Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), JEWISHcolorado’s umbrella organization, refers to women philanthropists as the “change-makers and community-shapers of the world.” The National Women’s Philanthropy (NWP) Board comprises 218 women from the 146 federations throughout North America. This year’s incoming class of board members, 42 women from 35 communities, includes a well-known member of JEWISHcolorado’s community—Tiffany Glucksman Appel. In her own words, Appel talks about her long-time involvement in federation activities and her plans as a national board member.
Having grown up for most of my life in Denver, I found a home at Temple Emanuel, Shwayder Camp, and BBYO. These three places shaped my young and growing Jewish identity and understanding of Jewish communal life. And if you happen to be really lucky, you just might get to have that continue throughout your entire life.
When I moved back to Denver in 2006, I was introduced to JEWISHcolorado, then called the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, a member of JFNA. JFNA—both locally with JEWISHcolorado and nationally—has been a huge part of my life for more than 18 years. It has brought me friendships, taught me about philanthropy, inspired me through speakers, taken me on trips to Israel, and connected me to Joel, who would become my husband.
It has been 15 years since I first became involved in Women’s Philanthropy at JEWISHcolorado, but even before that, I had been active in the Young Adult Division (YAD) beginning in 2006, and I had gone on Denver’s Young Leadership Mission to Israel in 2010. I was Chair of the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education (CAJE) Board at the time of the merger with Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado and Jewish Community Foundation. I served as the JEWISHcolorado Campaign Chair in 2017-2019 and was a long-standing board member.
My first real taste of the national JFNA system was in 2011 with YAD when I attended “Tribe Fest,” a conference in Las Vegas that convened more than 1,200 young leaders from across America. It was fun and informative to be with like-minded people doing great Jewish work.
When the General Assembly came to Denver in 2012, I co-chaired the YAD Day of Service, and that gave me another chance to see opportunities with JFNA on the national level. In 2015, Joel and I went to Israel with JFNA’s Fisher Flight, a program that offers philanthropic education and networking.
I was always active locally, but through JFNA, I could see all the interesting and informative things that were happening nationally with people whose values aligned with mine. That’s what prompted me to continue my philanthropic journey on the national level when the time was right.
My interest in the national work of JFNA culminated in my first International Lion of Judah Conference in 2023. NWP houses the Lions of Judah, women who have raised more than one billion dollars to advance Jewish communities and aid vulnerable Jews here in North America and overseas.
I had been active as a Lion locally since around 2011, but going to the conference was inspirational and a first for me. I loved being in the room with more than 1,000 brilliant, philanthropic women who share the same values and are ready to do good for the Jewish people. It felt like a reunion of mentors, peers, and friends. There were women I knew from Tribe Fest, the General Assembly, and Fisher Flight. We were now a decade (plus) older, and we were still committed to doing important work both individually and collectively.
I have been lucky to have had so many wonderful mentors at JEWISHcolorado, and through them, I knew about the NWP Board. When one of my mentors, Judy Altenberg, received our local Golda Award, I will never forget her exuberant celebration. So many friends from her cohort on NWP came to be part of that celebration. Watching that, I hoped that someday I could follow in her footsteps and experience the camaraderie of NWP.
When the invitation to join the NWP Board came, I was delighted. My eight-year term begins in June at a retreat in New York City. My goal is to learn from the work being done in other federations and bring those best practices back to the Denver community to further the work of JEWISHcolorado. I was lucky enough to have incredible women mentors and see NWP as the next step in my Jewish communal life and hope to pave the way for the next generation of women who will come after me.