What geographic area does the federation serve?

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington serves the Greater Washington metropolitan area, connecting Jewish communities throughout the region. It also supports programs and partnerships in Israel and around the world. The organization operates from North Bethesda, Maryland with 78 employees serving the regional Jewish community.

What types of grants does the federation provide?

The federation provides grants for security system upgrades, philanthropic initiatives, and unrestricted general support to Jewish organizations. Funding priorities include education, social services, community development, and safety infrastructure. Grant programs support local institutions while also connecting Greater Washington community with global Jewish needs.

How is the federation governed and led?

The organization operates with collaborative leadership including an executive team, transitional governing board, inaugural community leadership council, and foundation board of trustees. Gil Preuss serves as Chief Executive Officer. The leadership structure emphasizes shared governance with lay leaders and professional staff working in partnership.

What are the federation financial resources?

The federation managed $354 million in total assets in 2021, with annual revenue of $69.4 million. It operates with 78 employees serving the Greater Washington Jewish community. The organization received IRS tax-exempt recognition in September 1941 and has grown to become a major community foundation.

The Jewish Federation Of Greater

North Bethesda, MD · Founded 1941

Community foundation serving Jewish communities in the Greater Washington metropolitan area

Primary audience

Jewish Community

Work area

Foundation Services

Topic

Community Development

Contact

Gil Preuss

Website Contact

About Organization

The organization mobilizes resources to strengthen Jewish life in the Greater Washington region, Israel, and worldwide. It provides grants and programs focused on Jewish education, social services, and community development. With 78 employees, the organization managed $354 million in assets in 2021.

What They Focus On

Community Strengthening

Grant programs supporting Jewish education, social services, and community development in Greater Washington through strategic funding allocation and partnership coordination

Security Enhancement

Resources for safety infrastructure and security system upgrades at Jewish community facilities to protect congregations and institutions

Philanthropic Impact

Donor services and foundation management connecting community members with charitable giving opportunities in local region, Israel, and worldwide

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2021)

$69.4M

+12.8% vs 2021

Assets (2021)

$354.3M

+13.5% vs 2021

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Employees
2021	—	—	—	—
2021	$61,470,763	$41,543,507	$312,109,114	78
2020	—	—	—	—
2020	$44,414,186	$32,700,259	$329,022,310	79
2019	$41,780,933	$32,882,223	$260,201,202	79
2018	$34,411,770	$35,074,070	$261,280,703	92
2017	$43,591,187	$30,648,502	$258,959,920	93

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

01

Resource Mobilization

Engage donors and community members to generate philanthropic support for Jewish initiatives
02

Strategic Allocation

Assess community needs and direct funding to education, social services, and security priorities
03

Partnership Building

Connect local organizations with resources and coordinate collaborative community development efforts
04

Impact Measurement

Track outcomes and demonstrate effectiveness of funded programs serving Jewish communities

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by The Jewish Federation Of Greater

Community Grants

Funding allocation to Jewish organizations and institutions supporting education, social services, and community development initiatives

Security Support

Resources for safety infrastructure upgrades and security system enhancements at Jewish community facilities

Philanthropic Services

Donor engagement and foundation management connecting community members with charitable giving opportunities and impact

Israel Engagement

Programs and resources connecting Greater Washington Jewish community with Israel through partnerships and funding

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind The Jewish Federation Of Greater.

Contact the team Contact

Gil Preuss

Executive Vice President & CEO

Full-time

Compensation: $499,732

Shari Merrill

Chief Impact Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $218,403

Zachary Briton

Chief Development Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $208,752

Elisa Deener-Agus

Chief Of Staff

Full-time

Compensation: $169,509

Michelle Wachtel

Senior Director Campaign

Full-time

Compensation: $137,225

Monica Herman

CMO (Promoted Feb. 2021)

Full-time

Compensation: $123,633

Brian E Ashin

Presidential Appointee

2 hrs/week

David D Selden

Vice President At Large

2 hrs/week

David J Butler

Past President

2 hrs/week

Deborah Ratner Salzberg

President Ujef

2 hrs/week

Diane S Feinberg

Past President

2 hrs/week

Edward H Kaplan

Past President

2 hrs/week

Gary Berman

Past President

2 hrs/week

Irene R Kaplan

Past President

2 hrs/week

Ivan M Schaeffer

Past President

2 hrs/week

Jocelyn B Krifcher

Presidential Appointee

2 hrs/week

Joel Breslau

Past President

2 hrs/week

Joseph B Gildenhorn

Past President

2 hrs/week

Liza Levy

Past President

2 hrs/week

Mark L Levitt

Past President

2 hrs/week

Matthew H Simon

Past President

2 hrs/week

Melanie Nussdorf

Presidential Appointee

2 hrs/week

Michael C Gelman

Past President

2 hrs/week

Michelle J Stravitz

Presidential Appointee

2 hrs/week

Philip N Margolius

Past President

2 hrs/week

Robert E Zahler

Past President

2 hrs/week

Samuel G Kaplan

President, Jewish Community Foundation

2 hrs/week

Scott Brown

Presidential Appointee

2 hrs/week

Stephen J Kelin

Presidential Appointee

2 hrs/week

Stuart S Kurlander

Past President

2 hrs/week

Susan R Gelman

Past President

2 hrs/week

Gil Preuss

CEO

Molly Gravholt

CFAO (hired mar. 2021)

