Karen Sher

Chief Impact Officer, Jewish Federation of St. Louis

Karen Sher currently serves as Chief Impact Officer for Jewish Federation of St. Louis, where she leads strategic allocation, evaluation, and planning for more than 60 local and global partner organizations.  She oversees Family and Supporting Foundations, grants, endowments, loans, and scholarship programs that strengthen communal institutions and individuals in need. Karen also directs Israel and Overseas investments, manages Partnership2Gether initiatives, and guides Community Leadership and Engagement programs to foster a vibrant, connected Jewish community.   

  

Karen has spent the majority of her professional career at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, where she has served in various leadership roles. As a volunteer, she has contributed to numerous Jewish community boards and served as the founding president of Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and girls through Jewish learning and leadership. In addition to her work within the Jewish community, Karen currently serves on several boards outside the Jewish community, reflecting her broad commitment to civic engagement and community impact. She is a graduate of the Baltimore Institute of Jewish Communal Service, where she earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies.