Atlanta Jewish Foundation Giving Insight
Written by Ghila Sanders, VP of Foundation
September 8, 2026
Growing up in Italy, the Jewish New Year didn’t taste of apples and honey for me. It came with a full array of foods, like fennel, chard and squash, each with a blessing, a set of rituals and unique melodies. And steps. Lots of steps. Maybe that’s why I turned out to be such an avid walker.
I grew up in a family where community involvement was simply a given. Most of my memories of my parents are connected to Jewish organizations: late-night board meetings for my dad, who served on the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Community of Rome; bazaars, lunches, and fundraisers for my mother, who led the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) chapter in our city; and possibly even involving a fashion show starring yours truly, with a remarkably unfortunate hairdo but for a very good cause. All I can say on that is predating Instagram has its perks.
In my work, I often talk about community, family, and legacy. In my personal life, they are the reasons for my very being, traits passed down from generations before me, and now my mission to pass on to the generations that follow. And so, this summer, sitting around the dinner table with my dad and my children, I started asking him questions about his life, including the most important lessons her had learned and hoped his children and grandchildren would make their own.
Here is the lesson I learned that night: continuity is not a one-way street.
It is not only the older generation’s responsibility to teach values or initiate conversations about why getting involved in and supporting our Jewish community matters. It is also the responsibility of the next generation to step forward and engage in those family discussions.
The questions we hear most often from our Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) donors center on multigenerational philanthropy: How do we involve our children? When is the right time? How can we sustain the organizations we care about while empowering our children to make philanthropic decisions? And what happens if we don’t see eye to eye?
I’d like to offer another perspective and speak instead to the next generation: during this High Holiday season, when you gather around the table, make it your turn to initiate the conversation. Ask your parents what inspires their generosity, and why they support the specific organizations they return to year after year. Ask them about their most meaningful gift, given or received, or their first tzedakah memory.
L’Dor Vador is a responsibility we share.
Wishing you and your loved ones Shana Tova. May this new year move each of us to invest in the communities, institutions, traditions, and relationships that keep our people connected, from generation to generation.
And, as always, if you have any thoughts or questions about your own family’s philanthropy, I’m here to talk. Give me a call at 404-870-1611 or email gsanders@jewishatlanta.org.
