JCA completes the largest governance overhaul in its history
The Jewish Communal Appeal (JCA) has unveiled the most significant governance reform since its founding, introducing a new corporate trustee model and modernised trust structure to strengthen its ability to support the Jewish community now and in the future.
As the central fundraising and distribution body for Jewish communal life in New South Wales and the ACT, JCA plays a pivotal role in sustaining education, welfare, security and community services. The reforms aim to enable JCA to adapt swiftly and efficiently to the increasingly complex community needs.
Last meeting of JCA governors before the restructure (photo: giselle haber)
The changes follow more than two years of work and mark a shift from JCA’s longstanding individual trust framework to a corporate governance model aimed at improving accountability, flexibility and decision-making.
Founded in 1967 in the aftermath of the Six-Day War, JCA has grown into the central philanthropic engine of Jewish life in the state. Its first campaign raised $340,000 for 10 organisations, equivalent to about $3.2 million today. It now supports 24 member organisations across education, welfare, security, identity and care for the most vulnerable.
Under the revised structure, JCA has also updated its original trust deed, previously regarded by the Australian Taxation Office as one of the most complex in the country. The updated deed expands the categories of beneficiaries, allowing JCA to fund organisations beyond its existing membership base and respond more quickly to emerging needs.
A newly established board of nine directors will now assume overall governance responsibility, replacing the previous model in which member organisations held that role. The board is chaired by JCA president Ian Sandler, with vice president Myra Salkinder, and includes Roxanne Dunkel, Kevin Kalinko, Lance Kalish, David Ossip, Jason Sandler, Jillian Segal and Phil Wolanski.
The reforms come in the context of heightened pressure on communal organisations following the Bondi terror attack in December 2025. In response, the Australian Government established the Jewish Community Foundation as an associated charity of JCA, enabling tax-deductible support to be directed more broadly across the community.
Ian Sandler, new board chair of JCA (photo: Giselle Haber)
JCA said the updated structure will allow it to channel funds not only to its core network but also to other organisations playing critical roles during crises, addressing a limitation in its previous framework.
The organisation pointed to its recent Bondi Relief Campaign as an example of the need for greater flexibility. That effort relied on partnerships with groups, including The Dor Foundation and Australian Jewish Funders, to accept contributions from philanthropic and international sources.
New board chair Ian Sandler said the reforms highlight the importance of governance and cooperation in times of crisis.
“Structure matters. Process matters. Trust and cooperation matter, but above all, what matters most is people,” he said.
“The way our community has stepped forward, immediately asking what was needed rather than waiting to be asked, reflects the extraordinary strength of collective responsibility that has defined JCA since its founding.”
JCA says the overhaul positions the organisation to remain the backbone of communal philanthropy while adapting to future challenges and opportunities across the Jewish community.
