MJHS Foundation Staff

Jessica Laufer

Jessica Laufer is the Assistant Vice President of the MJHS Foundation, which is dedicated to raising funds to provide services for at-risk New Yorkers who are not reimbursed. Laufer joined the not-for-profit organization as Senior Director of Development in 2023 and was promoted to her current role in 2024 after leading initiatives to streamline the Foundation’s day-to-day operations, increase donations to key campaigns and enhance donor outreach and engagement.

Before joining MJHS, Laufer was Director of Development at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and worked at Event Associates, which organized fundraising benefits for the Robin Hood Foundation, NEXT for AUTISM and The New Jewish Home, among others. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Association of Healthcare Philanthropy and Women in Development.

Chinwe Egonu

Chinwe Egonu is the Director of Foundation Operations and oversees the Foundation’s data and prospect development operations, and also works on cultivation and stewardship efforts. In the past she served as both the Foundation’s Manager of Prospect Research and Database Coordinator.

Prior to joining the Foundation, she was the International Relations Coordinator for the Girl Scouts of the USA and the Program Consultant for NetAid (now Mercy Corps). She also interned at the Jewish Child Care Association’s information technology department.

Egonu holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Bernard M. Baruch College.

Dara K. Marsh

Dara Marsh, Events Manager, joined the MJHS Foundation in 2013, initially as a Development Coordinator. In her current role, she is responsible for the execution of MJHS Foundation-sponsored fundraising events, including oversight of event logistics, establishing and maintaining vendor relationships, coordinating other MJHS department involvement, and reporting on event results. Dara has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She previously worked at Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America in the Donor Services Department and later in the Development and Alumni Relations office of New York Law School. Dara holds a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Purchase, a Master of Arts from NYU, and a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Administration from Baruch College. She is an alumnus of National Urban League’s Emerging Leaders Program, which is designed to groom the next generation of Nonprofit Leadership. Dara is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an educational honor society.