The Jewish Women's Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches is poised to become the first of 24 national Jewish women's funds affiliated with a local Jewish Federation to establish itself as an autonomous organization, a spokesperson for the philanthropic organization said.

"Twelve years ago, an insightful and committed group of forward thinking Jewish women came together to implement a new philanthropic model for affecting social change to support women and girls in our community and around the world," Tami Baldinger, chief executive officer of JWF of the Greater Palm Beaches said.

"Our local Jewish Federation saw the potential, supporting and nurturing our foundation to the point that our trustees felt ready to launch it as an independent entity," she noted.

Thanks to major donations, including a $1 million gift from a single donor, the trustees decided that independence would enable the foundation to deepen its impact, tell its story more broadly, and bring more women into its widening circle.

The Jewish Women's Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to organizations in the U.S., Israel, and around the world that empower women and girls to achieve social and economic equality. In the coming year, the foundation plans to make at least $200,000 in additional grants, using social change philanthropy, advocacy, and education to ensure that women and girls can reach their fullest potential.

As an independent organization, JWF will be able to execute its social change vision and go beyond the limits of the federation's mission of direct service.

"Today, the Jewish Women's Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches is bigger and stronger than ever," Jewish Women's Foundation President Paula Lustbader said. "Our trustees are stepping up at this exciting time in our organization's history, and putting our professional and financial resources to work advancing our aim of creating a more just society for all by promoting the rights of women and girls."

The Jewish Women's Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches was founded in 2002 by a group of "visionary women" committed to work together to implement the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world, by empowering women and girls to achieve social and economic equality.

Since its inception as a "giving circle" where each member makes a $10,000 financial commitment payable over five years, the JWF has grown into a robust philanthropic organization, and has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to organizations in the U.S., Israel, and around the world.

"Just as JWF strives to elevate the status of women and girls through our grants, education and advocacy, the leadership of JWF has empowered themselves to take control of our future as an organization and to truly be that vital voice for women in our community and beyond," Baldinger said.

See original here:

JWF launches as independent entity