Full-time

Compensation: $210,815

Abby Cherner

Vice President for Women’s Philanthropy

1 hrs/week

Abram Zwany

Member

1 hrs/week

Alan L Meltzer

Member

1 hrs/week

Alexis Cohen Gantsoudes

Member

1 hrs/week

Allon Shiff

Member

1 hrs/week

Ayala Nuriely Kimel

Member

1 hrs/week

Behnam Dayanim

Member

1 hrs/week

Benjamin Berkowitz

Member

1 hrs/week

Benjamin Nussdorf

Member

1 hrs/week

Bradley Buslik

VP For Network

2 hrs/week

Bradley Stillman

Member

1 hrs/week

Brian L Schwalb

Member

1 hrs/week

Carly Finkelstein

Member

1 hrs/week

Cindy Zitelman

Member

1 hrs/week

Craig Simon

Member

1 hrs/week

Dale Singer

Member

1 hrs/week

Daniel Raskas

Vice President for Strategic Planning & Allocations – Israel & Overseas

1 hrs/week

Danielle Kaplan

Member

1 hrs/week

David J Farber

Member

1 hrs/week

David Kanstoroom

Member

1 hrs/week

David Volosov

Member

1 hrs/week

Deitra Reiser

Member

1 hrs/week

Edward J Tolchin

Member

1 hrs/week

Edward R Weiss

Member

1 hrs/week

Ellen Kagen Waghelstein

Member

1 hrs/week

Eric Wachter

Member

1 hrs/week

Esther Lederman

Member

1 hrs/week

Eva Cowen

Member

1 hrs/week

Eva M Davis

Member

1 hrs/week

Henry D Levine

Member

1 hrs/week

Hillel Goldberg

Member

1 hrs/week

Howard Gleckman

Member

1 hrs/week

Hyim Shafner

Member

1 hrs/week

Jane E Shichman

Member

1 hrs/week

Janis Schiff

Member

1 hrs/week

Jason M Conway

Member

1 hrs/week

Jay Lefkowitz

Member

1 hrs/week

Jean R Milbauer

Member

1 hrs/week

Jeffrey I Finkelstein

Member

1 hrs/week

Jeffrey Puretz

Member

1 hrs/week

Jeffrey Rum

Member

1 hrs/week

Jennifer Rafael

Member

1 hrs/week

Jeremy Levine

Member

1 hrs/week

Johanna Chanin

VP Leadership & Volunteer Dev.

