SAN DIEGO – Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS), one of San Diego’s largest and most impactful nonprofit agencies, received the 2022 Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance by The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego, in the large organization category –reserved for nonprofits with an annual budget of $10 million or more.

This prestigious award honors engaged board leadership in the San Diego region’s nonprofit sector, and annually recognizes organizations for the exceptional work of their boards in providing crucial leadership, guidance, and oversight to the nonprofits they serve.

“The process of strengthening our governance has been one of incredible teamwork. And as we wrote the application and associated supporting materials, it was a joy to reflect on the outstanding work of JFS and the parts that our board and committees play in supporting JFS’s far-reaching and impactful work to improve the lives of people in our San Diego community,” said JFS Board Chair Emily Jennewein. “It is an honor to receive this recognition and serve as an example of the importance of good governance.”

For the past 15 years, the Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance has recognized, celebrated and promoted effective, engaged board leadership in the San Diego region’s nonprofit sector. With over a 50% increase in applications for 2022, JFS was recognized for the partnership between its board and executive leadership, the agency’s dedication to its Jewish values of helping others and the experience of a communicative and inclusive board membership environment.

“Throughout this entire experience, with numerous budgets and operating scenarios, our board and staff worked as partners to embrace the value of doing the right thing at the right time,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “At Jewish Family Service, we live our tagline, Moving Forward Together.”

In addition to Jennewein and Hopkins, the JFS Governance Committee consists of Sarah Bakhiet, Deborah Bucksbaum, Theresa Dupuis, Sean Joseph, Mike Lees, Jenny Meiselman, Marie Raftery, Scott Schindler and Adam Welland.