Jewish Women's Archive Named One of North America's Most Innovative Jewish Nonprofits

Fifth Annual "Slingshot" Guidebook Names 50 Most Innovative Jewish Nonprofits in America

(Boston, MA)—October 14, 2009—The Jewish Women's Archive has been named one of the nation's 50 most innovative Jewish nonprofits in Slingshot '09–'10, a resource guide for Jewish innovation. Slingshot, now in its fifth year, features organizations, leaders, and programs that have taken an innovative approach to addressing age-old concerns of identity and community in Jewish life today. The fourth time being named in Slingshot, the Jewish Women's Archive made the cut this year after an extensive evaluation process overseen by several dozen foundation professionals.

The organizations listed in Slingshot are selected from among hundreds of nominees across the country. Finalists are chosen based on their strength in four areas: innovation, impact, leadership, and organizational efficiency.

"We are pleased to be included in Slingshot this year," says Gail Reimer, JWA's Executive Director. "It is a wonderful validation of the work of the Jewish Women's Archive as well as a welcome acknowledgement by young funders that history matters and that how it is collected and shared can be revolutionary."

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.

Like many Foundation folks, Gali Cooks, Executive Director, Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, has come to rely on Slingshot. "The due diligence and thoughtfulness that goes into the Slingshot process is incredibly helpful. If an organization is in Slingshot, we know that it has been vetted by professionals and colleagues whom we trust. As a result, we tend to give the Slingshot organization very close consideration."

Slingshot '09/'10 will be unveiled on October 15 at the second annual Slingshot Day launch event in Manhattan. The book, published annually, is available in hard copy and as a free download at www.slingshotfund.org.

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The mission of the Jewish Women's Archive (JWA) is to uncover, chronicle, and transmit the rich history of American Jewish women. JWA is nationally recognized as a vital contributor to a more expansive and inclusive vision of Jewish life, past, present and future. Through its innovative uses of technology and its collaborative partnerships, JWA has successfully changed the way history is researched, recorded, and taught. Their web address is jwa.org.