The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville continues 2026 with deep gratitude and a renewed sense of responsibility.
The past year was one of extraordinary generosity. For the second year in a row, our Annual Campaign grew significantly in both total donors and total dollars raised. In 2025, the average annual gift rose to $2,484, and more than 1,300 donors contributed to a record-setting $2.628 million—our strongest finish since 2008.
This achievement reflects the dedication of our community and the leadership of our 2025 campaign co-chairs, Arlene Averbuch and Jacob Kleinrock, along with our tireless Campaign Committee and volunteers.
These numbers matter. They tell a story of trust, commitment, and belief in Jewish Nashville. But they also reveal the work ahead.
Even with more than 1,300 donors, fewer than 10% of the 16,000+ Jewish residents in Greater Nashville currently participate in the Annual Campaign. And as our community grows, so do our needs. Security demands continue to rise. Scholarships for day schools, preschools, and camp are stretched thin. Our seniors need more support. Our institutions need stronger infrastructure. Antisemitism requires constant vigilance and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels.
And today, the financial landscape is different than it was even a few years ago. With inflation currently at 4.2%, what once felt like a major gift simply does not stretch as far as it used to. The cost of security, education, social services, and community programming has risen sharply. Meeting today’s needs requires today’s dollars.
No one else will fight these battles for us. We must stand together.
Helping lead the 2026 Annual Campaign are Co-Chairs Arlene Averbuch and Howard Safer. Averbuch said she was trained to solicit when she was a young adult and loves engaging with others in our Jewish community.
“The Jewish Federation has been in all the communities I have lived in to help and support others," she said. "I love that Federation supports our Jewish schools, congregations, organizations, and our community. We are always helping Jews all over the world when in need and, of course, Israel."
Safer said there is an urgent need to reinforce and communicate the importance of Jewish values.
"We are all responsible for one another (shalom). We should respect all and value their differences (kavod). We need to support positive action for our community (kehillah)," he said.
And yet, our mission is not only to protect Jewish Nashville—it is to enrich it. To ensure that as our community grows, it remains welcoming, vibrant, and uniquely ours. To create pathways for every person to find their Jewish home here.
That is why every single gift matters. From a few dollars to six-figure leadership commitments, every contribution strengthens the fabric of Jewish life in Nashville. Every donor becomes part of the collective responsibility and collective joy of sustaining our community.
And for those who want to make an impact that lasts beyond their lifetime, legacy giving—through the Life & Legacy program or a planned gift—ensures that future generations inherit a strong, secure, and thriving Jewish Nashville. Legacy donors are the quiet visionaries who make tomorrow possible.
The 2026 Annual Campaign is our opportunity to build on the momentum of 2025 and rise to the challenges of the year ahead with unity, courage, and generosity.
The Path Forward
The 2026 Annual Campaign is not simply about raising more money—though we must. It's about expanding the circle of people who feel connected to, invested in, and proud of Jewish Nashville.
It is about ensuring that:
- Every child who wants a Jewish education can access one.
- Every senior can age with dignity and community.
- Every family feels safe walking into a Jewish space.
- Every institution has the strength to serve.
- Every Jew in Nashville—longtime residents and newcomers alike—can find belonging.
- Every donor, at every level, knows their gift is meaningful and valued.
- Every legacy gift helps secure our future.
- Every dollar keeps pace with rising costs and rising needs.
This is our moment to protect what makes Jewish Nashville special and enrich it for generations to come.
The Jewish Observer is published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Become a supporter today.