Elisa Heath has been named president of the board of directors for Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island (JFS). Heath is a principal of ESH Consulting, a fundraising and leadership-development firm, with specific expertise working with nonprofits. She has a B.A. from Tulane University and an MA in community planning from the University of Rhode Island. Heath is the 24th president of JFS.
PBN: What challenges do you see ahead for JFS?
HEATH: The key to success for any organization raising funds is relationship-building with their donors and potential donors. … The organization that takes the time to cultivate and involve their donors prior to, through, and after the solicitation process will ultimately be more successful than agencies which do not. Then there is the importance of stewardship; letting the donor know how his or her contribution is making a difference. A personal goal of mine will be to reach out to reconnect to those individuals and groups who have been key to JFS to tell them our story and our vision, and to ask them how they could see themselves helping us grow.
PBN: Your family has been touched by the Holocaust. How has this influenced your life and your work?
HEATH: Yes, my family’s history is directly linked to the Holocaust, but this does not define me as an active member of the Jewish community or a volunteer. However, I do have a heightened awareness of the need to serve as a volunteer and the value of building a community, however one defines it. With that as inspiration, coming to lead JFS at this time is very exciting. We have just completed a three-year strategic plan so we know where we want to go and what needs to be done to get there.
PBN: Has JFS seen an increase in the requests for services in the last year or so, and how are you moving forward to meet those needs?
HEATH: We have seen an increased need from both our current clients and new individuals – people whose lives have been deeply impacted by economic realities. I am proud of the role JFS plays within the continuum of services that support families and individuals. From programs to help seniors, such as “age in place,” home care, lifeline services, and more; to Adoption Options, which reaches out to help as international adoption opportunities sharply decline; to our comprehensive counseling program. JFS serves the entire community in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts, and maintains some specific programs for members of the Jewish community. •
