AVI CHAI Foundation Awards $2.35m to RAVSAK to Jumpstart New Growth

The AVI CHAI Foundation has awarded a four-year, $2.35 million grant to RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network for organizational capacity building.

RAVSAK’s new multi-year business plan is designed to build the Jewish community day school field, develop strong knowledgeable Jewish leaders, amplify Judaic program excellence and galvanize appreciation and support for day schools. The business plan projects that RAVSAK will grow from a current budget of $1.9 million to a budget of $3.6 million in 2015-2016, substantially increasing its educational programs and leadership development opportunities. The AVI CHAI capacity funds, together with new funds to be raised from others, will enable RAVSAK to invest in new key hires and an expanded infrastructure, strengthen its leadership and expertise, expand its philanthropic pipeline, and implement a series of new educational initiatives that respond to the growing needs of the field.

Arnee Winshall, RAVSAK’s board chair noted, “RAVSAK’s growth from grassroots startup to field leader has been largely due to the visionary leadership of Dr. Marc Kramer, the involvement of lay and professional leaders from member schools, and the strategic involvement of key philanthropic partners like The AVI CHAI Foundation. Energized by the plan, we welcome the opportunity to expand our collaboration with our current organizational and philanthropic partners and to engage with new partners to invest in the unique and critical role that day schools play in ensuring our future as a Jewish community.”