Transformimg Jewish Lives
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary year, we look back with great pride on all that has been accomplished at JESNA over the past thirty years. Even more importantly, however, we are focused on the promising prospects for Jewish education that lie ahead. We look forward eagerly to embracing new avenues for innovation and impact as we seek to create a future of consistently inspiring and engaging learning.
In order to ensure that the best new ideas and approaches in Jewish education take root and flourish, JESNA is establishing a venture capital fund: quite literally, our “fund for the future.” Our goal is to raise $1 million in principal that we will invest to launch, develop, and expand Jewish education initiatives with a high potential for substantial impact. The Fund for the Future will allow us to serve as a powerful force for change as we pursue innovative strategies to improve Jewish education in partnership with a wide array of community leaders, educators, social entrepreneurs, and funders.
Once established, The Fund will be overseen by a multi-generational blue ribbon committee that will include our 30th Anniversary honorees and their families as well as JESNA leaders and other respected experts in Jewish education and innovation. Candidate programs for support will be brought to the committee and evaluated on the basis of their potential for high impact, scalability, and other key criteria. Monies from The Fund might be used for seed funding, challenge or matching funds to spur additional support, and to join philanthropic partnerships.
In particular, we hope to invest in programs and processes that will seeded much-needed change in communities and sectors in areas like:
- The re-design of complementary Jewish education
- Engaging families with young children
- Professional development for educators and education leaders
- Maximizing the value of new media for Jewish education
The Fund will function as an evergreen fund, designated to the purposes outlined above, and will be replenished by annual fundraising efforts going forward. Assets of the fund will be invested prudently to minimize risk and foster its growth.
To make a donation, contact Ellen Goldstein at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 212.284.6886. You can also use PayPal's secure checkout:
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