The Jewish Community Foundation’s J-LEAD program is entering its 19th year of collective grantmaking and volunteering for the Jewish community.
New members are invited to join J-LEAD (Jewish Leadership, Education, Action and Development), a giving circle for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. By pooling together resources and collectively making grant decisions, J-LEAD members are able to make a greater effect than any one member could alone. Members may join for a $500 charitable contribution, and for a limited time, new members may join for only $250. Since the program began in 2005, J-LEAD has granted nearly half a million dollars to the Jewish community.
In addition to increasing the impact of their philanthropy, J-LEAD allows members to forge connections within the Jewish community. Through collective decision-making and volunteer and social activities, J-LEAD members engage with peers who share their passion for making a difference.
The program also offers educational resources and opportunities for members to deepen their understanding of philanthropy, Jewish values and community needs. By educating and empowering members, J-LEAD works to equip them to make informed decisions about their charitable giving and become more effective philanthropists. J-LEAD also offers opportunities for leadership development and is a platform for networking and mentorship.
The J-LEAD program is co-chaired by Kris Zeid and Bradley Friedman. Zeid, a St. Louis, Missouri, native who has lived in the area for eight years, is a forensic CPA at RubinBrown LLP. In addition to co-chairing J-LEAD, he is a board member and treasurer for the Front Porch Alliance in Kansas City.
“J-LEAD is a great opportunity for young Jewish leaders in the Kansas City area to give tzedakah and make a positive impact on local organizations that serve great causes in our community,” Zeid said. “Participation in J-LEAD provides its members with an outlet to gain more experience with the grant application assessment and selection process, to have a vote on how one’s charitable funds are making an impact, all while developing great friendships with others in the Jewish community.”
Co-chair Bradley Friedman has lived in the Kansas City area his entire life and works at Lucky Orange, a company which provides website insights and analytics.
“J-LEAD has helped me learn more about all the wonderful Jewish non-profit organizations that this community has and given me a perspective on different projects those organizations help lead,” Friedman said. “Growing up in KC and having my wife work in the Jewish nonprofit world, you would think I would know about all these great initiatives, but it wasn't until I joined J-LEAD that I learned about so many other projects that were going on behind the scenes that help make this such a wonderful community to be a part of.”
More information about J-LEAD is available at jcfkc.org/jlead or by contacting Tracie Holley at (913) 327-8284 or .
