Meet Jeff Schaffer of JMC Philanthropic Advisors

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Schaffer.

Jeff, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Although I better understand the trajectory of my career in hindsight, I’ve been fortunate to do work that I believe in and to contribute to solving critical social concerns.

After college, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia, on a small island just north of the equator, half-way between Hawaii and Japan. Although most everyone was poor, no one was homeless; people there took care of the family. Upon returning to the United States—one of the wealthiest countries in the world—it was a disconnect to find homeless people sleeping in doorways. I spent 10 years working at local nonprofits helping to start homeless shelters, and providing training around the country on housing and services for homeless people.

A unique opportunity then came up to join the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, where I managed initiatives addressing chronic homelessness in the U.S. and providing potable water overseas. It was inspiring each day to support the mission of alleviating the suffering of the most needy.

Anyone who spends time working to end homelessness soon learns that affordable housing is a big part of the solution. To understand how that housing gets built, I moved to Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit, where I managed its programs in Southern California. Enterprise Community Partners provides financing and technical assistance for public and nonprofit agencies, and advocates for public policies that promote the development of sustainable communities.

I now work at JMC Philanthropic Advisors as Vice President of Client Services. This move reflected my desire to be part of philanthropy’s full engagement in addressing critical social issues. By working with and on behalf of our clients, we have the capacity not only to provide funding but also to convene diverse audiences, leverage investments, engage in a communications strategy and impact public policy.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I was in graduate school, I had a wonderful professor, Chet Newland, who counseled, “If you’re interested in public service, it’s a good idea if you haven’t always eaten from the public trough.” This thoughtful advice motivated me to spend several years working as an account executive at a P.R. firm, where I got a tremendous education, worked with exceptionally bright people and was introduced to the movers and shakers. Ultimately, though, that work didn’t fulfill my sense of social responsibility.

That’s when I moved to the nonprofit sector. It meant taking a cut in pay, and our household budget sometimes was tight, but I never looked back. Actually, I got teary-eyed (and had to hide it) when interviewing for my first job at a homeless service agency and thinking about the good work that I would get to do there.

JMC Philanthropic Advisors – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
JMC Philanthropic Advisors (JMC) is a boutique firm of philanthropic advisors providing personalized services for each of our clients. We work with trustees of family and corporate foundations who want to achieve impact with their grantmaking. We pride ourselves on delivering superior quality work in a highly confidential manner. At JMC, we develop long-term relationships, and many early clients of the firm remain with us today.

Ultimately, we seek to build healthy and vibrant communities and to move the bar on the most challenging social issues including hunger and homelessness, child and family development, and access to college. We help our clients to become educated philanthropists and realize their own philanthropic vision. We have a deep grounding in the local nonprofit community and extensive experience working across the United States and overseas.

What were you like growing up?
I’m a white male born to college-educated, upper-middle-class parents, living in Southern California in the 21st century. I lived in the same home throughout my childhood, enjoyed a great public-school education, and now get paid to do work to which I’m passionately committed. I’m in love with my wife and have wonderful children. I am hugely aware of my good fortune and privilege! When I realize how sweet life is for me, I try to take it as a reminder that it’s time for me to do something for others.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2444 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 622, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Image Credit:
Ana Victoria Cruz and Yasmeen Al-Mazeedi

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