12/02/2025
Federation Promotes Kari Blumenthal to Chief Financial Officer
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland today announced that Kari Blumenthal has been named its chief financial officer, effective December 1, 2025. Blumenthal brings more than two decades of strategic financial leadership experience across nonprofit and corporate sectors, with expertise in investment oversight, financial operations, and strategic planning. This appointment follows a nationwide search conducted with assistance from the executive search firm Ratliff & Taylor.
Blumenthal has worked at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland since 2012 in a series of senior financial roles, most recently as managing director of finance. In this capacity, she led the financial strategy and operations for the Federation’s entire investment portfolio, overseen endowments, donor-advised funds, and supporting foundations. She has been a key advisor to Federation’s executive leadership and various volunteer-led committees.
“Kari is a strategic, mission-driven leader whose financial expertise and collaborative approach will be invaluable to our organization in the CFO role,” said Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president. “Throughout her accomplished career, she has been a staunch champion of financial integrity, transparency, and mission alignment. As someone who is already a trusted advisor within our organization, and with her engaging and inspiring leadership style, Kari is the obvious choice for this position. We are delighted to have her in this vital role.”
Before joining the Federation, Blumenthal held financial and acquisition analysis roles at Eaton Corporation, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Geller & Company, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Her career includes leading due diligence for global transactions, shaping enterprise-wide financial planning, and managing financial reporting and forecasting for multi-billion-dollar business units.
Blumenthal holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and accounting from Emory University and is a certified public accountant (inactive). She is also an alumna of leadership development programs including the Jewish Federations of North America Executive Accelerator Program and the Leadership Horizons Initiative at the McGraw-Hill Companies.
“I am honored to step into this role and lead our talented finance team as we continue to strengthen the financial foundation of this organization,” Blumenthal said. “I look forward to working with our board, staff, and partners to advance Federation’s life-changing work.”
Blumenthal lives in Mayfield Heights. She is actively involved in the community, serving as a board member and treasurer of the Allison Rose Foundation and volunteering with University Hospitals’ “Pet Pal Program.”
