St. Louis, December 12, 2024 — Jewish Federation of St. Louis is proud to announce that Danny Cohn will serve as their new Chief Executive Officer, bringing over two decades of experience in strategic leadership, marketing, operations, and community building. Danny’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Federation’s 123-year-old organization as they look toward a future guided by collaboration, philanthropy and a strong commitment to community.
Danny joins the team from the Birmingham Jewish Federation and Foundation, where his vision and leadership significantly deepened community engagement. His accomplishments include exceeding annual campaign targets, establishing groundbreaking partnerships, and spearheading a three-year strategic plan to transform institutional integration across the region. Notably, his leadership extended through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he united agencies, synagogues, and local institutions to foster cooperation and resilience. “We are thrilled to welcome Danny Cohn as our next leader,” said Bob Newmark, Board Chair at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “Danny’s passion for Jewish communal service, combined with his proven track record of strategic innovation, makes him the ideal candidate to lead us into the future. His forward-thinking vision and inclusive approach will surely strengthen our vibrant Jewish community.”
Danny’s impressive career spans global marketing for renowned brands like Starbucks, Burger King, and Allstate Insurance, as well as community engagement initiatives at the Arbor Day Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Omaha. His career pivot in 2020 to serve Jewish communities stems from a profound desire to align his work with his values, spurred by the birth of his daughter.
Under Danny’s leadership, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis will focus on implementing its strategic vision of positioning Federation as a central philanthropic organization. The strategic plan emphasizes strengthening community partnerships and agile grantmaking, being the go-to source for leadership resources and enhance communications to bring awareness to the compassionate work being done in St. Louis, in Israel and around the world. The incoming Federation Board Chair, Todd Siwak added, “Danny’s skills, values, and experiences are perfectly aligned with the priorities of our new strategic plan that our board approved earlier this year.”
Danny’s dedication to fostering intergenerational collaboration and his ability to inspire donors and volunteers of all ages has been a hallmark of his leadership. His success in integrating community stakeholders to achieve common goals ensures a promising future for the St. Louis Jewish community. “We are at a pivotal time in the history of Jewish life. I am excited to help harness the power of the St. Louis Community to collaboratively do good and make a profound impact and investment in our future, for Jews here at home and across the globe,” Danny shared.
The Federation’s announcement is the culmination of a six-month search process co-chaired by Abby Goldstein and Craig Rosenthal. “I’m so thrilled about the selection of Danny as our next CEO. From the moment we met Danny, his passion for the work the Federation does was evident and very contagious. He backed that up with thoughtful analysis of our new strategic plan and showed a clear understanding of how he can use his strengths to benefit the St. Louis community. He’s the perfect CEO for our Federation’s needs now and in the future. I can’t wait to see where he takes us!” exclaimed Abby Goldstein.
Danny will be joined in St. Louis by his husband, their daughter, and their Wheaton Terrier. We expect Danny will begin serving in this new role in March of 2025, as he winds down existing commitments in Birmingham.