Barbara Bell Segaloff Fund

 Est. in 2026 by Barbara Segaloff

May 08, 2026

One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm. One needs to feel that one's life has meaning, that one is needed in this world. -Hannah Senesh

Segaloff, her husband Jim, and two children, Beth and Steven, are avid runners. She believes, “Running has taught me I can lace up my sneakers and hit the pavement to face challenges that will keep me going when the finish line feels way out of reach.” 

These words by Hannah Senesh, a poet and Hungarian WWII resistance fighter, have always resonated with Barbara Segaloff.  Growing up, Segaloff saw her mother’s involvement in volunteer organizations, raising funds to support programs in local communities and in Israel.  She gained an appreciation for the importance of giving back to the community and the value of philanthropy. Upon moving to New Haven with her husband Jim, Segaloff joined a number of organizations and thus began a long career of civic engagement, focusing on the arts, education, the homeless, health and well-being and political action.

After working for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Segaloff went on to hold positions with many local institutions including the Arts Council of New Haven, the New Haven Free Public Library Foundation, the Joseph Slifka Center at Yale, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas and the Gateway Community College Foundation. Throughout her career, she pursued opportunities and organizations that matched her interests and enriched her life. 

“The individuals I worked for or with were passionate, inspiring and motivating. There is no doubt these individuals influenced me in how I directed my life,” says Segaloff.

In 1996, Segaloff became involved with the Community Fund for Women & Girls at The Community Foundation and went on to serve on the Advisory Council for many years. She saw firsthand how the organizations supported by the fund made a positive difference in the lives of women they serve. When she recently reached a “milestone” age, she decided to establish The Barbara Bell Segaloff Fund to support the Community Fund for Women & Girls. Her intention is “to ensure there will always be sufficient funds available for the Fund’s program continuity and long-term impact, and to provide a way to leave a lasting legacy for women and girls to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives.”