The largest family foundation is the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, pow-
ered by money the world's richest man
earns from Microsoft. It focuses on educa-
tion and public health issues, such as AIDS
in Africa.
No single foundation can match the
Gates Foundation in the Jewish world, but a
number of major family foundations often
support Jewish causes. In Detroit, family
names such as Berman, Davidson, Fisher,
Frankel, Hermelin and Taubman readily
come to mind. All have contributed signifi-
cantly to the local Jewish community, but
also to the medical, cultural or educational
communities locally, nationally and in
Israel as well.
In Atlanta, the Marcus Foundation was
set up by Home Depot co-founder Bernie
Marcus and his wife, Bill.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
honored Marcus at its 2006 annual meeting
with the Lifetime Achievement Award for
his contributions to the Jewish community
in Atlanta.
Along with more than $1 million donated
to the federation annual campaign, the
Marcus Foundation has made major gifts
to the Marcus Jewish Community Center
breakfast and heard Marcus
of Atlanta, challenge grants for a
apply business lessons to the
new Hillel at Emory University
needs of shuls.
and a matching grant for Marcus'
Kaiman, also on the JFN
synagogue, the Temple. In the
board, said the involved atti-
non-Jewish community, Marcus
tude is common among lead-
created the Georgia Aquarium
ers of family foundations.
(with its mezuzah and a kosher
"Because these philan-
kitchen) and the Marcus Institute
thropists took it very seri-
for children with developmental
Bernie Marcus
ously, very personally and
disabilities.
demanded outcomes, it's had
But like many business-savvy
a profound impact on other
philanthropists, he looked for
organizations in terms of how
a new approach to giving, said
they do business',' Kaiman
Jay Kaiman, director of Jewish
said.
philanthropy at the Marcus
While these foundations in
Foundation.
Atlanta,
Detroit and elsewhere
"One of the things he demands
look
for
the same effectiveness
of his philanthropy is that we just
in
their
funding
of secular
don't give them money and say,
projects,
they
are
among a
`Good luck, and come back next
bin
Gary
To
number
of
Jewish
family
year," said Kaiman, who reports
foundations
that
have
made
to Marcus about project results.
the
Jewish
community
a
priority.
For example, the Marcus Foundation
However, the dollars these foundations
is helping finance Synagogue 3000, a
are
putting into the Jewish community are
national effort to revitalize synagogues as
much
smaller than private Jewish fam-
the centers of Jewish life. When the pilot
ily
foundations
are putting into secular
project kicked off in Atlanta in November,
causes
—
symphonies,
museums, univer-
leaders of 20 synagogues gathered at the
sities,
etc.
Marcus Foundation headquarters for
Jewish National Fund
Gift Card!
A New Donor
It's the double-edged sword of success in
America. As Jews became more success-
ful, they became more assimilated and,
in turn, looked to address not only Jewish
causes, but also the secular problems they
saw around them.
The JFN sets out to help Jewish philan-
thropists finance projects they believe in
while also making the Jewish community
stronger. It encourages donors to work
together and learn from one another's
mistakes.
"I think there are lessons to be learned
from their peers as to what works for other
people and what have been mistakes that
people have made',' Charendoff said. "I
think there is too much money riding on
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According to a 2003 study by Tobin's
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January 11 @ 2007
17