JCC Association of North America announced the appointment of Amy Marks as its chief advancement officer (CAO). In this role, Marks will lead all aspects of JCC Association’s advancement efforts, develop and deepen long-term philanthropic partnerships and serve as a key member of the executive leadership team.
“I’ve long believed in the power of Jewish community to shape identity, foster belonging, and create meaningful connections across generations,” said Marks in a press release. “From my own experiences in JCCs to my professional work across the field, I’ve seen firsthand how vital these spaces are. I’m honored to join JCC Association of North America at such a pivotal moment and look forward to strengthening philanthropic partnerships that will help the JCC Movement continue to grow and thrive for years to come.”
Marks joins JCC Association from RootOne, where she oversaw a $30 million multi-year fundraising campaign. Prior to RootOne, she served as vice president of philanthropy at Hillel International, where she managed a portfolio of over $40 million annually and played an integral role in major campaigns, including raising $12 million in emergency funding following October 7 to support urgent campus needs. She also took a leadership role in the Centennial Campaign, which secured over $200 million for the Hillel movement and culminated in a multi-day convening in New York City that brought together thousands of students, professionals, donors, and community members to mark the milestone.
Further Details
Marks’ new role also holds personal significance — she has a longstanding relationship with the Meyerson JCC through its JCC Harlem initiative, where she serves as a board member, and she grew up frequenting the Minneapolis JCC. She’s a graduate of the Mandel Executive Leadership Program (2022–2024), which equipped her with leadership skills to further Jewish communal life. Her strong professional expertise and large network of relationships with continental Jewish funders and organizations will guide her well in advancing the mission of the JCC Movement throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Marks’ appointment comes at a transformational moment for JCC Association, as it focuses and expands its organizational reach under the leadership of Barak Hermann, its president and CEO. The organization’s Chazon: Vision 2030 is a strategic framework that focuses on the formation of three new Centers of Excellence: Jewish Peoplehood, Talent Development, and Innovation and Impact. They are the foundation that will advance the mission of JCCs, JCC Camps and JWB Jewish Chaplains Council. Marks will spearhead JCC Association’s philanthropic strategies and relationships.
JCC Association’s Future
Her arrival brings the total to four new executives who have joined JCC Association since Hermann’s tenure began in July 2025. The others are: Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus, the executive director of the Center for Jewish Peoplehood; Deann Forman, the executive director of the Center for Innovation and Impact; and Carrie Lipton, the chief financial and administrative officer, positioning the professional team at JCC Association and within the JCC Movement as an increasingly influential and powerful presence to strengthen Jewish identity across North America’s Jewish communal landscape.
Hermann reflected on the organization’s growth and Marks’s experience, which will inform her work for JCC Association.
“I’m so very excited to work with Amy,” said Hermann. “She brings exactly the right combination of passion, Jewish communal knowledge, sophisticated fundraising expertise, and collaborative leadership experience that this moment calls for to advance the mission of JCC Association. After a continental search with a large, strong field of candidates, we are so pleased to welcome Amy to JCC Association as our chief advancement officer, and we look forward to entering this exciting new chapter with her on our team.”
Marks will begin her tenure on May 4, and will be based in the New York office. She and her husband — a former JCC Maccabi athlete — and their three young children live in New York City. The oldest will attend a JCC Camp this summer.
