Philanthropy in the Family

Karen and Russ Rubin’s love of travel began when the Rubin family moved to Switzerland for Russ’ job. Now that their two daughters are grown and live on opposite coasts, traveling as a family is less frequent, and time together as a family is treasured more than ever.

Karen and Russ love to explore, learn about different cultures, and to be exposed to different things and new ideas. Along with their Jewish heritage and upbringings, these travel experiences have impacted their philosophy on giving. When Russ and Karen set up a donor-advised fund at the Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation (MN JCF), they did so because it was convenient, and it supported the Jewish community. But it became so much more. In the spring of 2022, MN JCF hosted a workshop series on family philanthropy, in which the Rubins participated.

Through the workshops, families learned:

  • The motivation behind personal giving and how to discuss it with children

  • The narrative for what is important to each family member and how to pass that along to future generations

  • What family stories inform giving choices and how to integrate that into family conversations

  • What to do when when family is not aligned on values and giving choices

  • How one’s specific philanthropic identity informs giving decisions and how to use philanthropy in personal, meaningful, and impactful ways

After the workshops, the Rubins wanted to keep exploring how to render their philanthropy as a family. In early 2023, Karen and Russ worked with the MN JCF Executive Director, Alene Sussman, to facilitate a conversation with their two daughters. Although their daughters had some involvement with Karen and Russ’ donor-advised fund, going through the What Am I Inheriting exercise provided an opportunity to proactively talk about values as a family.

“This was really the first time we sat down as a family to discuss what is important to us individually, regarding how we see the world and what our ‘do-gooding’ priorities are,” said Russ. The workshop experience and having a fund at MN JCF has allowed the Rubins the opportunity to enhance their family philanthropy, discover what has meaning to them, and find areas of need as they explore the globe. Karen and Russ continue their worldly travels together. They look forward to creating new memories with their daughters while sharing their generosity and kindness to do good in the world. Visit the Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation website to learn more.

Check out the 2022 Impact Report to learn about Minneapolis Jewish Federations impact.

Mikaela Bush