- Meet Our Leaders
As a dedicated Board member, Joe “Yossi” Alouf is a longtime friend and heartfelt advocate of JFCS. His warmth and enthusiasm for helping others is always palpable, and he never misses JFCS’ Fammy Awards Gala and Emigre Community Gala. Currently a partner at Eaglepoint Advisors, Yossi advises corporate clients on business model scaling, reinvention, and operational or financial restructuring. He brings his extraordinary expertise and talent to his work on JFCS’ Finance Committee. He also serves on the Special Events Subcommittee. For him, “JFCS is such a generous and impressive organization and I’m honored to help make sure it will be here serving our community forever.”
Tell us a bit about the community where you grew up and your background.
I grew up in Israel and spent the first 21 years of my life there. I had a great childhood in the relatively small city of Haifa, a place I always found had the most welcoming and embracing community. My parents raised me in a secular home and, although we were not very religious, we celebrated Jewish holidays and cultural traditions.
After finishing high school and spending three years in the Israeli Air Force I moved to the United States with my family. I earned a BA degree in economics and math at City University of New York and later went on to New York University to complete an MBA. After graduating I went on to pursue my passion and make a career helping companies that are struggling operationally or financially return to profitability.
How did you first get involved with JFCS?
In 1996 I moved with my family from New York to the Bay Area. We quickly got involved in our new Jewish community and began supporting a number of different causes. After hearing about JFCS I was introduced to Anita Friedman, whose passion for the agency was immediately contagious. Her description of JFCS’ business model was particularly of interest—namely, best-in-class services for which fees can be charged, complementing the Agency’s core mission of offering community services and support for those in need.
How did you get involved in philanthropy?
I give my first wife a lot of credit for motivating me to get involved in the Jewish community, provide Jewish education to our daughters, and practice tzedakah. Alex, 17, is currently attending Jewish Community High School and Adi just recently graduated from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. The entire family is very involved in Jewish causes and giving back to the community.
Is there a project you worked on with JFCS that was especially rewarding to you?
My involvement on the Finance Committee has been very rewarding. The Finance Committee advises the Executive Director and other senior staff with the goal of keeping JFCS financially sound and positioned for growth for decades to come. Sometimes the issues and decisions are tough, but I find it an honor to work with such a thoughtful and talented group of professional lay leaders and staff who are totally invested and truly care.
Anything else you would like to add?
I am humbled to be associated with an organization doing such unique and impressive work and making a real difference to so many people in the Bay Area.