I've always believed that the most successful fundraising begins not with an ask, but with a conversation. At Jewish National Fund-USA, our greatest strength is our ability to connect people with causes that reflect their passions, values, and hopes for Israel. Sometimes, those connections begin in the most unexpected places.
This August, one of those moments happened on a flight from Dallas to Albuquerque.
I was on my way to Santa Fe to run a parlor meeting for Jewish National Fund-USA’s Film & Television Fund and meet with several donors.
As I settled into my seat, I introduced myself to the man sitting next to me. His name was Todd.
I believe everyone has a story worth hearing, so we struck up a conversation. He asked where I was headed, and I explained that I was traveling for work as an executive director at Jewish National Fund-USA.
That immediately sparked his interest.
Todd told me he was Jewish and remembered buying trees for Israel in Sunday school as a child. Hearing that familiar connection made me smile. We continued talking, not just about Jewish National Fund-USA, but about our lives, families, careers, and journeys.
Along the way, I shared some of the projects that inspired me most. I spoke about the Film & Television Fund and its role in changing the narrative about Israel. I talked about ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village and the incredible work being done to support individuals with disabilities. I talked about the Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF and about the bomb shelters Jewish National Fund-USA has built and painted throughout communities in the North and South.
None of it felt like a sales pitch.
Just as importantly, I listened.
Todd told me about his connection to Israel, his life in Santa Fe, and the values that guide his philanthropy. He shared that he and his wife care deeply about supporting the land and people of Israel and were looking for meaningful ways to make a difference.
As our plane descended, Todd texted his wife and showed me the message:
"I'm sitting next to the greatest fundraiser right now on this flight. I can't wait to tell you about JNF-USA when I get home."
I laughed, but what struck me most was not the compliment. It was the excitement about what he had learned and the possibilities ahead.
When we landed, we exchanged contact information. I told him I would love to continue the conversation and help him find a meaningful way to support Israel through Jewish National Fund-USA.
Two days later, Todd reached out to schedule a meeting, and the following week, he made a commitment to support ADI Negev, inspired by the very work we had discussed somewhere over West Texas at 30,000 feet.
I returned to Santa Fe just a few weeks later, where I had breakfast with my new friend, Todd. This time, our conversation took place on solid ground.
Our first encounter reinforced something I have always believed: fundraising is not just about asking. It is about connecting. It is about listening. It is about finding the place where someone's passions, values, and aspirations intersect with meaningful work.
At Jewish National Fund-USA, we do not simply build a donor base. We build relationships. Every conversation is an opportunity to learn someone's story, share our own, and discover common ground.
Sometimes those connections begin in a coffee shop or an event ballroom.
And sometimes, if you're lucky, they begin in seat 5B.
