NEW YORK (JTA) — Eighteen organizations made their debut on the annual Slingshot Guide of the 50 most innovative Jewish groups.
The guide, which was launched in 2005 by a group of donors in their 20s and 30s, evaluates North American Jewish organizations on “their innovative approach, the impact they have in their work, the leadership they have in their sector, and their effectiveness at achieving results.”
The group published two supplements — on “Disabilities & Inclusion” and on “Women & Girls” — as a means to broaden the Slingshot community and attract public interest and donor support toward these areas, it said.
The guide also features 17 “standard bearers,” organizations such as Moishe House and Mechon Hadar that are included consistently as “models of innovation.”
Newcomers to the list include City Harvest’s Kosher Initiative, a hunger-relief project in New York; NewGround: A Muslim Jewish Partnership for Change in Los Angeles; the Ramah Tikvah Network, a training program for professionals serving special-needs populations; and The Kitchen, an alternative congregation in San Francisco.
Of the 50 Slingshot groups, the average founding year is 2005 and the average annual budget is $717,320. Women lead 52 percent of the groups.
“Slingshot is a resource highlighting the breadth and depth of the Jewish community at this moment, and it is relied upon by doers and donors alike,” said Will Schneider, Slingshot’s executive director.
The book is available in hard copy and as a free download.
This year’s 50, in alphabetical order (newcomers marked with an asterisk):
A Wider Bridge
Amir
Ask Big Questions
AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps
*BBYO Stand UP
*City Harvest’s Kosher Initiative
Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations
*The David Project
Eden Village Camp
Footsteps
G-dcast
Haggadot.com
Havurah at Camp Tel Yehudah
*HEKDESH
Hidden Sparks
Innovation: Africa
J’Burgh
*J-Teen Leadership
Jewish Farm School
*Jewish Learning Venture
*Jewish New Teacher Project
The Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
*Jewish Without Walls (JWOW)
Jews for Racial & Economic Justice
*Jews United for Justice
*JOIN for Justice
The Kavana Cooperative
*Kavod v’Nichum
Kevah
*The Kitchen
*Luria Academy of Brooklyn
Matan
Mazeltot.org
*Mishkan Chicago
MyJewishLearning, Inc.
Nehirim
*NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change
OurJewishCommunity.org
The Pearlstone Center
Rabbis Without Borders
Ramah Service Corps
*Ramah Tikvah Network
Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council
*Shoresh at Bela Farm
The Tribe
Urban Adamah
Wilderness Torah
Wise Aging
*Yeshivat Maharat
Yiddish Book Center
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