Minneapolis Jewish Federation Announces Board Nomination
Minneapolis Jewish Federation is pleased to announce that Debbie Stillman has been nominated to serve as its next President and will be confirmed at our annual meeting on August 6. Her term will commence in August 2026.
“Debbie brings to the table a truly unique set of experiences and areas of expertise,” noted MJF’s CEO Jim Cohen. “There are few people who have served so ably as a Jewish communal professional and lay leader, while having invaluable professional experience in strategic planning and communications. I’ve enjoyed working with Debbie for many years and know she will be a truly exceptional president.”
Stillman currently serves on the MJF Executive Committee and as Chair of the Advancement Steering Committee. Having previously served on the MJF board for several years, her most recent tenure began in 2019 and has included co-chairing both the Experience Israel Mission in 2023 and the Strategic Plan Refresh Task Force in 2024. She also currently sits on the Board of JCRC of Minnesota and the Dakotas and previously served as the President of Minnesota Hillel, as well as on the boards and executive committees of the Smith Jewish Academy (formerly HMJDS) and the Minneapolis JCC.
As a professional, Debbie spent nearly 15 years in the Jewish community, serving first as the Executive Director of the Minneapolis section of the National Council of Jewish Women and later as the Director of Women’s Philanthropy and Marketing and Communications at MJF.
“I have tremendous respect for Debbie’s vision and capabilities. She brings a rare combination of institutional knowledge, professional acumen, and genuine passion that will serve MJF and the community well,” noted current MJF President Mark Appelbaum. “I’m confident she will elevate our mission as we confront the challenges ahead at a local, national, and global level.”
“I’m humbled to be asked to serve as President of MJF–whose mission and values echo what has been a driving force in my life for as long as I can remember–the idea of kol Yisrael areivim zeh-ba-zeh–that as Jews we are all responsible for one another. So much of what I have learned about leadership I owe to this community and the many leaders who have nurtured my development. I am honored to have been asked.”
Debbie is an alumna of the Harry Kay Leadership Institute and served as Chair of the Harry Kay Alumni Network. Lauren Kaplan, Director of the Harry Kay Center for Leadership Excellence, commented, “Debbie is an incredibly visionary leader. Her contributions to the community are too numerous to count. I am so excited for her and know she will accomplish much during her tenure.”
When not volunteering, Debbie is a Senior Manager and member of the Pursuit Center of Excellence leadership team at Deloitte. She has been married to her husband, Jed, for 31 years, and they are the proud parents of three children.
