NADIV, established in 2016, is United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division’s Men’s Giving Circle. While NADIV is rooted in networking opportunities (which still holds true today) it has evolved to a giving circle that is connecting its participants in deep and meaningful ways to community philanthropy. Members not only personally donate to NADIV, but learn about the needs of the community and collectively donate the money raised by NADIV to Jewish causes in Tidewater.
Members also work throughout the year to raise additional money from the community to grow the impact of the program’s dollars. Most notably, the March Madness Bracket Challenge, which in 2021 raised $6,000 for Special Needs programming in Tidewater, is run entirely by the men of NADIV. It is in its fourth year as this March’s tournament nears.
That giving circle has grown to more than 35 young men, and the group is on track to raise more than $7,000 this year for community education programs—a giving priority that rose to the top of the group through discussions and activities.
Through the fall of 2021, UJFT’s YAD hosted 15 aspiring young leaders through a program called Rishon. Rishon served as an overview of the Federation’s work and its community partners, as well as an incubator for YAD’s cabinet members and the members of Rishon to think about how YAD can continue to grow and engage the community’s young adults in Jewish Peoplehood and Philanthropy.
With the success of NADIV, members of YAD’s Cabinet and of Rishon are starting the process to form a Women’s Giving Circle/Giving back circle. Although postponed with the rise of Omicron, the group’s first meeting and program is planned to take place at Farmhouse Brewing on Monday, March 7 at 6:30 pm. Attendees to the first meeting will have a chance to socialize and network in an outdoor heated setting, and they’ll begin a broader discussion led by YAD and Rishon leaders of what this new philanthropic opportunity will look like as it takes shape and grows its impact in the community. That evening will also highlight the work of Jewish Family Service, with attendees encouraged to bring dry goods with them to be donated to JFS’s Food Pantry.
To attend the women’s event on March 7, or for more information about YAD or Nadiv, contact Matthew Kramer-Morning, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Leadership Campaign/Young Adult Division director at
mkmorning@ujft.org.
Nadiv, Rishon, and the new YAD Women’s Giving Circle are all funded by the UJFT through dollars raised throughout the Federation’s annual Community Campaign. Individually and collectively, these groups are learning about the importance of community involvement, community giving, and ultimately, community leadership. These groups, as well as others within YAD are great examples of how a Jewish community “invests” in its future.
–Matthew Kramer-Morning