The Jewish Federation Bay Area (the “Federation”) and Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco (“HFL”) received the Synergy for Change Award at the 2025 Donor Advised Funds (DAF) Giving Summit in Washington DC in September. The DAF Giving Summit is the premier national organization celebrating individuals and organizations making a lasting impact through donor-advised funds. The Synergy for Change Award recognizes innovative models of giving that strengthen relationships, maximize resources and drive meaningful change.
The Federation and Hebrew Free Loan were recognized for their innovative partnership allowing Federation donor-advised fundholders to lend money from their DAFs, interest-free, to Hebrew Free Loan. HFL then extended these loans to borrowers, providing critical support for education, medical expenses, small business growth, emergency relief, and more.
From 2020 through 2025, the Federation loaned $8.4M to support thousands of Hebrew Free Loan borrowers. Notably, from July 2023 to June 2024, Hebrew Free Loan disbursed 50% more in loans than before the Covid-19 pandemic. Borrowers repaid their loans at a rate of 99.9%, allowing the funds to be recycled for future Federation lending opportunities. The Federation’s partnership with Hebrew Free Loan now serves as a successful philanthropic model for all North American Jewish communities.
“This is a powerful recognition of the Federation’s role as a bridge to consistently bring donors, nonprofits, and community leaders together to reshape and strengthen our community,” said Laura Lauder, Federation Board Chair. “Our partnership with Hebrew Free Loan reveals how forward-thinking models of collaboration can revolutionize the philanthropic field.”
Andrew Schneiderman, Senior Director of Impact Investing at the Federation, said: “The Federation and Hebrew Free Loan are building an ecosystem where philanthropy directly empowers people, their businesses, and their families. This award affirms our belief that with strategic planning and efficient resource allocation, cross-organizational collaboration creates greater impact than the sum of its parts.”
On behalf of Hebrew Free Loan, Cindy Rogoway, Executive Director, said: “For 128 years, Hebrew Free Loan has assisted those facing difficult times or working hard to pursue opportunities. Our partnership with the Federation was a lifeline during the pandemic, when many people lost their income overnight. Our ongoing collaboration provides us with critical funding to offer interest-free loans throughout the community while enabling donor-advised fundholders to have an immediate impact on the lives of people in need.”
The award was accepted on behalf of the Federation by Nicole Levine, Managing Director of Philanthropy at the Federation. Mark Abelson, former Hebrew Free Loan President, accepted the award on behalf of HFL.
The DAF Giving Summit was created to reimagine charitable giving for the modern world, showcasing new technologies and celebrating innovative leaders in philanthropy. The Synergy for Change Award affirms that aligning the resources of donor-advised funds with the expertise of nonprofits operating in the field can transform philanthropy.
About Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco
Hebrew Free Loan has served the Northern California Jewish community since 1897, providing interest-free loans to assist individuals, families, and small businesses to become and remain self-sufficient. We offer loans for emergencies, higher education, first-time home purchases, starting a family (adoption or fertility treatments), debt consolidation, launching or expanding a small business, and many other purposes. Our loan repayment rate is 99.9%, and since we recycle loan capital, the impact of these funds increases exponentially. Over the past 35 years alone, we have disbursed more than $125 million in loans.
About the Jewish Federation Bay Area
The Jewish Federation Bay Area is the largest funder of Jewish causes in California, serving as a trusted partner and advisor for those seeking to make an impact today while shaping a better tomorrow. We invest in education, social services, and security while mobilizing crisis relief worldwide. With over a century of leadership, we empower individuals and families to give strategically, building a thriving and resilient future for generations to come.
