At the end of 2023, Lauren Mattleman Hoopes will retire as executive director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, a position she has held for nearly 20 years.
“I originally thought I’d retire after 18 years – on my Chai Anniversary — but the pandemic intervened and disrupted that plan,” Hoopes said. “I feel that now, having come through that challenge and with the Foundation so strong, I can step down after 20 years with confidence that it is well positioned for continued success.”
Under Hoopes’ leadership, the Foundation has become one of the most successful organizations of its kind in North America. Its financial assets quadrupled under her leadership, now including more than 1,700 funds and charitable accounts.
Hoopes conceived of and launched the Bushman Community Endowment program (now known as Create a Jewish Legacy), which has distributed more than $70 million to charitable organizations, with more than $100 million in the pipeline. She has led the Foundation through the development of philanthropic education programs, including the B’nai Tzedek Youth Council, the J-LEAD giving circle, and donor engagement efforts “Foundation of Our Future” and “Connecting Our Giving Community.”
“At the Foundation, among the key shifts [in the past 20 years] has been the recognition that everyone is capable of being an engaged giver and our policies, programs, Board composition, and outreach to the community truly reflect that,” Hoopes said. “We have dramatically increased our donor education and engagement activities, making it possible for givers to connect and learn from each other while receiving the benefit of the expertise and creativity of our seasoned staff.”
Hoopes also has overseen the Foundation’s strategic rebranding to reflect its role as a dynamic and creative space for philanthropy across all parts of the Kansas City Jewish Community and implemented five successful strategic plans. In addition, her success as a manager has created an outstanding — and one of the longest-serving — professional staffs in the Kansas City nonprofit community.
Under Hoopes’ leadership, the Foundation received the 2019 Excellence in Impact Award from Nonprofit Connect, which honors those high-performing nonprofits whose programs and services set a high standard of quality, create meaningful social change, and embody the spirit of giving in Kansas City.
“Lauren makes everyone feel part of the ‘Foundation Family,’” said JCF Board President Frank Lipsman. “She is admired and respected by trustees, staff, fundholders and the financial professionals who support the work we do. Fortunately, she has cultivated a passion for philanthropy that will inspire our community for years to come. She has been a mentor to me personally, so I am delighted she will remain with the Foundation through 2023 as we make our plans for future success.”
Hoopes plans to remain in the area as a nonprofit management and planned giving consultant and executive coach. A Succession Planning Task Force to identify a successor will be formed by Lipsman and chaired by past president and Life Trustee Irv Belzer.
“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Lauren for many years and have witnessed her vision, hard work, knowledge and passion, all of which have driven the growth of the Foundation and made a lasting impact on our community,” said Belzer. “We are incredibly grateful for Lauren’s inspiring leadership and wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement. While the Succession Planning Task Force and Board have ‘big shoes’ to fill, we are dedicated to finding a successor who will skillfully lead the Foundation into its next chapter.”
Looking forward, Hoopes said she expects to see the success and growth of the Foundation to continue after her retirement.
“I hope and expect that the strong values, systems, and culture that have been built over the past two decades will continue to be the recipe for success,” she said. “I have confidence that with even more creativity and the right balance of tradition and innovation, it can reach more individuals, families and charitable organizations to make our world a better place for all.”
