Jerry Silverman to step down in 2019 as head of Jewish federations network

Jerry Silverman will step down next year after 10 years as president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, the umbrella body of local community Jewish philanthropies.

Silverman announced his decision in an email to colleagues on Monday. He said that after consulting with his family, he decided not to seek renewal of his contract, after it ends in September 2019.

“I wholeheartedly plan to continue at my usual pace until September 2019. My decision is bittersweet,” he wrote. “However, as I have always stated, family comes first.”

He is the father of five grown children.

Silverman came to JFNA in 2009 after serving as CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Prior to that he was an executive for various consumer brands, including serving as president of the Keds Corp.

JFNA serves as a coordinating body for 148 Jewish federations and 300 smaller “network” communities, claiming combined fundraising of more than $2 billion annually. The money is distributed to programs in Israel and Jewish social services and educational needs in North America and abroad.

Silverman said a CEO search could take more than a year.