"To be a Jewish leader...one must have Jewish education, one must know Jewish tradition, heritage and history. If you don't have it, 'Jewish leader' becomes a title without substance."
Irving Bernstein
About Us
Max Fisher (Jack Gruber / The Detroit News)
The Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership is dedicated to strengthening the human and financial resources that form the foundation of the Jewish communal infrastructure. The institute’s core mission is to educate volunteers and professionals for leadership in fundraising and philanthropy. To this end, it generates research, develops instructional materials, and offers seminars and conferences to those concerned with fund development in the Jewish community.
The Fisher-Bernstein Institute was established in 1997 by a gift from the late Max M. Fisher, philanthropist and community leader. Its name honors the partnership between Mr. Fisher and the late Irving Bernstein, a partnership that produced extraordinary results in raising funds for the Jewish people.
Since Mr. Fisher’s death in 2005, the Institute has received ongoing support from the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. The Foundation gives priority to providing for the needs of and ensuring the future of the Jewish people and to respecting its founder’s legacy and commitment to the Detroit community.