Mark Spira brings more than 25 years of fundraising experience and more than two decades of nonprofit management experience to Hebrew at the Center. Throughout his career, he has worked with a diverse range of nonprofit organizations, both within and outside the Jewish community, including organizations focused on the arts, community services, education, civil legal services, and health.

Mark has led development efforts at the DCJCC; Temple Sinai in Washington, DC; Chicago Shakespeare Theater; and most recently, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Metro DC chapter. His fundraising experience spans individual giving, major gifts, grants, sponsorships, special events, and endowment development. He has led individual giving campaigns that have raised more than $1 million annually; written millions of dollars in grants to local, regional, and national foundations as well as federal, state, and local governments; and launched endowments at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program and the DCJCC.

Throughout his career, Mark has also developed and managed major events and community experiences, including the grand opening of Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier; the second-ever event at the DC Convention Center as part of the opening of the City Museum in Washington, DC; and concerts and arts events featuring Judy Collins, Mary Wilson, Tony Kushner, Dr. Ruth, Keb’ Mo’, and Eric Idle. Most recently, he led the 20th anniversary of the CF Foundation’s DC Brewers’ Ball at The Wharf in downtown DC.

A native Washingtonian, Mark has spent much of his life connected to the Jewish community. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and two teenage children. He spends much of his free time cheering on the Jackson-Reed Crew team and DC professional sports teams. Mark and both of his children are alumni of local Jewish day schools. His wife, whom he met when they were both working at the DCJCC, spent two decades working at local Jewish organizations before planting her professional flag at the National Cherry Blossom Festival.