2 hrs/week

Joshua B Bernstein

Member

1 hrs/week

Joshua Brown

VP For Young Leadership

2 hrs/week

Julie E Kass

VP, Strategic Planning & Alloc

2 hrs/week

Kenneth Schwartz

Member

1 hrs/week

Kerry L Iris

VP For Women's Philanthropy

2 hrs/week

Kevin Fishkind

VP, Strategic Planning & Alloc

2 hrs/week

Kim Price

Member

1 hrs/week

Laura K Cutler

Member

1 hrs/week

Lawrence Kaplan

Member

1 hrs/week

Lawrence R Sidman

Member

1 hrs/week

Leslie A Kaplan

Member

1 hrs/week

Louis Mayberg

Member

1 hrs/week

Marc A Levitt

Member

1 hrs/week

Marcella Cohen

Member

1 hrs/week

Marissa Schlaifer

Member

1 hrs/week

Mark L Lezell

Member

1 hrs/week

Marla Schulman

Chair, Community Leadership Council

1 hrs/week

Michael Flyer

Member

1 hrs/week

Michele Hymer Blitz

Member

1 hrs/week

Michele Zuckerman

Member

1 hrs/week

Mindy Strelitz

Member

1 hrs/week

Mitchell I Malasky

Member

1 hrs/week

Morris Cohen

Member

1 hrs/week

Naomi Yadin-Mendick

Member

1 hrs/week

Neil Gurvitch

Member

1 hrs/week

Pamela Gottlieb

Member

1 hrs/week

Paul S Berger

Counsel

2 hrs/week

Philip Blumenthal

Vice President for Strategic Planning & Allocations – Local

1 hrs/week

Philip D Schiff

Member

1 hrs/week

Raanan Shames

Member

1 hrs/week

Rachel M Hofstatter

Member

1 hrs/week

Rachel Rhodes

Member

1 hrs/week

Rachel Weiner Cohen

Member

1 hrs/week

Randi Sadugor

Member

1 hrs/week

Rise Ain

Member

1 hrs/week

Robert Bloom

Member

1 hrs/week

Robin Hettleman Weinberg

President, Governing Board

2 hrs/week

Robyn Garnett

Member

1 hrs/week

Ronald A Paul MD

Member

1 hrs/week

Ronald Kaplan

Member

1 hrs/week

Ruth Ruskin

Member

1 hrs/week

Samantha Sisisky

Member

1 hrs/week

Saul Pilchen

Member

1 hrs/week

Scott L Reiter

Member

1 hrs/week

Scott Rosen

Member

1 hrs/week

Sean Epstein

Member

1 hrs/week

Selma Kunitz

Member

1 hrs/week

Sharon Freundel

Member

1 hrs/week

Sholom B Deitsch

Member

1 hrs/week

Steven Rein

Member

1 hrs/week

Stuart Kaswell

Member

1 hrs/week

Stuart Tauber

Member

1 hrs/week

Stuart Zuckerman

Member

1 hrs/week

Susan Kristol

Member

1 hrs/week

Toby Frank

Member

1 hrs/week

Vivian G Bass

Member

1 hrs/week

Yolanda Savage-Narva

Member

1 hrs/week

Jill Granader

Vice President for Financial Resource Development

Marty Janis

Vice President for Finance & Treasurer

Brad Stillman

Vice President for Leadership & Volunteer Development

Brad Lackey

Vice President for Network

Jessica Heines Wolf

Vice President for Next Gen

Jeffrey Distenfeld

Secretary

Riva Mirvis

Audit Chair

At-Large Members

Milestones

1941

IRS Recognition

1941

Received tax-exempt status recognition from the Internal Revenue Service in September

2017

Revenue Growth

2017

Generated $43.6 million in revenue supporting community programs and grant distributions

2020

Pandemic Response

2020

Mobilized $44.4 million in resources to support Jewish community organizations during crisis

2021

Asset Management

2021

Reached $354 million in total assets managing resources for Jewish Greater Washington region

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

David Yaffe Secretary 2.0 hrs/week

Jeffrey S Distenfeld VP For Finance & Treasurer 2.0 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2021)

$1.7M

Highest Paid

$541K

Gil Preuss

Compensated Officers

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Gil Preuss	Executive Vice President & CEO	$499,732	$41,140	$540,872	55
Shari Merrill	Chief Impact Officer	$218,403	$10,900	$229,303	55
Zachary Briton	Chief Development Officer	$208,752	$10,418	$219,170	55
Molly Gravholt	Cfao (Hired Mar. 2021)	$210,815	—	$210,815	55
Elisa Deener-Agus	Chief Of Staff	$169,509	$8,436	$177,945	55
Michelle Wachtel	Senior Director Campaign	$137,225	$6,848	$144,073	55
Monica Herman	CMO (Promoted Feb. 2021)	$123,633	$6,170	$129,803	55

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Gil Preuss	Executive Vice President & CEO	$486,150	$35,642	$521,792	55
Eileen Frazier	COO - See Sch. O	$265,626	$13,434	$279,060	55
June Falb	Chief Endowment Off-See Sch.O	$223,700	$5,178	$228,878	55
Shari Merrill	Chief Impact Officer	$215,213	$10,745	$225,958	55
Zachary Briton	Chief Donor Experience Officer	$207,163	$10,343	$217,506	55
Elisa Deener-Agus	Chief Of Staff	$167,648	$4,431	$172,079	55
Michelle Wachtel	Senior Director Campaign	$135,704	$6,776	$142,480	55

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Gil Preuss	Executive Vice President & CEO	$485,844	$34,451	$520,295	55
Eileen Frazier	Chief Operating Officer	$247,507	$12,264	$259,771	55
Shari Merrill	Chief Impact Officer	$204,988	—	$204,988	55
Zachary Briton	Director Annual Campaign & VP	$193,501	$9,730	$203,231	55
Isabella Yusimova	Chief Financial Officer	$144,177	$14,340	$158,517	55
Elisa Deener-Agus-Part Year	Chief Of Staff	$123,790	—	$123,790	55

