We are excited to welcome Dana Ginestet to the JCamp 180 team as our new consultant! Read on to learn more about Dana and how she'll be supporting the work of JCamp 180 and the field!
What will you be doing at JCamp 180?
I will be supporting a portfolio of camps with grants and organizational development resources in the areas of governance, strategic planning, and fundraising. Like my colleagues in the role, I’ll be serving as a Relationship Manager to camps, can consult to camps on a variety of topics, and I’ll manage a special project, all toward a goal of increasing the strength and financial sustainability of our Jewish camping partners.
What brought you to JCamp 180?
Jewish overnight camp played a powerful role in shaping my identity and sense of community. Now more than ever, Jewish camps are essential spaces where children can experience Judaism joyfully, safely, and in deep connection with others. JCamp 180’s work—strengthening camps so they can thrive for generations—feels like a natural and meaningful way for me to contribute to something that has mattered so much in my own life.
What are you most excited about in your new role?
I’m especially excited about supporting camps at pivotal moments, whether that’s leadership transitions, major decision points related to capital planning or facilities, board evolution, or the start of a strategic planning process to help camps build the capacity to thrive for generations. I’m excited to work in partnership with camp professionals and lay leaders to bring lessons from other camps and nonprofits I’ve supported over the years, and to learn what makes each camp unique.
What skills do you bring to JCamp 180 that camps might be excited to know about?
I bring more than 25 years of experience as a mission-driven leader and consultant across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. My work has included facilitating strategic planning processes, guiding organizations through periods of transition and growth, conducting organizational assessments, and coaching senior leaders and boards. I have served in nonprofit leadership roles, managed large and complex public sector projects, and served as a visiting faculty member at Providence College.
I have deep expertise in governance, organizational development, and coalition-building, and a long-standing commitment to Jewish communal life and youth development. I’m a certified Project Manager Professional (PMP) and a Mediator with the Center for Mediation and Collaboration Rhode Island.
Tell us your camp story and a favorite camp memory.
In summer 2025, I had the opportunity to return to my childhood camp – Camp Tevya – in a leadership role for one summer, decades after I’d worked there as a counselor. Beyond the deeply meaningful experience of watching my own kids embrace the traditions and joy of camp, I brought along our family dog, an elderly and loving German Shepherd who somehow acquired the nickname “Shredder.” By the first Shabbat, she was already a beloved member of the community, immortalized in camp songs and dining-hall shout-outs. It was a perfect reminder of the silliness, humor, and pure fun of camp—and my kids were equal parts embarrassed and delighted that our old dog had become a camp star.
Where do you live and what’s a fun/funny thing about you?
I live in Rhode Island with my husband and two kids and enjoy traveling, hiking, playing tennis, and staying closely connected with old friends. Before life filled up with kids and carpools, I was a very dedicated (and very mediocre) endurance athlete, spending countless hours on my bike—including rides across the U.S. (Oregon to New Hampshire) and the length of Africa (Cairo to Cape Town). If you have time, I’m always happy to share a story. 😊
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Who we are: JCamp 180 is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF). JCamp 180 invests in the long-term organizational effectiveness of nonprofit Jewish camps to ensure our community’s future and connection to Judaism. We partner with professional staff, lay leadership, movements, and allied organizations to inspire a culture that promotes philanthropic support by focusing on strategic planning, governance, and fundraising, and providing matching grants, consulting services, professional development, and research. Find more at www.jcamp180.org