Education Foundations in Israel

During November 2022, the foundation organized an international education conference, inviting colleague foundations in the education field to contribute in terms of content and financial support. This led to a collaboration with seven philanthropic foundations – Yad Hanadiv, Davidson, Arison, Lautman, Beracha, Posen, and Leon. The conference that was held at the Tel Aviv Port, sparked an interest among the professional education community, attended by 900 Israeli educators. With John Hattie and Lee Shulman as keynote speakers, each foundation organized subsequent panels and sessions that highlighted its unique interests in the education field in Israel.

The conference created an appetite among foundations to increase discourse, and collaboration. A few weeks ago, during the 2023 Israel Excellence Week, we organized an online meeting where six foundations presented their work to the public. The publication of a book documenting a decade of philanthropic activity by the Trump Foundation, also generated an opportunity for meetings with other foundations from Israel and around the world, who seek to learn about the catalytic approach to philanthropy. These events have been increasing the sense of value of professional dialogue and mutual learning among foundations.

In order to take this emerging interest one step forward, we approached the Funders Network (JFN Israel). JFN Israel, comprising of 140 families and foundations, was established with the aim to create and enable professional learning and philanthropic collaborations among donors and staff of foundations. As an international organization, JFN convenes an annual conference attended by hundreds of foundations from around the world. In Israel they convene affinity groups on an ongoing basis around topics of interest, such as the environment, arts and culture, and liberal democracy. They organize events, workshops, and seminars, and update a database of case studies and research.

In response to our approach, JFN Israel proposes to establish an Israeli-based learning group for foundations that operate in the education sphere. This group will convene donors and professionals and offer them peer learning on education and philanthropy in Israel, share work methods and experience, create stronger connections among philanthropic players, and provide support and opportunities for collaboration. The group will be led by an advisory committee and organized with the assistance of a coordinator. It will comprise at least 30 members and convene six times a year of which two will include site visits.

Topics that will be discussed by the forum will include case studies of best practices of foundations, meetings with scholars with deep knowledge of the field, analysis of philanthropic methodologies, discuss opportunities and challenges of collaboration with the Ministry of Education and local authorities, and share examples of collaboration between foundation.

* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 511