Jewish Heart for Africa has been named one of the nation’s 50 most innovative Jewish nonprofits in Slingshot ’10-‘11, a resource guide for Jewish innovation. Since 2005, Slingshot has become the definitive guide to identifying path-finding and trailblazing organizations grappling with concerns in Jewish life such as identity, community, and tradition.
Jewish Heart for Africa was chosen by a panel of 36 foundation professionals from across North America. This was Jewish Heart for Africa’s first time being featured in Slingshot.
In order to be listed in Slingshot, organizations are selected from among hundreds of nominees across North America. Finalists are chosen based on their strength in four areas: innovation, impact, leadership, and organizational efficiency.
According to Will Schneider, the Director of Slingshot, “2010 was the most competitive year that Slingshot has experienced. Not only are there a greater number of applicants each year, but the extent and complexity of each applicant’s impact has increased. The feedback from the evaluators told us that the guide could easily have been filled with twice as many inspirational projects, so these 50 had to really shine to rise to the top.”
Inspired four years ago by Slingshot, a group of next-generation philanthropists launched the Slingshot Fund, a collective giving mechanism to support innovative Jewish life. In just four cycles, the Slingshot Fund has contributed nearly $1.5 million to innovative Jewish not-for-profits.
Jonathan Raiffe, the Chairman of the Slingshot Fund Committee which set the policies for the Slingshot Fund shares, “The organizations in Slingshot have really challenged my views about what it means to be involved in Jewish non-profits and provide me with a strong sense of pride in my Jewish identity. Participating in the Slingshot Fund offers me invaluable experience that has given me the skills and confidence to play an active role in my local community. I hope that Slingshot provides the organizations additional publicity to the outside world, and serves to facilitate enhanced cooperation and create mutually beneficial projects among the groups.”
Slingshot ’10/’11 was unveiled on October 18 at the annual Slingshot Day launch, a sold out event in Manhattan. Over 250 not-for-profit leaders, foundation professionals, and funders of all ages spent the day engaged in candid conversations about philanthropy and innovation.
