The Atlanta Jewish Federation’s Innovation Initiative was born of the enterprising spirit which runs through our Jewish community in an effort to encourage and nurture creative progress in our city and beyond. We are a community idea accelerator created to offer guidance, connections, and resources for our city’s Jewish changemakers from start-ups to legacy organizations.
Jewish Innovation Fund
FY25 Cohort
Federation Innovation By The Numbers
Over $1.5 Million
INVESTED IN COMMUNITY INNOVATION GRANTS OVER 5 YEARS
Additional $72K
WENT TO 31 DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN FY23 FUNDING PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT JUSTIC, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION.
17 Out of 22
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FY24 COHORT ARE FOUNDED OR LED BY WOMEN
We Empower Changemakers
Courage
We stand up for our innovators and recognize the courage it takes to pursue their ideas and make a difference. Learning from failure is as equally important as celebrating victories.
Progress
Impactful ideas take time, concentration, and adaptability. We provide the space and support necessary to empower our grantees to take measured steps in the right direction toward success.
Connectivity
Our ecosystem of creators actively works together as we offer guidance and resources to bring their ideas to life. From mentorship to education, we connect and equip grantees for viability and success.
About Federation Innovation
Mission
Our mission is to provide guidance, connection, and resources for Atlanta’s future-thinking Jewish community to bring their brightest ideas to fruition in the name of progress.
Vision
Our vision is to create a lasting impact in Atlanta’s Jewish community by fostering a culture of invention, creativity, and progress which ripples through our city and beyond.
What is an Innovator?
What is an innovator? Many perceive the big idea of innovation as a one-in-a-million thinker producing new inventions that change the world. Da Vinci. Edison. Jobs.
Yes, those innovators impacted the world in major ways. But, we believe the potential for innovation exists all over. It’s simply waiting to be recognized.
We see innovation in the willingness to ask “what if?” In the ability to take a step back and gain a new perspective for greater efficiencies. In ideas that impact gradual change in the community, and others that change the world.
Want to learn more?
Email Samantha Kurgan at skurgan@jewishatlanta.org with any questions or comments.
Innovation Advisory Committee
Federation Innovation is shaped and steered by a fascinating and eclectic group of people who are all high-level thinkers, doers, and innovators themselves! We’re always looking for people who might want to share their time and talent with us.
Jill Herskovits Bernstein
Jeremy Borak
Matthew Borenstein
Susan Cohen
Dori Rossetti
Dana Rachel Neiger
Keith Pepper
Daniel Gomez
Amy Zeide
Josh Feingold
Mark Rothberg
Evan Shapiro
Ryan Silberman
Mitch Skyler
Erica Tritt
Phillip Ventimiglia
Meet Samantha Kurgan, Vice President of Innovation
Samantha Kurgan is the VP of Innovation and Jewish Engagement for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Samantha works with a committee of volunteers to drive change and impact through funding initiatives and creative approaches to addressing the gaps in the Atlanta community. The Jewish Innovation Initiative offers local changemakers the opportunity to expand the dynamic ecosystem by providing guidance, resources, mentorship, and funding to shepherd new ventures and cement Atlanta’s status as a best-in-class Jewish community.
