Tanner was a longtime member of the American Jewish Committee's board of governors and served the human relations organization as chair of its board of trustees, member of its executive committee, and from 2001 to 2004 as its president. He served as chairman of the
AJC Transatlantic Institute. From 2005 to 2007, he served as chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. Tanner served as a Cornell trustee beginning in 1982, including as vice-chairman of the board and chairman from 1997 to 2002. He served on the trustee executive committee from 1986 to 2002. ==Awards==