Palm Beach residents are investing up to $5 million to launch a new by-invitation-only group aimed at marshaling the island’s wealth and influence to affect change on issues ranging from antisemitism to education and health.
The Palm Beach Leadership Forum, founded by entrepreneur Baroness Tracy Turco de Salonia and businessman Niv Jacobi, both Palm Beach residents, includes about 30 local leaders from finance, law, real estate, philanthropy and other sectors.
The group aims to move beyond traditional philanthropy through high-level discussions and issue-specific think tanks, Jacobi told the Daily News.
“We can do more than just write a check,” he said. “We can be part of the thinking and the change. Life is not only about (charity) parties. Together, we can and should do more.”
Doris Zambito, a long-time Palm Beach resident and forum participant, said the group provides a platform for leaders in business, philanthropy, civic life, and the arts to have meaningful, solution-focused discussions.
“I see the Palm Beach Leadership Forum playing a vital role as a connector and a bridge within the Palm Beach community while fostering collaboration among decision-makers and encouraging initiatives that create long-term impact locally and beyond,” she said.
Palm Beach was a natural home for the group, Jacobi said, citing the island’s growing role as a center of political access, finance and global attention. Among the contributing factors are President Donald Trump’s frequent presence at his home, The Mar-a-Lago Club; the notable influx of wealthy residents to the island over the past several years; and the growing prominence of West Palm Beach as a business hub that some have dubbed “Wall Street South.”
With more world leaders visiting and a steady flow of investment and talent, Jacobi said, Palm Beach is well positioned to shape policy-related conversations without acting as a political organization.
“Palm Beach has become a major center of influence, not only in the United States, but globally,” Jacobi said. “As a result, in this mix of influence, finance, and the ability to shape processes in America and around the world, Palm Beach wins, by a large margin.”
Unlike traditional charitable models, the forum is structured around participation rather than donations alone. Jacobi said the goal is to bring together leaders with what he calls a “triple combination” of financial capacity, influence and a willingness to engage deeply in shaping social outcomes.
“Philanthropy is important, without question,” Jacobi said. “But this habit of donating money when we don’t really know how much of it actually reaches its destination — and donating mainly in order to take part in a cocktail or a party — is nice, but I believe we can and should do more than that.”
Zambito, a bank executive, said she was motivated to join the forum in the early stages to help shape its foundation and culture.
“Early development is when vision, values and standards are established, and that’s where I can have the ability to impact the most,” she said. “As a long-time resident of Palm Beach, I am familiar with the extraordinary leaders across industries and I can confidently contribute in creating an environment where all leaders can engage in thoughtful, forward-looking conversations.”
The forum’s first gathering took place in December during a visit to Mar-a-Lago by Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, and included a private discussion with its first lady, Sara Netanyahu, and her son, Yair. The conversation focused on antisemitism, Israel–U.S. relations, and the need for cross-community dialogue, Jacobi said.
Future forums will expand into areas such as education, health and economic literacy, with an emphasis on forming small think tanks around specific issues. Jacobi said early initiatives may focus on encouraging early disease detection, combating antisemitism and improving financial education for young people.
The group plans to convene gatherings every month or two, supported by preparatory and follow-up professional work designed to identify areas in need of support and outline strategies for action, Jacobi said.
Meetings and lectures will be invitation-only, with participants divided into groups to tackle specific areas of interest. Jacobi said the forum wants to foster collaboration across different sectors and backgrounds, bringing together people not just to donate, but to shape and guide initiatives with measurable impact.
Jacobi added that success for the forum will be measured not just by the impact on others, but by how it engages and motivates Palm Beach residents
“If, five years from now, I know we truly managed to touch people’s lives — not only those we help, but also residents here and donors — and if we can give them a sense of belonging and meaningful action with real impact, that would already be a success in my eyes,” he said.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach leaders launch $5M forum to drive real social impact
Reporting by Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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