Becca Ginns, the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s new director of donor engagement for Women’s Philanthropy, loves fundraising.
She brings more than 12 years of experience building philanthropic support and forming partnerships across the nonprofit sector.
Originally from New Jersey, Ginns decided back in 2002 that she would one day make the Washington, D.C., area her home after a field trip with her United Synagogue Youth group. She lives in Bethesda with her Goldendoodle, Ollie.
Tell me about your Jewish upbringing and background.
I was raised in New Jersey about 25 miles outside of New York City. I went to a Jewish preschool in Summit, New Jersey, and I was raised at the Summit Jewish Community Center all the way up through confirmation in 10th grade, so that is a pretty big part of my Jewish story. Many of my Hebrew school friends live here in the D.C. area, too. Then I went to college at the University of Connecticut, where I graduated with a degree in anthropology. I am a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, which is a historically Jewish sorority.
Have you always wanted to pursue a career in philanthropy?
When I graduated from college, it was during the recession, so I really didn’t know what I was going to do. I worked with students on the autism spectrum for a few years and ended up moving to Florida. When I realized special education wasn’t my path, I started volunteering at the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, and eventually they offered me a role in fundraising, and that’s how I got into this work.
Why is the Federation’s mission of supporting Jewish women important to you?
Jewish women’s philanthropy is really important to me. There are just so many important contributions that women have made in our community, and Women’s Philanthropy is a way to celebrate that. [At the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington], we have more than 500 Lions of Judah, which are women who give $5,000 or more annually, and more than 500 Pomegranates, who give at least $1,800 a year. That’s a huge number of women who are showing up in a meaningful way.
The Lion of Judah actually started in the 1970s with a small group of women who wanted to step up as leaders in their community. And now it’s grown into a global force for change — women using their philanthropy to change the world. It’s really powerful to be part of that.
Women’s Philanthropy gives women a chance not only to give, but to be recognized for their giving. It also opens up leadership opportunities and provides a place for them to connect with each other and build a community. This region can feel really big sometimes because we’re such a large metropolitan area, and Women’s Philanthropy helps make it feel a little smaller, giving women a sense of community, of being surrounded by like-minded people, and helps them feel really good about the fact that they’re supporting the community they live in.
What are you working on now?
We are hosting the first Lion of Judah luncheon that we’ve had in a very long time, and we’ve sold out thanks to the tremendous efforts of our leaders. I’m excited that there’s so much enthusiasm about women’s philanthropy, and we have many more events and opportunities to engage throughout the year for all giving levels.
What do you enjoy about fundraising and philanthropy?
I enjoy fundraising because every day is different. I’ve been working in philanthropy since 2012, so now it’s been 13 years, and the landscape continues to change because the generations and the world continue to change. There are things we did for the Greatest Generation that we’re not going to be able to do for Gen Z, and we always have to adapt what we’re doing to ensure a vibrant Jewish future.
Who or what inspires you?
I’m really inspired by the Jewish community, especially here in D.C. We’re constantly faced with adversity in the world and this work, yet we always find a way forward. I like finding solutions, solving problems, and I think that it’s just the nature of our community — that we are always finding a way. I think that’s inspirational: we’ve figured it out so many different times when obstacles have been thrown in our direction. We don’t give up. We keep going. That inspires me every day.
What are your upcoming goals?
My goal is to continue to grow in my field of philanthropy because I love being a fundraiser and there are always opportunities to learn from my peers.
Secondly, I want to explore what Jewish DC has to offer. There are so many new organizations in our community since I first moved here in 2015, and I look forward to connecting with them personally and professionally.
