In a time marked by deep communal ruptures and existential questions about the future of Jewish life, one might expect young Jewish philanthropists like us to feel conflicted about giving Jewishly.
But our new study tells a very different story.
Portrait of Jewish Giving Today, commissioned by Slingshot and conducted by Dr. Tobin Belzer in partnership with Worthy Strategy Group, offers an in-depth exploration of the identities, motivations, and challenges that young Jewish philanthropists like us experience today. Through immersive ethnographic research, the study ultimately reveals what we value, what we fear, and how we grapple with hard decisions.
Nearly every participant in the study traced their philanthropic DNA to Jewish childhood memories: tzedakah boxes, family rituals, summer camp, synagogue life, mitzvah projects. These early experiences solidified giving as an indelible part of being Jewish in the modern world. Yet our generation is not simply replicating what we inherited. As the Portrait of Jewish Giving Today makes clear, young Jewish philanthropists remain deeply committed to the values transmitted by our parents and grandparents: responsibility, justice, generosity, and a fierce devotion to Jewish community. But we are expressing our commitments differently — in more relational, impact-oriented, and transparent ways. And we are leaning into the complexity of our current moment by attuning ourselves to the interplay between Jewish identity and broader civic concerns.
To be clear: we are not walking away from Jewish philanthropy. In fact, it’s at the core of how we see ourselves making a difference in the world. And yet, the weight of expectations, political tensions, or fears of misinterpretation can sometimes make giving according to our Jewish values feel lonely, risky or fraught. We have experienced this firsthand. All of this underscores what we know to be true as young Jewish philanthropists: Doing this work alone can feel overwhelming — even paralyzing. And that is exactly why community matters.
For nearly 20 years, Slingshot has been a trusted ecosystem for next-generation Jewish funders to learn, experiment, and grow together as leaders. We create opportunities for collaboration rather than competition, and lean into brave conversations rather than retreating to “the way it has always been done.”
The recommendations from Portrait of Jewish Giving Today largely reflect what many young Jewish funders are asking for, and what Slingshot has been building. We are poised to meet the moment by ensuring that young Jewish philanthropists have the scaffolding and peer-to-peer support they need through multiple philanthropic resources:
Peer learning labs and giving circles
Slingshot convenes young funders to learn with — and from — one another, creating cohorts and giving circles where we test ideas, clarify values, and make philanthropic decisions collaboratively rather than in isolation.
Tools for making values-based decisions
Building upon the knowledge of trusted leaders in the field, Slingshot equips emerging funders with frameworks, coaching, and practical tools to move from intention to action, grounding their giving in Jewish values, data, and strategy. Our Guide for Funding with a Gender Lens and our funder resource Racial Equity Informed Philanthropy are two practical tools to inform the Jewish philanthropic landscape.
Structured pathways for leadership development
Slingshot offers a clear pipeline of leadership opportunities, mentorship, and training that supports funders as they gain confidence, influence the field, and assume meaningful roles on boards and advisory committees to shape the Jewish future. Portrait of Jewish Giving Today underscores that young funders aspire to shift from constant activity to strategic stewardship. They want to be anchors, bridge-builders, and thoughtful risk-takers. They crave opportunities to learn, to lead, and to be useful in ways that respect their bandwidth and expertise.
Spaces for Jewish joy alongside serious learning
We create joyful, identity-affirming environments that pair rigorous inquiry with celebration, tradition, and community — because cultivating belonging and resilience is as essential as grappling with complexity.
Cross-communal coalitions, grounded in trust
Slingshot builds bridges across diverse perspectives and networks, fostering relationships rooted in trust and curiosity so young funders can mobilize together, experiment boldly, and strengthen the Jewish ecosystem as a whole.
We believe Slingshot is the ecosystem young funders need to lead not only with passion, but with skills, humility, camaraderie, and courage. At the end of the day, we do not need to be convinced to care about the Jewish future. Instead, we need spaces that allow for more complexity, more joy, and more opportunities to explore new strategies instead of simply relying on old models. Fortunately, Slingshot is answering that call.
Our leadership may look different from previous generations, but we are no less committed to building a strong, vibrant Jewish future. We ask the Jewish community to invite us to the table not despite how we lead, but because of it. Our instincts to collaborate, make relationship-driven decisions, and take thoughtful risks — in partnership with philanthropic leaders who came before us — will help us plant the seeds for a more vibrant, resilient, and courageous Jewish future.
To view the study, click here.