Elyse Cohn

Elyse Cohn is the Chief Development Officer for the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. In this role, she helps donors realize their philanthropy goals, working in partnership with agency program and lay leaders to ensure the JCC serves the entire community as a home for high-impact, highly accountable philanthropic investment. Elyse and her team lead direction in annual campaigns, tribute contributions, endowment funds, Legacy giving, and grants, working collaboratively to promote a culture of philanthropy.

Elyse joined the JCC as Grants Manager in 2016. Prior to that, she enjoyed a nearly 30-year career in performing arts administration, serving as Director of Development and Marketing for Danceworks, Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and Director of Development, Marketing and Public Relations for First Stage. She was also a staff writer for the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.

Elyse received her B.A. in Theatre from the University of Texas at Austin. She has held volunteer positions with the Maple Dale-Indian Hill Educational Foundation and Nicolet High School Performing Arts Committee, was a Membership co-chair at Congregation Sinai, and served as Dance Commissioner for the JCC Maccabi Games. She and her husband live in Bayside and take pleasure in spending time with their two twenty-something children and their sweet little dog, Riley.