Two Boston Area Federations Join Forces

By Seth Berkman June 7, 2013

To better serve the Boston Jewish community, two leading organizations have decided to merge, beginning July 1.

Earlier this week, the boards of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Greater Boston Area’s Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Federation of the North Shore, announced the merger. The new federation will take on the Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ name. As a singular institution, CJP had previously served a much larger population and had more resources than JFNS.

“We are very excited about our future as part of CJP,” said Shep Remis, a life member of the JFNS Board of Trustees and chair of the merger task force. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Jewish community on the North Shore, who will continue to enjoy local programming, while benefiting from the expanded resources and services that a combined organization can provide.”

JFNS’ North Shore office will remain open. Kimberlee Schumacher, interim executive director of JFNS, will lead the transition along with a committee that will make recommendations on allocations, volunteer engagement and community priorities for the next two years. Currently, JFNS serves more than 20,000 Jewish households in 23 towns surrounding Boston. CJP more than 100 social service agencies, synagogues, day schools and programs, both in Israel and abroad.

According to the original CJP’s most recent 990 tax filings from 2011, they took in $132,034,670 in donations and had a total revenue of $162,951,637. In 2011, JFNS had $2,520,505 in contributions and a total revenue of $2,844,457. That year, JFNS had a net loss of $380,515.

“This merger will harness the energy and spirit of two organizations which help people in need locally and around the globe, and will bring them together as one stronger whole,” said CJP President Barry Shrage.

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