On November 20, more than 550 community members — friends, partners, and visionaries — gathered for Day of Philanthropy, the Federation’s signature annual gathering.
The day was full of inspiring moments from start to finish. Before the luncheon and award ceremony, guests joined Impact Stories sessions highlighting the work and achievements of Federation grantees in Israel and the Bay Area.
Polly Bronstein, Founder and CEO of The One Hundred Initiative, a Federation grantee in Israel, reflected: “We understand how much we impact each other… We want to be there for you and we came here to ask you to be there for us. I think it’s the first time I’m feeling in my blood this very, very strong connection of one Am Yisrael.”
Moving onto the main program, Federation President and Chief Executive Officer Joy Sisisky welcomed guests and shared the Federation’s approach to philanthropy. “As our community’s needs shift, so must our strategies… By expanding beyond traditional grantmaking into impact investing and giving circles, we’re not just keeping pace with change — we are looking around corners into the future, and setting the pace in the field… The most enduring organizations aren’t those that resist change — they’re the ones that embrace it. For the Federation, evolution isn’t about abandoning our mission; it’s about deepening our ability to fulfill it.”
She went on to emphasize the importance of investing in Jewish pride and belonging: “Among so many other things, now more than ever, nurturing a proud Jewish identity is urgent and essential. We need to deepen our support for transformative programs that bring people together, fostering pride, resilience, and connection — like Hillels, PJ Library, teen programming, and Jewish camps and day schools. This is how we build lasting Jewish identity — not in moments of crisis alone, but through joyful, meaningful experiences that connect us to who we are.”
At the heart of this year’s event was a tribute to Nancy Grand, an inspiring community leader and dedicated philanthropist. The Federation was proud to recognize her lifetime of extraordinary impact with the 2025 Robert Sinton Award for Distinguished Leadership.
Nancy Grand’s decades of service — spanning local, national, and global leadership — have shaped Jewish life across the Bay Area and beyond. As a past Federation Board Chair (2011-2013) and current Senior Vice President of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), her influence is both deep and enduring. Together with her late husband, Stephen z”l, she has helped drive major advancements in medicine, science, and community care through landmark initiatives at UCSF, the Weizmann Institute, and the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.
As she accepted the award, Nancy shared: “Robert Sinton was guided by the simple idea that all Jews are responsible for one another… We are not just giving money; we are sustaining a community. Our Jewish values need to be put into action every day, so they can be sustained by each generation.”
Day of Philanthropy continued with a dynamic keynote conversation with Guy Raz, award-winning reporter, podcast host, and creator of How I Built This, and Anne Kornblut, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Vice President at Meta. Guy shared his unique journey from a Jewish war correspondent in Afghanistan to creating viral podcasts featuring the world’s top entrepreneurs and how they innovate and inspire.
Our 2025 Day of Philanthropy was a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when generosity meets vision.
Interested in sponsoring or attending Day of Philanthropy in 2026? Contact events@jewishfed.org.
