What Gives? The Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Vanessa Bartram & Michael Lustig: Tapping The Potential of Jewish Impact Investing

Episode 23 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

JFN members and impact investors Michael Lustig and Vanessa Bartram share what you need to know about this exciting tool for expanding impact and ensuring your investments align with your values. Michael is the author of JFN's new Greenbook, "A Guide to Jewish Impact Investing," and Vanessa facilitates JFN's monthly impact investing roundtable series.

Rep. Kathy Manning: From Jewish Communal Leader to Political Rising Star

Episode 22 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Freshman Rep. Kathy Manning (D-North Carolina) — a former JFN board member and the first woman president of the Jewish Federations of North America — talks about why and how she got into politics and her tumultuous first month in office.

Lisa Greer: Revolutionizing the Way Fundraisers Interact with Donors

In Episode 21 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, philanthropist, author, and JFN member Lisa Greer talks to host Andréws Spokoiny about philanthropic strategy, some common mistakes fundraisers and philanthropists make, and ways to strengthen relationships between funders and nonprofits.

Lisa is the author of the 2020 book, “Philanthropy Revolution: How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships and Make a Difference,” (Harper Collins), the first such book written from the perspective of a philanthropist.

Understanding the Grantee-Funder Relationship

In Episode 20 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, Dena Libman of the Azrieli Foundation and Jack Wertheimer of Jewish Theological Seminary talk about findings from Wertheimer's 2020 "Grantees and Their Funders" report, one of the catalysts for GrantED: Stronger Relationships, Greater Impact, a joint project of JFN and UpStart.

Cintra Pollack: Achieving Impact in Grantmaking and Investing

In Episode 19 of "What Gives?" The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.
Cintra Pollack, an investor, philanthropist and JFN board member, talks about impact investing, generational differences, and balancing her family philanthropy with her Jewish Federation involvement.

Dan Ariely: The Brain Science of Doing Good

Episode 18 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Israeli-American behavioral economist, Wall Street Journal columnist, and best-selling author Dan Ariely is an advisor to Keshet, the new donor-advised fund JFN and its partners brought to Israel. In this episode, he talks to JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny about strategies for promoting positive social outcomes, including getting people to be more philanthropic. They also discuss uniquely Israeli approaches to problem-solving, how Dan's personal history shaped his career, the cookbook he wants to write -- and much more.

Watch Dan Ariely's two special lectures for JFN here and here. 

Ilana Kaufman: Listening to Jews of Color

Episode 17 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. 

Ilana Kaufman, executive director of the Jews of Color Initiative, and host Andrés Spokoiny discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, how Covid is impacting Jews of color, and how the Jewish community can do a better job of including and serving Jews of color. 

Rabbi Shai Held: Spiritual Transformation After the Plague

Episode 16 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guest: Rabbi Shai Held, President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar

Lila Corwin Berman: How Political Is American Jewish Philanthropy?

Episode 15 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from the Jewish Funders Network, hosted by Andrés Spokoiny.

Guest: Professor Lila Corwin Berman, Director of the Feinstein Center for Jewish History at Temple University and author of "The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex."

Music credits

"Believer" by Silent Partner

"Panda Clan" by DJ Williams

"Sunny Looks Good on You" by Midnight North

"Ex Boxer" by Riot

"Blue Skies" by Silent Partner

"Rainy Sundays" by the 126ers

Jay and Shira Ruderman: Combining Philanthropy and Advocacy

Episode 14 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.

Guests: Jay and Shira Ruderman, of the Ruderman Family Foundation

Music Credits:

"Believer" by Silent Partner

"Bellissimo" by Doug Maxwell

"Web Weaver's Dance" by Asher Fulero

"Plenty Step" by Freedom Trail Studio

"This is a Jazz Space" by Midnight North

"No Slope" by Freedom Trail Studio

"Mysteries" by Dan Lebowitz

"Mama's Whisper" by The 126ers

"Keep Dreaming" by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena

"Heartland" by Silent Partner

"Rainy Sundays" by The 126ers