Atlanta Jewish Foundation Impact Story
January 15th, 2026
“Each one of us is the beneficiary of someone’s legacy… It’s our job to make sure that what was given to us will be given to the next generation.”
The commitment to L’dor Vador – passing down Jewish values and planting seeds for the next generation – runs deep in our community. Today, a growing movement in Jewish Atlanta is harnessing powerful philanthropic tools to turn these timeless values into lasting impact.
AJF Advance
Last week, the Atlanta Jewish Foundation hosted its inaugural endowment training series called AJF Advance: Future-Proofing Jewish Atlanta. Five workshops over two days brought together community leaders and professionals from across Jewish Atlanta around one shared purpose: ensuring that our people and beloved institutions continue to thrive for generations.
Led by Dirk Bird – Founder and Principal of Illumination Strategies, former Chief Development Officer at JEWISHcolorado, and former VP of Planned Giving for Jewish Federations of North America – the seminars offered practical insights into the crucial role that endowments, restricted funds, and legacy gifts play in achieving this long-term vision.
“Each one of us is the beneficiary of someone’s legacy… It’s our job to make sure that what was given to us will be given to the next generation.” Dirk shared.
As part of the training series, senior leaders from Jewish agencies who hold their funds with the Atlanta Jewish Foundation were invited to an exclusive session. From MJCCA to JF&CS, from the Breman to Hillels of GA, passionate Board Chairs and CEOs gathered to share expertise and acquire tools to sustain their organizations’ missions.
“These are leaders who are doing an incredible job serving our community every day,” says Rachel Rosner, Atlanta Jewish Foundation’s Endowment and Fiduciary Review Officer, “and they’re asking – how can we make our impact sustainable? Eternal? That’s where endowments come in.”
An endowment is a financial fund designed to provide long-term support for charitable causes. The principal remains invested, while a portion of the fund’s earnings is distributed annually to sustain organizations and initiatives – ensuring both stability and growth.
“We help donors and agencies create endowments that fuel Jewish Atlanta,” Rachel explains. “It’s all about having that long-term vision. What are your hopes for the future? Do you want to support your synagogue? Jewish school? Summer camp? Endowments are really the best way to do that. To build a legacy and shape our community in perpetuity.”
Taking the Future Into Their Own Hands
Agency leaders are not the only ones using these tools. Individual donors across the community are also leveraging endowments to give strategically where it matters most.
Growing up, David Apseloff couldn’t afford Camp Ramah – and he never forgot what it meant when someone stepped in to help. A generous scholarship allowed him to attend the Jewish summer camp, an experience that helped shape his love for Jewish camping. “I think that camp really expands your horizons,” David says. “You make friends for life. You’re out of your comfort zone, building confidence and building Jewish identity.”
Last month, with the help of the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, David established a new $50,000 endowment for Federation’s JCamping initiative, to ensure that more children can experience the magic of camp. “I wanted to help kids whose parents can’t afford it otherwise.”
In addition to the initial endowment, David is planning annual contributions from his IRA using a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). David’s endowment will provide annual, ongoing support -making camp more accessible, and creating impact not just this year, but in perpetuity.
While David focuses on helping young people in need, others use endowments to support a broader range of causes.
For Brent Kaplan, establishing four different endowments wasn’t about starting something new – it was about continuing something deeply personal. “So much of what informed my decision-making was my mom and dad,” he says. After their passing, Brent found himself asking, “How do I think my mom and dad would have done this?” One endowment supports Jewish HomeLife, where his father had served on the board. Others support the Jewish Federation annual campaign, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, and Jewish camping – causes his parents and grandparents cared deeply about.
Camp Isidore Alterman is named for Brent’s grandfather, and Brent himself grew up going to Jewish camp, eating meals at the Alterman Lodge at Camp Barney Medintz. “I had great experiences at summer camp,” he recalls – his first time sleeping in the woods, lighting a fire, doing riflery and archery, and making lifelong memories.
Working closely with Ghila Sanders, Atlanta Jewish Foundation VP of Philanthropic Advisory, Brent established these endowments to honor his loved ones. ”Ghila gave me good advice on how to utilize the money so that it lasts, and really serves as a legacy for Mom and Dad for many years to come, rather than just a one-off rifle shot.”
Eternal Impact
David and Brent are part of a larger movement of givers and organizations using the lasting power of endowments and restricted funds to impact every corner of Jewish life. Eternal Life-Hemshech is preserving the memory of the Holocaust with the help of a legacy endowment. The Jewish Fertility Foundation is helping bring Jewish babies into the world with funds from their own endowment.
As Rabbi Edward Harwitz, Head of the Weber School, said at AJF Advance, Joseph was the first director of planned giving – helping Egypt plan ahead and survive hard times. Dirk Bird echoed that idea: “During the 2020 pandemic I was at JFNA, and I saw how Jewish communities that had established endowments and donor-advised funds were able to deploy resources quickly and handle the crisis in a strategic and effective way.”
In every generation, the responsibility is the same: to ensure that Jewish life does not merely survive, but thrives. Endowments, legacy gifts, and long-term philanthropic planning give our community the tools to turn generosity into something truly eternal.
Want to explore how you can help future-proof Jewish Atlanta? Reach out to Ghila Sanders at gsanders@jewishatlanta.org.
Legacy donors and Jewish-Future Promise signers are invited to join us on January 29 for our Grow a Legacy celebration. RSVP here.
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