2025-2027
Strategic Plan
In 2024, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis Board of Directors approved a new Strategic Plan to ensure a thriving St. Louis Jewish community today and into the future.
Mission
Jewish Federation of St. Louis mobilizes the Jewish community, its people and financial resources to grow and sustain Jewish life in St. Louis, in Israel and around the world.
VISION
Our vision is a Jewish community that harnesses the power of our diverse community, organizations and synagogues to be connected, collaborating, safe and thriving.
Values
The beliefs and guiding principles that drive our decision-making and actions as an organization.
Peoplehood
We are a connected Jewish people with a shared Jewish history. We strive to create commitment, unity and belonging. Federation uniquely takes responsibility for the whole of our Jewish community.
Pluralism
We believe in the strength of diversity in our Jewish community. We support the broad and varied ways to express, identify and experience Judaism and Jewish life consistent with these values. We respect and seek to foster good relations with other cultures and religions in the wider community.
Tzedakah
We believe in our mutual responsibility for all Jews, guided by the teaching “kol arevim zeh la zeh” (all of Israel are responsible for one another.) We embody tzedakah, the obligation of helping those in need, in our everyday work and we create opportunities for others to participate in the mitzvah.
Collective Action
We believe success requires aligning resources, empowering each other and our partners, and working together toward achieving impact.
Commitment to Israel
We believe in the sovereignty of the Jewish state of Israel. We strive to ensure that Israel remains a vibrant and democratic homeland for the Jewish people and are committed to its safety and security.
Communication
We believe in the power of communicating often, honestly and clearly. We use communication as a tool for building community. We make statements and are transparent about our values, objectives and investments.
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL
This strategic plan sets out to implement a new sustainable business model that focuses on philanthropy, playing a critical leadership role in the community, and multimedia communications. Four strategic pillars to Federation’s sustainable business model include:
Enhanced Total Financial Resource Development (TFRD)
The TFRD strategy will better position the Federation as St. Louis’ central philanthropic institution. People will look to the Federation as a trusted partner in meeting their own philanthropic impact goals. We will grow our donor base and increase the financial resources raised and invested into the Jewish community.
Streamlined & Agile Grantmaking
To meet immediate and long-term needs of the Jewish community through a data-driven model in alignment with our strategic investment areas. We will provide greater transparency into how our community’s resources are invested for impact.
Focused Community Leadership & Core Programs
Federation will be the go-to source in our community for leadership resources, people and ideas.
Building Community through Enhanced Communications
Raise awareness and increase visibility of our work and programs, engage and grow a base of supporters, deepen our connection to existing supporters and strengthen our brand recognition and reputation.
Thank you to our 2024 Strategic Planning Task Force
Co-Chairs: Stephanie Gross & Todd Siwak
Task Force Members: Bob Newmark, Lauren Cohen, Dan Friedman, Felicia Malter, Dalia Oppenheimer, Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg, Craig Rosenthal Professional Staff: Emily Bornstein, Larry Gast, Amanda Miller, Mindy Sharp, Karen Sher