Jerusalem — The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) announced today a transformative $8 million gift from Nancy and James Grosfeld, the Detroit-based Jewish philanthropists, to name the organization’s newly-renovated Jerusalem campus. The Nancy and James Grosfeld JDC Campus serves as the humanitarian organization’s global program hub where JDC professionals develop trailblazing programs that save Jewish lives, build Jewish life, empower Israel’s most vulnerable, and respond to global disasters impacting all people. A ribbon cutting event marking the occasion will take place in June 2026.
“JDC’s Jerusalem campus is the heart of our work, as we care for vulnerable Israelis and Jewish communities worldwide. It’s where we dream, innovate, and shape a strong and resilient Jewish future. At this critical time, placing Nancy and Jimmy Grosfeld’s name atop our campus sends the strongest message of support for Israel and the Jewish people. Their landmark investment will strengthen JDC’s ability to carry out our mission for generations,” said JDC President Annie Sandler and CEO Ariel Zwang.
From the campus, JDC has aided more than 1.2 million of the hardest-hit Israelis impacted by October 7 and the subsequent war and developed social aid programs that aided more than 1 million Israelis every week before the conflict. As JDC’s global program hub, JDC professional at the Grosfeld campus also work with JDC teams around the world to aid the neediest Jews in the former Soviet Union, including tens of thousands in crisis in Ukraine, address the toll of antisemtism on Jews in Europe and beyond, deploy global disaster relief responses, and mine Jewish history in the organization’s Israel-based archival holdings.
“At this time of great challenge for the Jewish people and Israel, Jimmy and I are grateful to have the opportunity to both show our strong support and commitment to JDC, while also doing something substantive and meaningful in Israel, and in particular, in Jerusalem. We know that whatever our people face, JDC will rise to the challenge and that this campus will serve as a springboard for innovation, strength and opportunity for many generations to come,” said Nancy Grosfeld.
Outside of their philanthropic leadership in the Detroit Jewish community and beyond, Nancy Grosfeld is a 20-year veteran member of the JDC Board of Directors and has served in a number of senior roles supporting the organization’s crisis response work, Israel and FSU efforts, and fundraising activities.
Located in Jerusalem’s famed Givat Ram neighborhood, the Nancy and James Grosfeld JDC Campus sits proudly among Israel’s most prestigious national institutions. These include the Hebrew University, National Library, The Knesset, Supreme Court, the Bank of Israel, and the Israel Museum.
