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Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ was established in 1949 by civic leaders intent on building a permanent charitable endowment for the...
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ was established in 1949 by civic leaders intent on building a permanent charitable endowment for the region's Jewish community. It functions as a subsidiary of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, with Federation CEO Dov Ben-Shimon providing executive oversight alongside Foundation President Maxine Murnick. Its corpus is funded primarily through donor-advised funds, supporting foundations like the Paula and Jerry Gottesman Family Supporting Foundation, and testamentary bequests. The Foundation's investment program spans venture capital, growth equity, buyouts, distressed debt, secondaries, and natural resources. Real assets feature prominently: the portfolio includes private real asset funds, the Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany, and the Old Stirling Road residential subdivision in Warren Township. Holdings of State of Israel Bonds add a sovereign fixed-income component tied to the Foundation's mission. The multi-manager structure draws on a committee chaired by Peter Langerman, CEO of Franklin Mutual Series, and includes senior investors from Monarch Alternative Capital, TimesSquare Capital, Royce & Associates, and Wells Fargo Securities. The Foundation oversees more than $840 million in charitable assets, ranking among the ten largest Jewish community foundations in the JFNA system. It administers multiple issue-specific philanthropic vehicles, including the Jewish Women's Foundation of New Jersey, the Grotta Fund for Senior Care, and the Herb and Milly Iris Youth and Family Philanthropy Endowment. A Professional Advisors Network links the Foundation to estate planners and wealth managers who originate complex gifts. The Foundation's structural distinction lies in its capital stack: it blends permanent endowment assets with a high volume of donor-advised funds and supporting foundations, each with distinct payout and governance requirements. This layered liability profile demands a liquidity-aware investment strategy that few community foundations of its size execute with the same mix of direct real estate holdings, natural resource funds, and private capital commitments.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1949
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Whippany
Corporate office
Whippany, NJ, United States
Principals
Maxine Murnick
President
Dov Ben-Shimon
Executive Vice President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ
Peter Langerman
Chairman of the Investment Committee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ?
The Investment Committee, chaired by Peter Langerman, CEO of Franklin Mutual Series, oversees asset allocation and manager selection. Committee members include senior investors from Monarch Alternative Capital, TimesSquare Capital, Royce & Associates, and Wells Fargo Securities. Day-to-day administration falls under Foundation President Maxine Murnick, with executive oversight from Federation CEO Dov Ben-Shimon.
How is the Foundation related to the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ?
The Foundation is a wholly owned subsidiary and serves as the endowment and planned-giving arm of the Federation. Federation CEO Dov Ben-Shimon holds executive authority over both entities, while Foundation President Maxine Murnick leads the Foundation's operations. This structure channels legacy gifts and donor-advised funds into a centralized investment pool that supports Federation programming.
What is the Foundation's posture on co-investments alongside external managers?
The Foundation invests primarily through a multi-manager fund-of-funds structure, allocating to external managers across venture capital, growth equity, buyouts, distressed debt, and natural resources. It also holds direct real assets, including commercial property and residential land, but does not publicize a formal direct co-investment program alongside its fund managers.
Does the Foundation maintain any direct real estate holdings beyond fund commitments?
Yes. The portfolio includes the Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany, the Old Stirling Road residential subdivision in Warren Township, and a private real asset funds allocation. These direct holdings sit alongside natural resource funds and Israel Bonds.
Which sectors does the Foundation explicitly avoid?
The Foundation does not publish a negative screening list. Its mission-driven orientation aligns investments with supporting Jewish life and broader charitable causes in Greater MetroWest NJ, but specific sector exclusions have not been publicly codified.
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