It was May 2021, and the rockets were coming down like a storm onto Ashkelon, Israel, the hometown of social entrepreneur Seth Davis. As the smoke cleared, Davis received a request from the town’s mayor: we need more bomb shelters to protect our civilians.
In the ensuing days, Davis contacted a few philanthropists whom he knew cared deeply about Israel. These individuals pledged sums ranging from $5,000 to $50,000—enough to build eight new bomb shelters in Ashkelon over the next four months.
Helping Ashkelon build these bomb shelters led Davis to a realization—there are plenty of Jewish donors looking for ways to make a difference in Jewish life, they just need a way to easily access projects and organizations in need of funding.
“Many Jewish philanthropists are interested in broadening their horizons and finding new projects that will make an immediate impact. Yet, finding these opportunities is often incredibly challenging. I realized that I could serve as a missing link,” said Davis.
Davis decided to turn to technology to make this vision a reality.
Earlier this year, he founded the Giving Group Community, an online platform that is designed to bring together the power of storytelling and technology to transform the way people give. At a time when Jewish giving is in decline and younger generations are identifying less with their Jewish backgrounds, the Giving Group Community could be positioned to make a significant impact.
The Giving Group Community launched the first premium, private and exclusive network, which utilizes a proprietary technology platform to connect major donors and their children to philanthropic opportunities that benefit Israel and the Jewish people. “Our main objectives are increasing giving to Israel and Jewish-focused causes while augmenting involvement of the next generation,” Davis said.
“I’ve heard time and again from Jewish philanthropists how challenging it is to identify best-in-class, trustworthy organizations that are advancing outcome-driven work that aligns with their interests,” Davis continued. “I also heard the challenges that they often faced in involving their children and grandchildren in the process of philanthropy. Giving Group Community addresses both challenges head-on.”
The platform will help Jewish donors gain access to opportunities that are thoroughly vetted, connected to conversations with the next generation, leveraged on dollars through collaborations with other donors and shared with like-minded philanthropists.
The Giving Group Community made its beta platform available to certain groups earlier this year. The program allows individuals in search of projects to fund—and projects in need of funding—to create their own, respective profiles. Donors are matched with Jewish projects that align with their interests and values, helping to support the organizations that are committed to uplifting the Jewish people.
Donors are already utilizing the program to discover opportunities for Jewish philanthropy.
Jonathan and Dina Leader, philanthropists and Giving Group Community members, described how they used the system to broaden the spectrum of their Jewish giving.
“The Giving Group Community has enabled my wife Dina and I to identify and support under-the-radar, outstanding non-profit organizations that enhance Jewish life in the United States and in Israel,” said Leader.
Leader said that, through the Giving Group Community platform, “we are able to tailor our commitments to causes that we are passionate about.”
“We are also able to have a direct contact with the program managers themselves and together with GGG to ensure that our contributions are being used as we intended,” he continued. “We have enriched our philanthropic experience, as well as for our children, and grandchildren.”
This model of giving, in which ambitious Jewish philanthropists are easily connected with innovative organizations, could help power the future of the Jewish community for decades to come, Davis said.
“There are countless organizations across Israel, the U.S. and around the world that are making an incredible impact, but all too often they lack the funds to maximize their efforts, and don’t have a fundraising footprint,” he said. “With the Giving Group Community, we have an opportunity to change that for good.”
