A New Chapter for JFS
Dear Friends,
Your support, partnership, guidance, and friendship means a lot to me. As CEO, building and strengthening relationships—with staff and board, volunteers and community partners, individual donors and philanthropists alike—has always been a priority to me and I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to get to know each of you. My experience leading JFS Delaware has contributed so much to my personal and professional development and I feel fortunate to have served my community in this way, with an organization I believe in so firmly. So it is bittersweet to share that I will be leaving JFS Delaware next month (August 2021) to continue my journey elsewhere.
I have accepted a new position as VP of Strategy and Partnerships at the Network for Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA), a membership association for the nonprofit Jewish human service sector in the United States, Canada, and Israel. The Network serves as a resource for advocacy, innovation, best practices, and research. As they establish their Center for Innovation & Research, which I will oversee, this role provides an excellent opportunity for me and my family—one in which I will continue to provide care and attention to JFS Delaware, an NJHSA member.
The Board of Directors has assembled a search committee to recruit my successor. Until a new leader is selected, the Board has asked JFS’ Past Board President and experienced nonprofit executive Regina Kerr Alonzo to serve as Interim CEO. She’ll be providing support for operations, strategic planning, relationship building, our Executive Leadership team, and the Board of Directors.
I have grown so connected to you all and I have learned so much throughout my time as JFS Delaware’s CEO. We have grown so much as an agency and community and I have loved to watch our mission be carried out and made possible by so many of you who believe as we do—we are all responsible for one another. I know that, as CEO, I’ve been involved in our organization’s services and growth, but JFS is extraordinary because of each of YOU. I am hopeful and confident you will continue wrapping your arms around JFS Delaware the way you so generously and passionately have—many of you before I even joined the JFS family.
You’ve heard us say it before and it remains undeniably true: YOU help our clients and community thrive. Thank you, sincerely, for your friendship and support. I’m still always a phone call away.
Kadima! Let’s move forward.
Thank you all.
Warmly,
Basha Silverman
MAZEL TOV & THANK YOU!
“On behalf of the Board, I want to wish Basha all the best as she takes on her new role with NJHSA. We are—and will remain—deeply grateful for her contributions to JFS Delaware; over the past five years, she has made incredible strides in further establishing JFS as a vital community organization that serves everyone. She has been a pleasure to work with and sets an example for many. Our Board and Executive Team has created a search committee to find a new leader for our agency to continue our progress and growth. Best wishes to Basha and her family!”—Kim Drexler, JFS Board President
“In the 10 years I have volunteered here, JFS Delaware has gone through tremendous growth, increased community partnerships, diversified funding (critical to a nonprofit of our size!) and an unceasing dedication to the highest quality services. The JFS Board and staff members are strong, smart, and compassionate and, while we will all miss Basha dearly, our organization remains in good hands…and I’m not only saying that because I’ll be the interim CEO! I’m glad for this opportunity to support JFS in a new way during this time of transition—a welcome respite from raising two confused teenage boys and living with a farmer who has chronic shpilkes! In all seriousness, thank you to Basha for her leadership and all of you who continue to support JFS.—Regina Kerr Alonzo, Interim CEO
ABOUT NJHSA’S CENTER FOR INNOVATION & RESEARCH:
NJHSA’s Center for Innovation & Research is designed to establish partnerships with universities, government, corporations, or philanthropists in order to develop, evaluate the efficacy of, and implement solutions to challenges identified by Network members. These solutions may be client service delivery focused or may address internal agency operations, governance, or other operating factors. The Network’s Center for Innovation and Research is a catalyzing effort to support Network member agencies as they work to advance solutions to challenges through the dynamic lens of innovation and social impact entrepreneurship. Ongoing training will be provided to member agencies to increase their efforts to embrace the process of innovation and to incorporate strategies and planning processes which may contribute toward innovative responses to client and community needs.
Basha Silverman, former CEO of JFS Delaware, will be assuming the newly established position of Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships. In this role, Basha will drive the overall strategic initiatives of the Network and will cultivate and implement efforts resulting from meaningful partnerships; central to Basha’s role will be her oversight, leadership, and development of the Network’s Center for Innovation and Research.
“The Network is thrilled to welcome Basha and, with her leadership, is well poised to grow the impact of the Network’s burgeoning Center for Innovation and Research.”
—Reuben Rotman, NJHSA CEO