Jewish Federation of St. Louis names Amy Bornstein chief development officer

Published April 15, 2026

As the Jewish Federation of St. Louis marks its 125th anniversary, the organization has named Amy Bornstein as its next chief development officer, following a national search that drew more than 125 candidates.

Bornstein isn’t new to the building. She currently serves as senior director of transformational giving and has spent more than a decade working inside the Federation and the broader St. Louis Jewish community.

In that role, she’s worked closely with major donors, helped grow both annual and legacy giving, and built programs aimed at bringing younger philanthropists into the fold.

“Amy understands this community and has built strong relationships with our donors,” said Danny Cohn, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “She’s shown she can turn ideas into results.”

Bornstein has managed relationships with more than 200 major donors and played a role in the Federation’s 2025 annual campaign, which raised $10.55 million, its highest total since 2009. She also helped launch the Atid philanthropic accelerator, a program designed to identify and mentor emerging donors and guide them toward more intentional, long-term giving. Her work has also included developing family giving strategies that have led to significant endowment commitments.

The search was led by a committee of lay and professional leaders and included candidates from across the country.

“This was a competitive process with strong candidates,” said board chair Todd Siwak. “Amy stood out for her understanding of the work and her plans for the future of the development team.”

Before moving into nonprofit work, Bornstein worked in public relations at Build-A-Bear Workshop, handling events, launches and media outreach. She also serves on the national board of governors for the Human Rights Campaign.

“I’m excited to step into this role at a time when the community is both growing and facing new challenges,” Bornstein said. “There’s a strong base to build on, and real opportunity to expand how people connect to giving.”

As part of the transition, the Federation is expanding its development team, including plans to hire additional donor officers and senior campaign staff.