Jewish Federation Bay Area

The Jewish Federation Bay Area (commonly referred to as the JCF) is a philanthropic catalyst, connecting Bay Area Jews of all ages, backgrounds, and perspectives to improve the world. For more than 100 years, the organization has supported a vibrant, caring, and enduring Jewish community in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Israel, and around the globe. Laura currently serves its Chair of the Board and is deeply involved in its impact investing strategy and DAF offerings. Laura leads the Federation to effectively guide donors, connect funders, and leverage resources to achieve sustainable, positive change in the local Bay Area community. By combining local and global insight into complex issues with a robust and rigorous grantmaking process, the Federation provides funders with personalized and innovative funding strategies to realize their philanthropic vision.

Laura’s leadership at the Federation has left tremendous impact. She recently led a planning process that resulted in the creation of Federation Philanthropy Partners, a new philanthropic advisory arm with a special focus on multi-generational and next generation philanthropy. Her efforts to support impact investing as core to the Federation’s work is lauded for its role in complementing traditional philanthropy and for engaging new donors. As the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, Laura responded swiftly by conceiving of and leading an effort, through a strategic partnership with Hebrew Free Loan, that raised $6 million in recoverable grants in only 10 days to provide interest-free loans to the most vulnerable members of the Bay Area community.

Laura has previously served in several other leadership roles at the JCF. In 2013, she created an innovative Entrepreneur’s Trip to Israel, which brought Silicon Valley high-tech leaders to the State of Israel for learning and social action. In 2012, she co-founded the Impact Grants Initiative, a venture philanthropy allocations endeavor that subsequently awarded millions of dollars in grants to organizations in the Bay Area and Israel. Prior to her role as Chair of the Endowment Fund, she served as Vice Chair of the Endowment Fund, Vice Chair of the Executive Allocations Committee, Chair of the Diller Teacher Awards Committee, and Campaign Chair in the South Peninsula.

As a result of Laura’s commitment and leadership, she was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and was awarded the Dinkelspiel Young Leadership Award in 1999.

Learn more on the Jewish Federation Bay Area’s website.

Related Media

• The moment is now: Step up and lead
  The Jerusalem Post Magazine November 1, 2024
• Incoming Federation chair Laura Lauder seeks to strengthen community
  J. The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, September 25, 2024
• Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund Announces Initial $6.6 Million Commitment in Funds for COVID-19 Response
  Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, April 2, 2020
• This is the rainy day’: S.F.-based Federation expedites emergency funding
  J. Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, April 1, 2020
• S.F. Jewish Community Federation unveils new model for grant-making
  e-Jewish Philanthropy, June 23, 2011