Jewish Communal Fund Announces a New President and New Board Members
JCF announces Daniel Blaser as Board President, six new trustees and FY2027 officers following a record $1.3B grantmaking year.
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, August 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Jewish Communal Fund Announces a New President and New Board MembersJewish Communal Fund (JCF), the nation’s largest and most active Jewish donor advised fund, is pleased to announce the election of a new board President, six new trustees, and the appointment of its officer slate for Fiscal Year 2027. Daniel Blaser, Senior Vice President of finance and legal at Extell Development Company and active Jewish communal leader is JCF’s new President. Jonathan Ehrlich, David Farhi, Jodi Ganz, Shelly Kivell, Michelle Levy, and Daniela Tisch join as trustees bringing impressive expertise to the board. With experience across A.I., finance, law, philanthropy, nonprofit, and Jewish communal service, this distinguished board is poised to support JCF's continued growth and impact.
This announcement follows another historic year at JCF. In FY 2026, Fundholders recommended over $1.3 billion in grants to more than 12,000 charitable organizations. Each year, JCF Fundholders continue to show their generosity and commitment to philanthropy through their increased grants.
“As JCF enters our 55th year, we rely on a board that leads with strength, generosity, and vision” said Rachel Schnoll, CEO of Jewish Communal Fund. “We are delighted to welcome Daniel Blaser as our newest President and to add these accomplished trustees to our Board. We are so thankful to our outgoing President, Andrea Markezin-Press, who is leaving the board stronger than ever. Together, we look forward to building on JCF’s momentum, deepening our impact, and helping even more Fundholders achieve their charitable goals in the years ahead.”
Newly Elected Board Members
Jon Ehrlich, CEO of the artificial intelligence software company, T2D2.ai, has a career spanning the intersection of technology, real estate, infrastructure and risk. In addition to the JCF board, Jon serves on the Young Leaders Executive Committee at UJA-Federation of NY.
David Farhi is a Real Estate Audit Partner at Ernst & Young with over 30 years of experience. David provides assurance and advisory services to a wide range of publicly and privately held companies. He served as a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee at UJA-Federation of NY.
Jodi Ganz is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Belfer Management LLC, a single-family office in New York City. Jodi serves on the Board of Governors of AJC and has been a decades-long volunteer for Duke University.
Shelly Kivell, a dedicated civic and philanthropic leader who serves on the Board of the JCC, the Executive Committee of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Government Relations Committee at UJA-Federation of NY, and on the Dean’s Council at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Michele Levy is a nonprofit professional with extensive experience in board leadership and community service. She serves as Vice President at Sephardic Bikur Holim (SBH) in Brooklyn, chairing the Governance Committee and Mental Health Division, and has an MS in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University.
Daniela Tisch is an attorney who recently served as Managing Director of the Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy at Columbia University. She is active with UJA’s Women in Law Committee and Lawyers Executive Committee.
“As a longtime JCF Fundholder and board member, I am honored to be the newest President in a long line of dedicated leaders. My term is beginning at a time when the needs of the Jewish community are growing and philanthropists are responding with urgency to address critical issues here and around the world.” said Daniel Blaser, President of JCF. “My goal is to partner with my fellow board members and JCF team to make charitable giving easier so our Fundholders can continue to rise to the moment."
Re-Elected Trustees
JCF also announced the re-election of Will Bressman, Uri Kaufthal, and Barry Moss, who will continue to serve with distinction on the Board.
FY 2027 Officer Appointments
The following individuals have been nominated and elected to serve as officers for Fiscal Year 2027:
Daniel Blaser, President
Ellen Horing, Chair, Executive Committee
Barry Moss, Treasurer
Spencer Herbst, Secretary & Chair of Marketing Committee
Will Bressman, Chair of Nominating Committee
Samara Cohen, Chair of Special Gifts Committee
Benjamin Hochberg, Vice President, Chair of Investment Committee
The philanthropic landscape is changing, and with a strong leadership team at its helm, JCF is well-positioned to adapt and grow. With a banner year of contributions, record number of grants, and a notable board, JCF will continue to focus on empowering our Fundholders to support what matters.
About Jewish Communal Fund
Founded in 1972, the Jewish Communal Fund is the largest Jewish donor advised fund in the nation, managing nearly $4 billion in charitable assets for over 5,400 funds. JCF Fundholders support a wide range of causes, having granted more than $12 billion to charities since inception. With a commitment to Jewish values and service, JCF helps individuals and families achieve their philanthropic goals while strengthening the broader community.
Leigh Wasserman
Jewish Communal Fund
press@jcfny.org
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