- Expansion of programs to nurture innovation at every stage of organizational life;
- Increase in resources flowing into Jewish innovation, including more seed funding for innovative programs/initiatives;
- Investment in field-based research and evaluation of impact;
- Harnessing the power of a larger, more diverse innovation network; and
- Connecting a growing network of independent cities through regional hubs covering North America.
“UpStart has a record of success supporting individuals and leaders who have creative, dynamic visions for what Jewish life can be,” adds Barry Finestone, President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation. “Along with our funding partners, we believe that the newly merged UpStart has even greater potential for impact. We want to provide them the space to engage in thoughtful future planning and to help position the organization to attract multi-year investment.”
UpStart will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a community celebration honoring its founding CEO, Toby Rubin, on May 10th in San Francisco, where it was founded. Originally launched as an Accelerator for early-stage Jewish organizations bringing something fresh and relevant to Jewish life, UpStart later expanded its services to support long-standing institutions in opening up new pathways for impact.
With the merger, UpStart now has offices in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, and New York. Collectively, UpStart hosts programs in 13 communities across the country, with plans for expansion. Since their inception, UpStart and its three merging organizations have fueled the impact of over 1,300 organizations and trained nearly 3,000 of the Jewish community’s most inspiring leaders. The collaborative of funders cumulatively awarded $3.2 million, a portion of which is allocated as matching grants designed to spur other giving.
Our purpose is to enable entrepreneurs to bring bold Jewish ideas to light. We help them reach Up to people in new ways that are meaningful, more inclusive, and create a brighter future for our Jewish community and the world we share.
