewish people, and foster Jewish renaissance at home, in Israel and around the world.

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