Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community Annual Meeting 2021

Charlotte Jewish News June 2021

This year’s FCJC Annual Meeting and Community Legacy Celebration was held virtually, via Zoom, on April 11. Here are the remarks by Phil Warshauer, FCJC executive director and Stephen Philipson, FCJC Board chair.

Phil Warshauer, FCJC Executive Director:

Saying that 2020 was some year would be the understatement of understatements. The year presented us all with unimaginable personal and professional challenges. How do we stay connected to our legacy donors and service our existing clients? In what ways can we support our local Jewish organizations? Could we continue our work as philanthropic advisers without in-person meetings? It was some year. In fact, it was record-breaking!

In 2020, it was the generosity of our existing clients and their trust in FCJC that set the tone. A record $14.4 million of new gifts was added to existing FCJC-managed funds. These funds distributed a record $14 million of grants to 386 unique public charities throughout North Carolina, across North America, and beyond. A record $2.2 million was distributed from FCJC-managed donor-advised funds to support Jewish Charlotte. Over the last four years, FCJC has received gifts and distributed grants of more than $39 million. This number is incredible given that following the 2008 financial crisis, total FCJC assets under management were less than $35 million. Supported by strong financial markets, FCJC total assets under management were $177.3 million at year-end.

Yes, 2020 was some year. We thank Fred Dumas and the FCJC Board for their leadership during these difficult times. We welcome Stephen Philipson as FCCJ’s new chair and his willingness to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. One such challenge will be replacing my friend and colleague, Nancy Kipnis, who later this year will be joining her husband, Bob, in retirement. Nancy has created her own legacy at FCJC since joining us in June 2012. Her work on our Create Your Jewish Legacy initiative speaks for itself, as does her passion for FCJC and our Jewish community. Over the years, she expanded her role at FCJC and leveraged her personal relationships into major FCJC client relationships. From day one we created a great working partnership. We are so happy for Nancy and Bob as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Please join me in expressing our appreciation for all Nancy has done for FCJC and our Charlotte Jewish community. Talk about a legacy. ank you, Nancy, thank you legacy donors, thank you fund holders, and special thanks to our community partner organizations for all you do and for your commitment to Jewish Charlotte.

Stephen Philipson, FCJC Board Chair:

As we emerge from the pandemic, there are several opportunities for the FCJC to serve our fund holders and our community. The pandemic uncovered so many vulnerabilities in our society, our economy, and our community’s organizations. It also uncovered as many opportunities to approach everyday life, work, school, and religious observance differently. As everyone reassesses their personal and philanthropic priorities in a post-pandemic world, FCJC is uniquely positioned to partner with each one of us. Personally, it was extraordinarily eye-opening for Laura and me, participating in FCJC’s Harold Grinspoon Foundation sponsored workshop. It really led us to think about our giving, our personal priorities, and how we can be impactful in ways that are meaningful for us and our community. I think FCJC can have a similar impact on every fund holder and prospective fund holder we touch.

As I embark on this twoyear term as chair of the FCJC Board, I have a few priorities in mind consistent with what FCJC has given me as a “customer”:

Continue to transform giving and philanthropy from being transactional to being personal. FCJC is uniquely positioned to serve as an unbiased partner.

Bridge the gap in generations in the Jewish philanthropic community. My generation has been incredibly blessed by the generation before us and its selfless giving and boundless generosity. That generation’s names adorn many buildings. Their vision led to the creation of Shalom Park and institutions such as this one. They are the

sustainers of our community in every sense of the word. My generation must step up and take the torch from them and live and give by the example set by them. This is not a “nice to have.” It is a “need to have.” It is critical for the long-term sustenance of our community. FCJC can play a critical role in planting the seeds for this to happen.

I would like to see FCJC hit $200 million in assets under management by the end of my term. If we get the first two things right and markets cooperate, we should easily hit and exceed this goal!

Thank you for all you do for our community and for your engagement with FCJC. As we approach the light at the end of the tunnel on the pandemic, I am so excited about what our always forward-looking community will do and equally excited for what FCJC can do in enabling that forward-looking journey.