Ilana Kaufman appointed Director of Jews of Color Field Building Initiative

Ilana Kaufman has been appointed Director of the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative effective August 1, 2018. Ilana previously served as a Program Officer at the San Francisco Federation and Endowment Fund. She was also the principal architect of the Initiative during its pilot phase. Ilana is a nationally recognized leader, author, speaker and trainer working at the intersection of Jewish Community/Racial Justice/Jews of Color/Philanthropy.

The Jews of Color Field Building Initiative (the Initiative) is a new national effort focused on building and advancing the professional, organizational and communal field for Jews of Color. Funded by a growing consortium of funders – the initial stage includes the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Leichtag Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Framed by the concepts of Racial Justice and Equity as well as centering the voices and experiences of Jews of Color, the Initiative is dedicated to grant making, research and field building, and community education. The Initiative hosts the nation’s first ever philanthropic and capacity building fund expressly dedicated to responding to racial injustice through helping further establish, fortify and building-out the field of support for Jews of Color.

“Leading the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative is an unbelievable privilege and a tremendous responsibility. I am among truly gifted colleagues, and we are doing work that will make our community and nation more expansive and loving,” said Kaufman. The moments where I feel challenged by the scale of this undertaking are always tempered by the fact that we are doing work that will literally strengthen our people. In this national climate of racial tension and injustice, it means everything to help make the Jewish community more just, safe, and reflective of who we really are as a people.”

To reach the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative and Ilana, please email: ilana@fieldbuildingfund.org.