Meet The Experts
Here to help you help others.
With decades of working with thousands of people in their philanthropy, we hope to make the giving process easy for Foundation donors. Our experts are readily available to help you with your charitable giving needs. Whether you have questions about what kind of fund is right for you, need help connecting with nonprofits, or want to ask about ways to involve your family in your philanthropy, we have dedicated experts for any concern. Let us help make your charitable giving as joyful and painless as possible.
assets under management
grants distributed
over last 10 years
years of unparalleled
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donors helped
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Our Experts
"I relish the opportunity to combine my background in finance with my rabbinical training when I speak with people about their values, legacies, and portfolios. We get to talk about everything, and it's a pleasure to be able to help."
Rabbi Aaron Lerner
President & CEO
“Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked with hundreds of donors, some are new to charitable giving and others have decades of experience. Each one has their own journey and reasons for giving. To quote author Danny Siegel, ‘Tzedakah is where heaven and earth touch.’ I’m honored to help people share the joy of tzedakah.”
Dan Rothblatt
Executive Vice President
"The Foundation’s mission aligns perfectly with my values and I am honored to be a part of it. I see my role as an opportunity to share my financial expertise with both donors and colleagues, and am particularly drawn to the rewarding work of helping donors create lasting charitable legacies."
Deborah Johnston
CFO
Rabbi Aaron Lerner
President & CEO
“Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked with hundreds of donors, some are new to charitable giving and others have decades of experience. Each one has their own journey and reasons for giving. To quote author Danny Siegel, ‘Tzedakah is where heaven and earth touch.’ I’m honored to help people share the joy of tzedakah.”
Dan Rothblatt
Executive Vice President
"The Foundation’s mission aligns perfectly with my values and I am honored to be a part of it. I see my role as an opportunity to share my financial expertise with both donors and colleagues, and am particularly drawn to the rewarding work of helping donors create lasting charitable legacies."
“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.”
Naomi Strongin
Vice President,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
“I’ve spent my career helping individuals, families, corporations, and foundations achieve their philanthropic goals. Helping them maximize their impact is a joyful experience and inspires me to ensure their philanthropy leaves a lasting legacy for them and their families.”
Steve Gamer
Vice President, Advancement
“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.”
Naomi Strongin
Vice President,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
“I’ve spent my career helping individuals, families, corporations, and foundations achieve their philanthropic goals. Helping them maximize their impact is a joyful experience and inspires me to ensure their philanthropy leaves a lasting legacy for them and their families.”
Steve Gamer
Vice President,
Advancement
"I’ve spent many years advising families, private foundations, and nonprofits on their finances, including their philanthropy. Foundation donors are a pleasure to work with and I enjoy using my significant experience in tax law, accounting, and estate planning to help them realize their charitable giving goals."
Ellen Rosen
Vice President and General Counsel
“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.”
Warren Fong
Senior Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
"I’ve spent many years advising families, private foundations, and nonprofits on their finances, including their philanthropy. Foundation donors are a pleasure to work with and I enjoy using my significant experience in tax law, accounting, and estate planning to help them realize their charitable giving goals."
Ellen Rosen
Vice President and General Counsel
“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.”
Warren Fong
Senior Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
“What I love most about my job is being a connector. Between connecting with nonprofits doing critical work in Los Angeles and assisting donors in finding organizations that they’ll love, it’s rewarding to be involved in repairing the world in a very tangible way.”
Charlotte Friedman
Senior Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
“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."
Sara Hahn
Senior Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
"I am delighted to play a part in directing resources towards a portfolio of important initiatives that support and empower communities across LA."
Marissa Nachman
Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
“What I love most about my job is being a connector. Between connecting with nonprofits doing critical work in Los Angeles and assisting donors in finding organizations that they’ll love, it’s rewarding to be involved in repairing the world in a very tangible way.”
Charlotte Friedman
Senior Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
“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."
Sara Hahn
Senior Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
"I am delighted to play a part in directing resources towards a portfolio of important initiatives that support and empower communities across LA."
Marissa Nachman
Program Officer,
Center for Designed Philanthropy
Our Experts in the News
Interested in learning more?
Contact us at 323.761.8704 or fill out the form below.