Center Team
Our team of advisors will work with you to help you identify your passions, explore your areas of interest, and connect you with outstanding nonprofits that are repairing the world every day. See below for brief introductions to our team of advisors and to learn more about their areas of expertise.
Naomi Strongin, Vice President
Naomi serves as Vice President of the Center for Designed Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. In this role, she oversees development and implementation of The Foundation’s grant programs, work with major fund holders, and philanthropic advising services to individuals and families. Each year, Naomi and her team facilitate more than $20 million in philanthropic dollars to community organizations locally, nationally and in Israel.
Naomi brings extensive experience in program development and management, grantmaking, and relationship building to this role. Naomi joined The Foundation in 2009 with a background in direct social services and fundraising. She has guided hundreds of donors on a diverse range of philanthropic topics with her expertise in engaging next generations in philanthropy, multi-gen giving, charitable mission & vision development, and giving interest-area issues such as early childhood development, economic development in Israel, and the Jewish nonprofit landscape in Los Angeles.
Naomi earned her Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Community Organizing, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California, and her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from UC San Diego. She is a Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor and she has been published in the Jewish Journal, LA Daily News, and eJewish Philanthropy. Naomi lives in Tarzana with her husband Seth and 3 children.
Warren Fong, Senior Program Officer
Warren serves as a Senior Program Officer at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. In this role, Warren manages The Foundation’s grant programs focused on supporting those in need in the broader Los Angeles community. He provides philanthropic advising services to The Foundation’s community of donors. Warren’s special expertise includes homelessness, foster and transition age youth, older adult poverty, addressing domestic and sexual violence, and supporting survivors of human trafficking.
Warren earned his master’s in fine art in poetry at the UC Irvine and has a bachelor’s degree in English. He is a certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor.
Warren recently moved to Highland Park with his wife and one-year old daughter and now enjoys whatever his daughter enjoys, including going on walks, playing with water, staying up late, and visiting the zoo.
Sara Hahn, Senior Program Officer
As Senior Program Officer at The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy, Sara Hahn provides philanthropic advising to The Foundation’s donor families and manages institutional grants.
Sara’s path has taken her to Vilnius, Lithuania, where she worked in the Office of the President of Dalia Grybauskaite; to Mumbai, India, where she worked for a women’s rights organization; and to Jerusalem, where she received a Dorot Fellowship for leadership development. Prior to The Foundation, she oversaw grants portfolios at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and the Claims Conference, and worked in communications at American Jewish World Service. She is an alumna of the Rockwood Leadership Institute and a Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor.
Sara received her master's in social work from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in Literature from UC San Diego. She lives in Pico-Robertson with her husband, daughter and dog.
“I am passionate about ensuring that communities can access the funds they need to realize their full potential, while helping donors make thoughtful and impactful funding decisions."
Charlotte Friedman, Program Officer
Charlotte Friedman serves as a Program Officer with the Center for Designed Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. In this role, Charlotte manages grant programs focused on the Jewish and larger communities in Los Angeles, and provides philanthropic advising services to The Foundation’s community of donors. Her expertise spans the Jewish nonprofit landscape and combatting antisemitism to early childhood development, at-risk youth initiatives and social justice efforts.
Charlotte came to The Foundation from the Downtown Women’s Center, where she helped raise millions of dollars for programs that support and empower women experiencing homelessness. She has worked to advance social and environmental justice throughout her career. At The Foundation, Charlotte leverages her experience in fundraising, grantmaking, community organizing, and program development to help nonprofits grow and succeed and to advise donors on impactful giving strategies.
Charlotte earned her master's in social work with a concentration in community organizing, planning, and administration from the University of Southern California, and her bachelor's degree in women and gender studies and environmental studies from Bates College. She is a Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor. Charlotte lives in Santa Monica with her husband Sam and son Levi.
Marissa Nachman, Program Officer
As a Program Officer at The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy, Marissa Nachman manages institutional grant programs and supports Foundation donors with charitable giving strategies.
Marissa joined The Foundation in 2021 after spending seven years managing nonprofit programs in LA. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Programs at Swipe Out Hunger, an organization that works to address college student hunger. As head of the Programs Department, Marissa designed, managed, and evaluated programs while helping to grow the organization’s infrastructure and national reach. Previously, Marissa worked at a community resource center in South LA called LIFT, where she served as a case manager and then transitioned to a role focused on program evaluation and quality assurance.
Marissa received a bachelor's degree in sociology with a certificate in civic engagement from Wesleyan University. She is a Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor. Marissa lives in Los Feliz with her husband Ezra.
"I am delighted to play a part in directing resources towards a portfolio of important initiatives that support and empower communities across LA."
Offi Zisser, Israel Consultant
As Israel Consultant, Offi Zisser adds an on-the-ground perspective to The Foundation’s giving in Israel, working with the Center for Designed Philanthropy team on Israel strategy, grantmaking, and oversight.
Offi brings more than two decades of experience working in philanthropy, with dozens of funders, foundations, and corporations. Her philanthropic career began at the Joseph Drown Foundation in Los Angeles, and continued in various senior roles in Israel’s philanthropic landscape, including heading the advisory services division at Jewish Funders Network Israel, and managing Azrieli Foundation Israel.
Offi received her master's of business administration from Pepperdine University, her bachelor's degree in economics from UCLA, and her IB diploma from the Armand Hammer United World College in New Mexico. She has been residing in Caesarea for the past 25 years.
“It is such a privilege to be in a profession which brings me in daily contact with generous people and organizations, who choose to invest their resources and time on defining their giving passion and making this a better world.”