Jewish Community Foundation fundholders are turning their passions and visions into progress through their grants. These stories highlight the people, partnerships, and ideas that come together to activate these community investments.

Growing a Network of Insight and Influence

When Ben Arnold accepted a private dinner invitation in June 2024, he expected an engaging conversation and good food. But he left inspired to collaborate with other local philanthropists to grow the San Diego presence of a prominent nonprofit informing Middle East policy.

The event, coordinated by the Jewish Community Foundation, brought Ghaith Al-Omari to speak on behalf of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a leading nonpartisan think-tank that advances a balanced and informed understanding of U.S. interests in the Middle East. Al-Omari was a Palestinian negotiator at the Camp David summit and Taba Peace Talks. He is now the Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute’s Irwin Levy Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship.

“I was very impressed with the depth of knowledge of the Institute’s scholars, specifically their description of how different regions’ history and politics influence U.S. policy towards the Middle East,” said Arnold who, with his wife Lisa, has since become a trustee of the Washington Institute and hosted additional Institute briefings. “U.S. policy makers rely upon the Institute’s expert advisors to advance American interests in the Middle East. The access to information they provide trustees is next level, and investing in that with like-minded peers through Jewish Community Foundation has been fantastic.”

For the Washington Institute, deepening their involvement in the San Diego community was unexpected and highly rewarding. “We’ve been grateful to work with some highly passionate Institute trustees in San Diego on an individual basis for years,” said Miri Belsky, then-Regional Director of the Washington Institute for the West Coast.” Jewish Community Foundation brought an impressive level of insight into how our mission might align with its funders’ philanthropic and educational goals, and then proactively made the connections, substantively broadening our reach.”

Since that June 2024 dinner, the Washington Institute has held several more off-the-record events in San Diego, with other leading Institute luminaries including Michael Singh, the Institute’s managing director; Zohar Palti, Viterbi International fellow and former head of Mossad intelligence; and most notably, Ambassador Dennis Ross, the Institute’s William Davidson Distinguished Fellow, who drew a packed audience at the JCC for a conversation with Belsky. Washington Institute scholars inform policymakers in Washington, Israel, and throughout the Middle East, and made special visits to San Diego to share their insights with local TWI trustees.

As part of its mission to educate and inspire the community, Jewish Community Foundation gathers changemakers and nonprofits to share perspectives, stories, and a commitment to a living network of learning and leadership, rooted in shared values and expanding possibilities across the region.

“Jewish Community Foundation leads beyond managing charitable funds. It builds meaningful bridges between passionate donors and impactful organizations,” said Graeme Gabriel, Jewish Community Foundation fund holder and former board chair who attended that dinner and decided with his wife Simone Kanter to host several Washington Institute events as a result. “That’s a level of service, insight and community investment that is unrivaled.”

Other Jewish Community Foundation fundholders have joined these conversations and provide long-term support to the Institute. Through intentional matchmaking and deep community insight, the Jewish Community Foundation transforms generosity into lasting impact, one inspired connection at a time.