Giving Compass' Take:

• The Slingshot Fund, founded by a group of young philanthropists, is identifying and supporting organizations and programs that enhance Jewish life and uncover Jewish leadership. 

• How can this group inspire other young philanthropists to pursue their funding goals? 

• Read about other young philanthropists in the sector. 

I found myself participating in my first Slingshot Fund a year after graduating from college when I had just moved to New York. I was seeking to learn about innovative Jewish work, an understanding of the tactics that make philanthropy effective, a connection to Jewish life beyond Hillel, and a community of peers grappling with similar questions around identity, legacy, and philanthropy. As I learned the story of how Slingshot came to be, it felt like an even better fit than I’d realized, and I eventually signed on to join the board.

Slingshot was established 14 years ago with the support of Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies by a group of young philanthropists trying to identify and fund organizations working on ambitious and innovative projects within Jewish life.

The Jewish community is now pursuing more innovative and exciting projects than ever, and the approaches championed by this vanguard can be seen in every corner of the field.

The question at the center of our process was simply this: do we evolve with our tools (e.g., the Guide and the Day) and focus on supporting capacity building for innovative organizations, or do we double down on our original mission and identify new approaches to empowering young philanthropists?

Our new direction is guided by the following three ideas:

  1. Our most unique asset is the network of emerging young philanthropists we’ve built through our programs.
  2. The anticipated turnover of professional Jewish leadership in the coming years is going to be matched by an equally significant turnover in volunteer leadership.
  3. At a time in which people of all ages are grappling with the dynamics of power, privilege, and money, the next generation of volunteer leaders will need to lead with empathy, compassion, and humility.

Read the full article about young Jewish philanthropists by Coby Lerner at eJewish Philanthropy.