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
As Vice President, Naomi Strongin oversees the Center For Designed Philanthropy, including the development and implementation of community grant programs, working with major fund holders, and providing philanthropic advising services to individuals and families.
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. As a Program Officer, Senior Program Officer, and Associate Director of the Center, Naomi has directly managed The Foundation’s Cutting Edge Grants, General Community Grants, Israel Grants, Capital Grants, and Racial Equity Grants programs. She also was integrally involved in leading The Foundation’s response to the pandemic in 2020-2021, spearheading our Covid-19 Response Grants and Reimagine Grants programs that provided nearly $12 million in support of close to 100 nonprofits for pressing needs. 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 Masters 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.
“The work I do daily, overseeing competitive grant programs, connecting thoughtful donors to amazing nonprofits, and facilitating values discussions for multigenerational families is incredibly meaningful and rewarding.”
Warren Fong, Senior Program Officer
As Senior Program Officer at The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy, Warren Fong manages The Foundation’s General Community Grants for critical needs in the non-Jewish Los Angeles community and the Next Stage Grants, which provides support to Los Angeles Jewish nonprofits to build their infrastructure and capacity to sustain and grow.
Warren leverages his years of experience working with hundreds of nonprofits on issues including homelessness, disaster relief, social entrepreneurship, foster youth, education equity, and human trafficking to help Foundation donors find the best nonprofits and programs to support. Since joining The Foundation in 2014, Warren has helped donors direct millions of dollars in grants, customized and tailored to the needs of the donor and the cause they want to support.
Warren earned a master's of fine arts in Creative Writing and a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California Irvine. He is a Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor.
“I am inspired by so many of the donors I meet who invest their time and energy to improve our community. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to use our expertise and connections to help them make an impact.”
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 in Los Angeles and Israel.
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.
“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
As Program Officer at The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy, Charlotte Friedman manages institutional grant programs focused on the Los Angeles Jewish community, including our flagship Cutting Edge Grants and our newest Reimagine Grants. She also provides philanthropic advising to The Foundation donors who support pressing issues in Jewish Los Angeles and the general community.
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 in positions at the New York Civil Liberties Union, Taproot Foundation, the United Nations Global Pulse, Heal the Bay, and Global Green USA. 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.
“I love working with and learning about a variety of great nonprofits helping vulnerable populations in Los Angeles.”
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.
"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.”