
What Gives? The Jewish Philanthropy Podcast
The issues, stories, and people changing the world in philanthropy and the Jewish community. If you like "What Gives?" be sure to check out "Outside the Tzedakah Box" (https://honeycomb.org/podcast-outside-tzedakah-box/) a podcast on Jewish youth philanthropy from JFN's Honeycomb.
Latest episodes

Feb 8, 2022 • 49min
Danny Hakim: Sports for Social Change
In Episode 27 of "What Gives?", Danny Hakim, a board member of the Azrieli Foundation talks about the power of sports to solve social problems and bring disparate groups together. The founder of Budo for Peace (now called One Team – Sports for Social Change), Danny recently launched the Sports for Social Change Coalition, a growing movement of sports for peace stakeholders in Israel.
Mapping of Sports for Peace Coalition (in Hebrew)
Sports for Peace Coalition Info (in English)

Dec 15, 2021 • 39min
Fay Twersky: Philanthropy That Listens and Responds
In episode 26 of Jewish Funders Network's "What Gives?" philanthropy podcast, Fay Twersky, the president and director of the Atlanta-based Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (and former vice president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) discusses everything from the critical role philanthropy played in the LGBTQ rights movement to participatory grantmaking, to strengthening grantmaker-grantseeker relationships,

Nov 9, 2021 • 57min
Georgette Bennett: How She Mobilized Jews and Muslims to Help Syrians
In Episode 25 of JFN's Jewish philanthropy podcast, former JFN Board Chair Georgette Bennett talks about her new book, "Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By," her experience growing up the child of Jewish refugees, and how to forge multifaith coalitions.

Oct 12, 2021 • 38min
Eytan Stibbe: Israeli Astronaut and Philanthropist
In episode 24 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny talks to renowned Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe about his philanthropy, impact investing, and how his friend Ilan Ramon inspired him to travel to outer space.

Aug 3, 2021 • 48min
Adina Shapiro & Reem Younis: The Growth of Arab Philanthropy in Israel
In Episode 23 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, JFN Board Member Adina Shapiro and Israeli Entrepreneur/Philanthropist Reem Younis talk about Qudra, a new network for Israel's growing community of Arab philanthropists.

Jun 22, 2021 • 45min
Vanessa Bartram & Michael Lustig: Tapping The Potential of Jewish Impact Investing
Episode 23 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.
JFN members and impact investors Michael Lustig and Vanessa Bartram share what you need to know about this exciting tool for expanding impact and ensuring your investments align with your values. Michael is the author of JFN's new Greenbook, "A Guide to Jewish Impact Investing," and Vanessa facilitates JFN's monthly impact investing roundtable series.

May 26, 2021 • 38min
Rep. Kathy Manning: From Jewish Communal Leader to Political Rising Star
Episode 22 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.
Freshman Rep. Kathy Manning (D-North Carolina) — a former JFN board member and the first woman president of the Jewish Federations of North America — talks about why and how she got into politics and her tumultuous first month in office.

Apr 20, 2021 • 39min
Lisa Greer: Revolutionizing the Way Fundraisers Interact with Donors
In Episode 21 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, philanthropist, author, and JFN member Lisa Greer talks to host Andréws Spokoiny about philanthropic strategy, some common mistakes fundraisers and philanthropists make, and ways to strengthen relationships between funders and nonprofits.
Lisa is the author of the 2020 book, “Philanthropy Revolution: How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships and Make a Difference,” (Harper Collins), the first such book written from the perspective of a philanthropist.

Mar 24, 2021 • 46min
Understanding the Grantee-Funder Relationship
In Episode 20 of "What Gives?" the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, Dena Libman of the Azrieli Foundation and Jack Wertheimer of Jewish Theological Seminary talk about findings from Wertheimer's 2020 "Grantees and Their Funders" report, one of the catalysts for GrantED: Stronger Relationships, Greater Impact, a joint project of JFN and UpStart.

Feb 16, 2021 • 42min
Cintra Pollack: Achieving Impact in Grantmaking and Investing
In Episode 19 of "What Gives?" The Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.
Cintra Pollack, an investor, philanthropist and JFN board member, talks about impact investing, generational differences, and balancing her family philanthropy with her Jewish Federation involvement.