Arthur Slepian to Become Next Board Chair of SF-based Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund
San Francisco, CA – On January 23, the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (the Federation) approved the nomination of Arthur Slepian to be the 33rd Board Chair and first openly LGBTQ Board Chair in the organization’s history. His appointment will begin on July 1, 2020.
“Arthur is an extraordinary person and leader,” says Richard Fiedotin, head of the Board Chair Nominating Committee and Past Federation Board Chair. “His intellect, character, commitment, and kindness are inspiring. He is open-minded and willing to work with people across the political spectrum, traits that are important in this role.”
“Arthur’s Board Chair appointment is a historic moment for our organization and is aligned with our commitment to increase our organization’s diversity,” says Danny Grossman, Federation CEO. “Arthur has already made significant contributions to the Federation, the LGBTQ Jewish community and the Bay Area Jewish community at large, including as a current member of the Federation Board of Directors, Executive and Governance Committees. I am grateful for his leadership and excited to work with him as Board Chair to help guide our Federation into the next decade.”
Arthur is the founder, Board Member, and immediate past Executive Director of A Wider Bridge, a North American organization working through education, advocacy, relationship building, and grantmaking to create equality in and for Israel. Since its founding in 2010, it has grown from a small San Francisco-based startup to a national organization, bringing hundreds of U.S LGBTQ leaders on its missions to Israel and providing financial and strategic support for Israel’s LGBTQ organizations. Arthur is a current Vice President and Former President of the Board of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco. He also was past chair of the Federation’s LGBTQ Alliance Advisory Committee.
“Becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to serve as Board chair is certainly a significant milestone and indication of how far our community has come in the past few decades”, says Slepian. “But even more important is that I have had the experience of being on the outside of this community looking in, wondering if there was a place for me and if I would ever truly feel as if I belonged. Our recent population study of Bay Area Jewish life shows that many in our Jewish community, particularly younger people, currently feel this way. I am proud to be taking on this leadership role with the Federation at a time when mobilizing our community to address this challenge is one of our highest priorities.”
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The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund connects people of all ages, backgrounds, and perspectives to the power of the Jewish community to improve the world. We partner with donors, organizations, and foundations to address pressing issues facing our community, and develop innovative strategies that result in deep and lasting impact locally, in Israel, and around the world. Learn more at www.jewishfed.org.
