Teva Learning Alliance Named One of North America’s 50 Most Innovative Jewish Nonprofits by Slingshot
New York, NY -- October 18, 2011 – Teva Learning Alliance has been named one of the nation’s 50 most innovative Jewish nonprofits in Slingshot ’11-‘12, a resource guide for Jewish innovation. Teva Learning Alliance was recognized by Slingshot for its work to fundamentally transform Jewish education through experiential learning that fosters Jewish ecological wisdom and sustainability.
Slingshot is used by philanthropists, volunteers, not-for-profit executives, and program participants to identify path-finding and trailblazing organizations grappling with concerns in Jewish life such as identity, community, and tradition. Teva Learning Alliance was chosen for the first time by a panel of 36 foundation professionals from across North America.
In order to be listed in Slingshot, organizations are selected from among hundreds of nominees. Finalists are chosen based on their strength in four areas: innovation, impact, leadership, and organizational efficiency.
Over the course of 18 years, Teva Learning Alliance has developed a reputation as thought leaders in the field of Jewish experiential education by engaging students from schools, congregations, camps, JCCs and community institutions and offering hands-on studies in environmental care. Teva has worked alongside schools, sharing curriculum and methodologies, while encouraging them to integrate environmental care practices throughout their educational calendar year.
“Teva works to reconnect Jewish children and adults across the Northeast United States to the ecological wisdom inherent in Judaism,” said Teva Co-Director and Covenant Award Winner Nili Simhai. “We are honored to be included in Slingshot 11-12 and especially excited about all the doors this inclusion may open for us,“
According to Will Schneider, Executive Director of Slingshot, “Slingshot celebrates the relative peace and prosperity that Jews enjoy in the United States and Canada while highlighting those organizations that work to ensure that Jewish life isn’t left behind as the world moves forward. Slingshot ’11-’12 is an inspirational look at a Jewish community that is adapting to changing needs in Jewish life. We had more applications than ever this year, with a wider variety of missions. In order to be selected by our evaluators, innovations and their impact had to resonate more than ever.”
Inspired five 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 five cycles, 55 members of the Slingshot Fund have contributed more than $1.8 million to innovative Jewish not-for-profits.
Jonathan Raiffe, the Chairman of Slingshot shared, “The Slingshot guide makes a statement to the Jewish community and beyond that next gen funders embrace change, innovation, and evaluation when meeting the needs of our community. Slingshot promotes organizations that hold themselves accountable to all their stakeholders and up to the same scrutiny as for-profit organizations, while pushing the boundaries of how to solve the most pressing issues. Slingshot is about making a statement as to what we believe are the greatest needs and what organizations are doing the best job to fulfill those needs. Organizations that receive grants from Slingshot clearly identify an unmet need and offer proven models and solutions that can have a far-reaching impact.”
Slingshot ’11/’12 was released on October 18, 2011. The community will meet on March 14 in New York City at the annual Slingshot Day, where over 250 not-for-profit leaders, foundation professionals, and funders of all ages will engage in candid conversations about philanthropy and innovation.
About Slingshot
Slingshot was created by a team of young funders as a guidebook to help funders of all ages diversify their giving portfolios with the most innovative and effective organizations and programs in North America. This guide contains information about each organization’s origin, mission, strategy, impact and budget, as well as details about its unique character. Now in its seventh edition, Slingshot has proven to be a catalyst for next generation funding and offers a telling snapshot of shifting trends in North America's Jewish community. The book, published annually, is available in hard copy and as a free download at www.slingshotfund.org.
The Teva Learning Alliance, one of North America's foremost Jewish Environmental Education resources, is a non-denominational Jewish educational service for participants from throughout the Jewish community. Its Co-Directors and expansive community believe now is the right time to set forth on a new beginning through the Teva Learning Alliance to achieve its mission and lead the way for others to take on their own personal mission to foster Jewish and environmental sustainability for the generations.
