Will Schneider aligned his secular fundraising background with his personal Jewish journey when he became the first ever Slingshot staff person in 2009. Before he was staff, Will was a loyal reader of the annual Slingshot resource guide of the most innovative projects in Jewish life. It was through Slingshot that Will first learned about meaningful, relevant Jewish projects and began to voluntarily participate in Jewish life for the first time. After graduating from New York University, Will abandoned his plans of working in advertising for a chance to work at Carnegie Hall. At Carnegie Hall, Will learned the basics of raising money and caught the nonprofit bug. Will went on to work for the international philanthropy consulting firm, Changing Our World, Inc. Some of Will’s clients included the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, the Apollo Theater and the National Urban League. Will is also the founder of a professional networking organization for young professional fundraisers called the Future Leaders in Philanthropy (FLiP). The FLiP community grew rapidly from a popular blog and continues to grow under new editors today. Will lives in lower Manhattan with his wife, Rachel.
Under Will’s leadership, Slingshot has grown from a small group of next generation funders who wanted a way to explore and support innovative Jewish projects to becoming an important funding source, a closely watched seal of approval and a leading voice advocating for innovation in Jewish life. Slingshot has become synonymous with relevant, engaging, impactful 21st century projects. Tens of thousands of Jewish funders, professionals, and nonprofit leaders look to the Slingshot resource guide as a beacon for innovation in Jewish life. To date, more than 80 funders in their 20s and 30s have joined the Slingshot Fund network to meet their peers, learn about engaging Jewish projects and gain lay-leadership skills. As the Executive Director of Slingshot, Will is responsible for creating high-functioning networks for the stakeholders of Jewish innovation, including the most innovative nonprofits, funders of innovation and capacity-building organizations. Will is also responsible for creating a learning network for funders in their 20s and 30s that provides lay-leadership skills and exposes its members to inspirational Jewish projects.
Under Will’s leadership, Slingshot has grown from a small group of next generation funders who wanted a way to explore and support innovative Jewish projects to becoming an important funding source, a closely watched seal of approval and a leading voice advocating for innovation in Jewish life. Slingshot has become synonymous with relevant, engaging, impactful 21st century projects. Tens of thousands of Jewish funders, professionals, and nonprofit leaders look to the Slingshot resource guide as a beacon for innovation in Jewish life. To date, more than 80 funders in their 20s and 30s have joined the Slingshot Fund network to meet their peers, learn about engaging Jewish projects and gain lay-leadership skills. As the Executive Director of Slingshot, Will is responsible for creating high-functioning networks for the stakeholders of Jewish innovation, including the most innovative nonprofits, funders of innovation and capacity-building organizations. Will is also responsible for creating a learning network for funders in their 20s and 30s that provides lay-leadership skills and exposes its members to inspirational Jewish projects.
