Gary Cohn

Non-Profit Consultant

Gary began his work as a middle market banker from 1977-1992. Providing banking services and counsel for privately owned businesses with sales from $5-100 million. After being trained in credit, he led a sales and marketing team for several large California banks leaving Union Bank in 1992 to move into the non-profit sector.

Gary became the Executive Director of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco from 1991-2007. Temple Emanu-El is one of the leading congregations in Reform Judaism with over 2,000 families founded in 1850. There he managed all business aspects of the congregation plus membership services and executing programs. Gary was responsible for an annual budget of $15 million and an endowment of equities and real estate of over $40 million.

In 2008 he became the Regional Director of American Technion Society in the Pacific Northwest (Silicon Valley to Seattle) raising funds to support the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. From 2015 until 2020 Gary held Senior Vice President/Major Gift roles at Alzheimer’s Association and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

In the community Gary serves on the Board of Directors of Hillel 818 and Safe Parking LA. He previously served on the Board of Directors of:

• American Red Cross-Bay Area,
• San Francisco Food Bank,
• Bentley School,
• Wilshire Blvd Temple Camps
• Advisory Board of City National Bank from 2000-2007.

Gary attended California State University at Long Beach and received his BS from the College of Business. He was honored as Alumnus of the Year for the College of Business in 2009.

Gary lives in Woodland Hills with his partner Paula Hoffman and has a daughter, Erica, who works in the entertainment industry.

I am proud to bring over thirty years of corporate, non-profit and development experience to my work as a trusted advisor.

I work with individuals and families to effectively give to charity. If you are not sure how to give or who to give, I bring clarity to your values.

If your non-profit and volunteer board isn’t working well, I help find the disruptions and solve the problems.

I am very proficient with the following:

Philanthropic Advisory Services

• Matching Values with Giving
• Analysis of Non-Profit Sectors and Giving Opportunities
• Evaluation of Proposals
• Review of Performance

Non-Profit Consulting in the areas of:

• Strategic Planning
• Board Leadership, Development and Orientation
• Financial Planning and Budgeting
• Program Evaluation
• Governance, Committees and By-Laws
• Marketing and Branding
• Fundraising and Development
• Annual Work Plans
• CEO Transitions