Our History
The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies has a long and proud history as an independent charitable organization serving the local Jewish community. On March 23, 1911, eight men and two women met at Zion House, located on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, New York to form the Foundation. These founding directors were: Henry Weill, August Keiser, Mrs. Marcus Spiegel, Jacob G. Joseph, Emanuel Boasberg, Solomon Ginsburg, Isaac E. Harris, Theodore Hofeller, Solomon Morrison and Mrs. Edward Warner. Their purpose as stated in the original certificate of incorporation was, “To provide a permanent, efficient and practical mode of collecting and distributing contributions for charitable or philanthropic purposes, and to devote the sums so collected for the support for Jewish charitable organizations…”
During those formative years, our community’s founders agreed upon a rational and far-sighted division of labor under which the Buffalo Jewish Federation would be responsible for annual fund-raising and allocations, while the Foundation would manage the long-term permanent endowment funds. Their wisdom has served us well and continues to guide us today.
The Foundation’s first benefactor was Dr. Jerome Hilton Waterman who left a bequest of $20,000 in memory of his parents, Herman and Malvina Waterman. Since 1912, these funds have been held in trust for the benefit of the Buffalo Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo. Both of these agencies continue to receive annual income from the Waterman Fund to support special programs.
The past Presidents of the Foundation include the most distinguished leaders in our community’s history.
We thank them for building the Foundation of today, and we recognize them as follows:
Solomon Ginsburg
1911 – 1912
Isaac E. Harris
1913 – 1915
Theodore Hofeller
1916 – 1918
Eugene Warner
1919 – 1920
Emanuel Boasberg
1921
Hon. Samuel J. Harris
1922 – 1925
Charles Polakoff
1926
Dr. Lester I. Levyn
1927 – 1929
Harry J. Lehman
1930
Eugene Warner
1931 – 1944
Maurice S. Tabor
1945 – 1953
Stanley G. Falk
1954 – 1965
Morris Goldstein
1966 – 1968
Joseph N. Desmon
1969 – 1970
Robert C. Hayman
1971 – 1972
Eugene M. Warner
1973 – 1974
Lawrence W. Gunzberg
1975 – 1979
Norman C. Joseph
1980 – 1981
J. Milton Zeckhauser
1982 – 1983
Amb. Leonard Rochwarger
1984 – 1986
Sheldon Hurwitz
1987 – 1988
Sanford M. Nobel
1989 – 1990
Ruth Kahn Stovroff
1991 – 1992
Joel N. Lippman
1993
Haskell I. Stovroff
1993 – 1994
Gordon R. Gross
1995 – 1996
Nathan Benderson
1997 – 1999
Ann Holland Cohn
2000 – 2001
Wayne D. Wisbaum
2002 – 2006
Eugene M. Setel
2007 – 2008
Richard A. Zakalik
2009 – 2010
Arnold N. Kahn
2011 – 2012
Judith H. Katz
2013 – 2014
Raymond L. Fink
2015 – 2018
Donald M. Kohnstamm
2019 – 2020
Jonathan Schechter
2021 – 2022
Daniel J. Kester
2023 – Present
The Foundation Today
Today the Foundation has built upon its humble beginnings to become one of the largest charitable foundations in Western New York managing over 1,000 funds and with total assets in excess of $220 million. With committed leadership, professional staffing and strong community support, the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies faces the future with pride in what has been achieved and with confidence in our ability to serve both donors and charitable agencies alike.
The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies would be honored to assist you and your family in preserving your legacy.