The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is a volunteer-driven enterprise. Our governance structure involves community volunteers who provide strategic direction and oversight on several levels.
The Board of Directors provide high-level leadership. They are responsible for managing the affairs, administration and property of the Jewish Federation.
The Board of Trustees, a broad and inclusive body that supports the Jewish Federation’s work, approves the annual budget and advises the Board of Directors on community concerns.
Standing committees, mandated by Jewish Federation’s Bylaws, include the Audit Committee, Campaign Committee, Compensation Committee, Endowments Committee, Ethics Committee, Finance Committee, Governance Committee, Investment Committee, Jewish Community Relations Council, Planning and Resourcing Commission, and Real Estate Committee.
Task forces and Committees provide volunteer input into the Jewish Federation planning, grant making and programming.
BOARD CHAIR
Michael Markman
Chair of the Board, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Michael is a Greater Philadelphia-based Real Estate executive and entrepreneur. Under his leadership as President of BET Investments, Inc., a company he co-founded with Bruce E. Toll in 1998, the organization’s portfolio has grown to more than 5 million square feet of commercial space and over 4,000 apartments. Drawing from his extensive real estate expertise, he has planned, developed, financed and constructed over 100 distinct properties and projects.
At the Jewish Federation, Markman has served in a number of leadership roles and has been a member of the Jewish Federation’s Board of Directors since 2019. He also served as the Chair of the Jewish Federation’s Real Estate Committee, where he helped raise money and awareness for various Jewish causes and further facilitated the reworking of the organization’s real estate assets.
In addition to his leadership at the Jewish Federation, Michael previously served as a Planning Commission member and a Commissioner of Abington Township as well as a member of the Montgomery County Economic Development Committee. He currently sits on the Board of the Upper Dublin Township Municipal Authority.
Michael is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the Temple University School of Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Michael and his wife of 30 years, Lynne, like to hike, exercise and spend time with their three grown children and three dogs. As a Main Line native and current Abington resident, he is always looking for the best way to support the Greater Philadelphia community.