The Jewish Federation of Ottawa unveiled its ambitious 2025–2030 Strategic Plan at a Town Hall on September 16, charting a bold direction for Jewish Ottawa in a rapidly changing world. Now, just weeks later, the plan is no longer simply aspirational — it is being put into action through the Year 1 Business Plan, which sets out concrete priorities for the year ahead.

 

Rooted in more than 90 years of service, beginning in the 1930s as the Va’ad Ha’Ir and evolving into Federation in 2005, the organization is once again reimagining its role to strengthen Jewish life in the nation’s capital.

 

“At the heart of this plan lies a simple but powerful mission: to strengthen and amplify Jewish life in Ottawa through coordinated and collaborative community building, as well as philanthropic efforts that invest in our shared future,” said Adam Silver, Federation’s CEO and President. “Year 1 is where that vision begins to take shape.”

 

The strategic plan, which emerged from six phases of consultations and more than 1,000 community voices, is now being animated through four interconnected priorities. Year 1 of implementation focuses on sharpening Federation’s value proposition, growing a culture of giving, strengthening advocacy and resilience, and improving internal operations to better serve the community.

 

Highlights include:

 

• Catalyze, Convene, and Connect: Reviewing programs and funding structures to align with this framework and ensure Federation continues to act as the trusted voice with civic, government, interfaith, business, and media partners.

 

• Expanding Giving: Piloting digital and alternative giving tools, such as tiptap and Rafflebox, while deepening connections between young leadership initiatives (Ben Gurion Society, Capital J, J-Fellows) and the broader donor base.

 

• Building Councils: Establishing three new sector councils — Aging and Vitality, Essential Jewish Services, and Grow Jewish Ottawa — to coordinate responses to urgent needs and long-term opportunities.

 

• Security & Resilience: Advancing a community-wide security strategy, supported by Jewish Federations of North America’s LiveSecure grant, and exploring collaboration with Toronto’s Jewish Security Network.

 

• Strengthening Operations: Investing in staff development through retreats and training, enhancing HR practices, and modernizing financial and reporting systems.

 

 

Federation is approaching Year 1 as both a launchpad and a learning process. Success will be measured not only by metrics — such as achieving at least 80% of initiatives, maintaining campaign revenue, and expanding giving tools — but also by the lived experience of the community.

 

“Through both the strategic plan consultation process earlier this year and my own conversations with members of the Jewish and broader Ottawa communities, I am energized by the initiatives and ideas now in their early stages that have the power to transform how we engage with each other, how we show up for each other, and how we build for the future together,” said Danya Vered, Chair of Federation’s Board.

 

To ensure accountability, the Strategic Plan also includes annual community impact reports, and regular opportunities for feedback. 

 

“It is our hope to retain and attract community members, create caring and engaging Jewish spaces and opportunities, and to leverage the amazing organizations, lay leaders, and professionals here to ensure our future is vibrant, bright, and long lasting,” said Silver.

 

As Federation embarks on this next chapter, its goal is clear: to create a community where every individual can find belonging, purpose, and pride in Jewish life today, and in the years to come.