New Jewish Group Picks Its Top Leader

United Jewish Communities, the organization formed from three major Jewish fund-raising organizations, has named its new chief executive officer.

Stephen D. Solender, who has been serving as the group’s acting president, will now become its permanent president. United Jewish Communities, in New York, was formed from the merger of the United Jewish Appeal, the Council of Jewish Federations, and United Israel Appeal.

Mr. Solender has served as the head of the United Jewish Appeal–Federation of New York since 1986.

The charity also announced that David Altshuler will serve as the director of a separate fund-raising and grant-making unit being created by United Jewish Communities. Mr. Altshuler is the founding director of the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, in New York.

The unit he will direct, which does not yet have a name, will be aimed at attracting “mega-donors,” younger philanthropists, and other new donors. It also hopes to develop projects that help donors get more personally involved in their philanthropy, said Norm Eisenberg, a spokesman for United Jewish Communities.