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Gil Preuss	Executive Vice President & CEO	$486,461	$21,388	$507,849	55
Steven A Rakitt	Former EXEC. VP & CEO	$462,956	—	$462,956	—
Eileen Frazier	Chief Operating Oficer	$242,618	$11,974	$254,592	55
Zachary Briton	Director Annual Campaign	$182,351	$9,104	$191,455	55
Stacye N Zeisler	Chief Marketing Officer	$156,987	$7,828	$164,815	55
Isabella Yusimova	Chief Financial Officer	$142,788	$14,111	$156,899	55
Judd Holzman	Philanthropic Leadership DIR.	$136,211	$13,702	$149,913	55

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Steve A Rakitt	Executive Vice President & CEO	$625,180	$10,626	$635,806	55
Eileen Frazier	Chief Operating Officer	$278,541	$13,797	$292,338	55
Avital Ingber	Chief Development Officer	$229,737	$17,716	$247,453	55
Gil Preuss	Executive Vice President & CEO	$198,982	$7,263	$206,245	55
Stacye N Zeisler	Chief Marketing Officer	$173,840	$8,670	$182,510	55
Zachary Briton	Director Annual Campaign & VP	$161,354	$8,057	$169,411	55
Isabella Yusimova	Chief Financial Officer	$138,196	$18,326	$156,522	55

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

COVID-19 PPP Loans

Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Fully Forgiven

Total Approved

$1.0M

Total Forgiven

$1.0M

101% forgiven

Jobs Retained

Loan Details 1 loan

$1,034,700

Forgiven

Forgiven: $1,044,558 100%

Approved Apr 14, 2020

Lender PNC Bank, National Association

Jobs Reported 65

Forgiven On Mar 31, 2021

Source: Small Business Administration • Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$3.4M Grants Received

18 Organizations

Top Funders

18 total

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

$1.3M

Greater Washington Community Foundation 2 grants

$1.2M

Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. 3 grants

$150K

Jewish Community Property Association

$143K

American Gift Fund

$128K

T Rowe Price Program For Charitable

$119K

American Endowment Foundation

$107K

American Online Giving Foundation Inc.

$102K

Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund

$42K

United Way Of The National Capital Area

$35K

+8 more funders

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Greater Washington Community Foundation Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. Jewish Community Property Association American Gift Fund T Rowe Price Program For Charitable American Endowment Foundation American Online Giving Foundation Inc. Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund United Way Of The National Capital Area America's Charities Charities Aid Foundation America The Bessemer Giving Fund PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund The Community Foundation Of Greater Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund The Ayco Charitable Foundation Give Lively Foundation Inc.

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Lobbying Activity

Lobbying Disclosure Act registrations

Self-Lobbying

3 Registrations

2 Clients

Yes Self-Lobbying

Clients 2 total

Jewish Federation Of Metropolitan Chicago (Jfmc)

1 filing

Self

The Jewish Federations Of North America

2 filings

Source: Senate Office of Public Records — Lobbying Disclosure Act

Contact

Get in touch with The Jewish Federation Of Greater

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(301) 230-7200 (703) 522-7464

Social

Visit Website

6101 Executive Blvd Suite 100 North Bethesda, MD 20852

The Jewish Federation Of Greater

What They Focus On

Financial Information

How They Work

Resource Mobilization

Strategic Allocation

Partnership Building

Impact Measurement

Programs and Initiatives

Community Grants

Security Support

Philanthropic Services

Israel Engagement

Team & Leadership

Gil Preuss

Shari Merrill

Zachary Briton

Elisa Deener-Agus

Michelle Wachtel

Monica Herman

Brian E Ashin

David D Selden

David J Butler

Deborah Ratner Salzberg

Diane S Feinberg

Edward H Kaplan

Gary Berman

Irene R Kaplan

Ivan M Schaeffer

Jocelyn B Krifcher

Joel Breslau

Joseph B Gildenhorn

Liza Levy

Mark L Levitt

Matthew H Simon

Melanie Nussdorf

Michael C Gelman

Michelle J Stravitz

Philip N Margolius

Robert E Zahler

Samuel G Kaplan

Scott Brown

Stephen J Kelin

Stuart S Kurlander

Susan R Gelman

Gil Preuss

Molly Gravholt

Abby Cherner

Abram Zwany

Alan L Meltzer

Alexis Cohen Gantsoudes

Allon Shiff

Ayala Nuriely Kimel

Behnam Dayanim

Benjamin Berkowitz

Benjamin Nussdorf

Bradley Buslik

Bradley Stillman

Brian L Schwalb

Carly Finkelstein

Cindy Zitelman

Craig Simon

Dale Singer

Daniel Raskas

Danielle Kaplan

David J Farber

David Kanstoroom

David Volosov

Deitra Reiser

Edward J Tolchin

Edward R Weiss

Ellen Kagen Waghelstein

Eric Wachter

Esther Lederman

Eva Cowen

Eva M Davis

Henry D Levine

Hillel Goldberg

Howard Gleckman

Hyim Shafner