In November 2022, my friend Lilly told me that she was going to apply for a Jewish philanthropy fellowship program geared toward young philanthropic leaders. I think I might’ve said, out loud, in the most sarcastic voice possible, “...sick.”
Both our parents are heavily involved in the Jewish philanthropic community here in New York, particularly within the organizations that you are no doubt familiar with. Every so often, Lilly and I would drag each other to these organizations’ events in the city for “young Jewish professionals” wherein we would be greeted with an endless stream of: “Oh! You’re Linda and Jeff’s son, right?” or “I just saw Gary and Lois at the event last week! We love them.” Invariably, they would tell us about ways we could get involved as well, though they were always framed as: “This is something your parents do; why don’t you do it too?”
Don’t get me wrong -- I love my parents and am extremely proud of the philanthropic work that they do. I’m also sensitive to the fact that I am a child of wealthy parents which comes with its own host of complicated dynamics, especially in the philanthropic world. I’ve always struggled with wanting to assert myself as my own person with my own ideas, passions, and identity, especially in spaces where my parents are already well-known: in the Jewish community, the philanthropic space, and even in my professional life.
As a result, my desire for independence unfortunately led to growing resentment for Jewish philanthropy. Outside of considering it a “duty” or “responsibility” to give back, I had no real interest in exploring the space given my presumed inability to escape the massive shadow cast by my parents’ success.
Philanthropy, I thought, wasn’t for me.
So when Lilly told me about the Slingshot Fellowship, I figured it was yet another program run by the organizations that our parents are involved in, designed to get us to be just like our parents. My curiosity led me to do a little digging; ultimately, I found that it is a program designed specifically for people in their late 20s or 30s to explore not just their philanthropic interests, but who they are as leaders and individuals.
I submitted my application and set a date for my interview, still overwhelmingly skeptical.
During the interview I expressed my frustration with the experiences I had within the organizations that my parents were involved in: how I was always going to be “Jeff and Linda’s son” to them and how much I needed to chart my own path as a leader. The Fellowship Director smiled on the other end of the Zoom call and said, “You’re exactly what we’re looking for.”
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I had a therapy session two days before the first Slingshot retreat. I told my therapist that, against my instincts, I was committed to leaning into this experience and showing up with my full self. “It might be terrible,” I said, “but I don’t want to preemptively make it terrible for myself.”
Immediately upon arriving at the Emerson Resort & Spa in the Catskills, all ten of us in the fellowship jumped in with two feet. We were led through a session where we got deep into our relationships, how that shaped who we are, who we are, and how we’re different from our parents. Over the course of the rest of the retreat, we engaged in thoughtful activities about what makes us unique, what our strengths and weaknesses were, and (maybe most importantly) had so much fun exploring the world’s largest kaleidoscope, learning Japanese art techniques, and hanging out by the fire after Shabbat. I almost forgot that we were there to learn about philanthropy. I left that retreat with a group of amazing people I could call friends -- not unlike what it was like when I went away to camp over the summer.
Over the course of the Fellowship, I honed my leadership skills, learned how I can effectuate change in areas that I believe in (both philanthropically and professionally), and ultimately found myself not just ready to engage in Jewish philanthropy, but thoroughly and wholly excited to do so. I realized that my version of philanthropy is my own, that I can pursue what I’m passionate about, and that there is a world of wonderful opportunities out there.
Now, as a member of the Slingshot board, I cannot wait to bring the Slingshot Fellowship to more people like who I was 2 years ago -- disinterested in Jewish Philanthropy, complicated feelings around their parents’ successes, but willing to go on a self-discovery journey -- and turn them into young, self-assured, engaged, passionate, and board-ready philanthropic leaders to ensure the longevity and strength of Jewish Philanthropy.
To learn more about the Slingshot Fellowship and how to apply, click here.