Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta (Federation) is pleased to announce that Christy Butler Eckoff, J.D., L.L.M., will join the non-profit organization as chief foundation officer and managing director of the Atlanta Jewish Foundation (AJF) on August 12, 2019, following an extensive national search for candidates.
“We are thrilled to welcome Christy and greatly anticipate her leadership in positioning the foundation as a key driver for us to be the philanthropic champion in our community,” says Eric Robbins, president and CEO, Federation. “By giving donors world-class philanthropic advice to helping them grow their assets, Christy’s extensive experience working with large non-profits has positioned her well to serve at the helm of AJF, the custodian of Jewish community resources.”
In 2018, AJF gave more than $31 million in grants to 954 organizations, and has given over $300 million to the community since the foundation’s inception.
“In addition to solid credentials in law and taxation, Christy is a superb relationship builder and will be an incredible fit to work with donors and fundholders,” continues Robbins. “As our chief foundation officer, she enters with a bold mandate to make AJF the go-to place for planned giving, asset management and Jewish generosity.”
AJF currently manages $328.5 million in assets for the Jewish community. Under Eckoff’s leadership, the organization will work toward the goal of growing its portfolio to managing $1 billion over the next decade.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to lead the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, an organization that has always been close to my heart,” says Eckoff. “AJF helps donors manage philanthropic investments wisely and at the same time, helps them express their highest philanthropic priorities. Both of these tasks excite and inspire me. I look forward to bringing my experience working with nonprofits doing meaningful work and applying it to the mission of strengthening the Jewish community.”
A recognized national expert on donor-advised funds, asset-based giving, and charitable planning, Eckoff brings more than 12 years of experience at large foundations, including the Georgia State University Foundation and, most recently, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Prior to her foundation work, Eckoff practiced law as an attorney for 15 years, during which she worked with tax payers, charitable foundations, trusts, private foundations and non-profit organizations.
As the managing director, philanthropic counsel of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Eckoff executed innovative philanthropic solutions, led business development and more than doubled the assets of the foundation. Under her leadership, the foundation secured major and planned gifts, including a $104 million gift of privately-held assets to establish a donor-advised fund, the largest gift of privately-held assets in Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta history.
Eckoff is a current board member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, AdNet for Community Foundations, Association of Fundraising Professionals Political Action Committee Board and Georgia Planned Giving Council. She formerly served as president of both the Georgia Planned Giving Council (2016-2017) and Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Atlanta Chapter (2014-2016).
BoardWalk Consulting‘s Managing Director, Kathy Bremer, led the national search, working with Laura Lovelace and Angela Owens. BoardWalk Consulting is a national executive search firm based in Atlanta which partners with nonprofit organizations to find “leaders that matter for missions that matter.”
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta cares for, connects, and strengthens the Jewish community throughout greater Atlanta, Israel and the world. Federation supports life-changing Jewish education and immersive experiences to help thousands of young people connect Jewishly. From education, senior services and inclusion support, to financial, health and well-being services, Federation creates a thriving, caring and connected 21st Century Jewish Atlanta where every Jew and their loved ones can access warm Jewish community, timeless Jewish wisdom, global Jewish peoplehood and Jewish ways to do good in the world.
Atlanta Jewish Foundation is the advisor and custodian of Jewish community resources. AJF helps donors give Jewishly to all types of charities by establishing donor-advised funds, assisting with pre-sale and complex charitable transactions, and facilitating endowments and legacy giving. With a deep understanding of Jewish community needs and the organizations that address them, AJF offers donors a competitive advantage over commercial funds and advisors by helping donors manage investments wisely while expressing their highest philanthropic priorities.
