Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City raised more than $10 million from the community in 2023.
Donations from hundreds of people across multiple campaigns have been and will continue to be allocated where the Jewish community locally and worldwide needs it most.
The $10 million amount is the sum of funds raised for the Federation’s annual campaign, security campaign, more than a dozen local initiatives and the Israel Emergency Fund, which was created out of necessity after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and the ensuing war.
“Kansas City is such a special Jewish community in so many ways, but first and foremost is our generosity,” said Jay Lewis, Federation president and CEO. “We have a rich history of stepping up to support local and international needs at a significant level that is unique for a community our size. This community was incredibly generous in 2023, but we shouldn’t be surprised, because that’s just who we are.”
According to Campaign Director Annie Glickman, more than 60 staff and lay leaders were heavily involved in facilitating Federation’s 2023 fundraising efforts, including leadership from Board Chair Beth Liss, Financial Resource Development Chair Sondra Friedman and Campaign Chair Erin Berger.
“Our professional team, dedicated lay leadership and cohort of ambassadors have been working tirelessly to reach the generous benefactors in our community,” Glickman said, “and we don’t take for granted those who make the choice to invest in our Jewish community.”
Donors of all sorts helped Federation raise the $10 million, including more than just Jewish adults.
“Children and teens also gave to Federation’s campaigns this year,” Glickman said. “There were bake sales, hot chocolate stands, change delivered from babysitting money, savings from piggy banks and more. Teens contributed from their Jewish Community Foundation B’nai Tzedek Funds, and generous support came from outside of the Jewish community, as well.”
Israel Emergency Fund
Shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) asked Kansas City’s Federation to raise $3.5 million for Israel, an amount that was surpassed within two months.
“Since Oct. 7, we raised $3.6 million above and beyond the $5.13 million we raised to support our local programs and those overseas,” Glickman said.
People of various ages, religions and income levels went out of their way to provide Federation with money for Israelis in their time of need after Oct. 7. Many donors gave checks of more than $500, some of whom hadn’t donated an amount that large before. Several contributions of $100,000 and $200,000 were made, and many donations were given by organizations and people not affiliated with Judaism at all.
Donations were often augmented by matching donors. An anonymous family provided a $1 million match for the Israel Emergency Fund which was quickly met, and other matches were set up and met rapidly.
Volunteer Pella Fingersh, a past Federation president and native Israeli, served as a leader in the emergency fundraising effort, having experienced terror attacks on Israel firsthand. Past Federation presidents John Isenberg and Howard Jacobson and current Federation board member Jerry Enslein were also crucial in raising funds for Israel.
Local donations to the Israel Emergency Fund were allocated through JFNA for the greatest impact both immediately (basic needs, medical services, evacuation/housing and trauma relief, as well as the safety of vulnerable populations) and in the long term (rebuilding of critical infrastructure, for example).
Annual Campaign
“Kansas City not only responded with significant funding to support urgent humanitarian needs in Israel, but also continued to generously support the annual campaign that meets so many critical needs in Kansas City and around the world,” Lewis said. “This is an incredible accomplishment by our extremely talented and dedicated team of professionals and lay leaders.”
Federation’s annual campaign, which supports partner agencies and organizations, raised $5.13 million, 99% of the amount raised the prior year, during a year where people gave generously in support of Israel. The campaign team, led by Erin Berger and Glickman, numbered about 45 professionals and volunteers over the course of the year.
Federation works with more than 80 programs and 50 local and international organizations and initiatives, each of which address specific aspects of Jewish communal life and is supported through allocations of annual campaign revenue.
Community Security Campaign
Also prevalent in 2023 was Federation’s community security campaign, led by Federation board member Josh Sosland, past president John Isenberg and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Derek Gale.
“We’re so grateful to the more than 30 benefactors who made generous commitments and contributions to our community security campaign in 2023,” Gale said. “We raised more than $1 million toward community security this past year, which ensures that all of us can feel safe and comfortable participating in Jewish life.”
Gale noted that in addition to the $1 million pledged, Federation took in more than $1 million in cash on both previous and new commitments, and that the total campaign — which has been running for the past few years — has now raised more than $8.5 million, which will help cover the costs of security operations and technology through the year 2030.
Additional support for Federation initiatives and programs came from donations earmarked for PJ Library, Sasone, Chesed Fund, Guardian Society, Leadership Tomorrow, See KC, Dignity Grows, the Young Adults Division and more.
Federation staff and lay leaders emphasized the importance of Federation’s role in the Jewish community and highlighted the generosity of the Kansas City Jewish community.
“We have a responsibility to support our local programs and our partners overseas,” Glickman said. “Our benefactors have trusted Federation over the years to distribute their tzedakah where it is needed most. I am relieved that we have collectively achieved our goals to be able to keep our community vibrant and safe. Kansas City has an important part to play in supporting Israel with humanitarian aid, and I couldn’t be more proud of all that we have collectively achieved.”
“No one else comes close to doing what the Jewish Federation does,” Lewis said. “From the central leadership role we play, to providing critical financial resources throughout this Jewish community, to being positioned to respond when a crisis occurs, supporting the work of the Jewish Federation is the most important thing a member of our community can do to impact Jewish life.”
