Philadelphia’s Jewish Exponent is reporting that the Federation has named Naomi Adler, a United Way professional, to fill the vacant Federation CEO position:
“For the first time in its 112-year history, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has selected a woman to lead the community’s central fundraising body.
The CEO-designate is Naomi Adler, a 47-year-old attorney who left the practice of law to pursue a career in nonprofit fundraising and management.
She began that phase of her career in the Jewish communal world, but spent the past 13 years as a top executive with the United Way. She currently is the president and CEO of United Way in Westchester and Putnam counties in New York, a post she has served since 2008.”
For more, read the complete Jewish Exponent story.
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I certainly wish Ms. Adler all succes in her important position. That said, it never ceases to fill me with wonder why federation CEOs are not *elected* by the population they are hired to serve, and whose money they solicit. What better way to involve a region’s Jewish population than to enfranchise them to vote for the person they perceive as best representing their understanding of issues, priorities, and allocations? And conversely, might the lack of transparency have something to do with the waning interest in federations among the younger crowd?
Peter: You raise some very interesting points. I was not on the committee (nor did I wish to be) but I understand the search committee was comprised of people who have been involved at high levels in the local Jewish Federation; people who have shown commitment and demonstrated compassionate leadership. An outside consultant was reported to be part of the process, though not sure who it was.
I think such a committee ought to include member(s) of the community who are not involved in Federation, as concrete evidence that all community members should be heard, and I also think the young Jewish community ought to have had representation–people in their 20s. I don’t know the total make up of the committee, but we are glad that the process is now over, and look forward to working with Ms. Adler.