Gateways: Access to Jewish Education has been named one of North America’s top 50 innovative Jewish organizations in the 12th annual Slingshot Guide. Gateways is Boston’s premier Jewish educational organization for students with special needs, and the Guide has become a go-to resource for volunteers, activists and donors looking for new opportunities and projects that, through their innovative nature, will ensure the Jewish community remains relevant and thriving.

Selected from among hundreds of finalists reviewed by nearly 100 professionals with expertise in grant-making and Jewish communal life, the Guide called Gateways, which exists to provide a meaningful Jewish education to students with disabilities and to train educators and schools to help individuals with special needs succeed in Jewish environments “a one-stop shop for a Jewish education that anyone can access.” Organizations included in this year’s Guide were evaluated on their innovative approach, the impact they have in their work, the leadership they have in their sector, and their effectiveness at achieving results. Gateways is proud to be among the 50 organizations honored for meeting those standards.

The organizations included in the Guide are driving the future of Jewish life and engagement by motivating new audiences to participate in their work and responding to the needs of individuals and communities – both within and beyond the Jewish community – as never before.

“Gateways is proud to be selected in this year’s guide, and thrilled to be part of the amazing community of the hundreds of innovative Jewish organizations included in the Guide over the past 11 years who continue to create positive change in the Jewish community,” says Gateways Executive Director Arlene Remz.

Adds Stefanie Rhodes, Executive Director of Slingshot, which publishes the Guide each year, “Slingshot’s work is to help Jews find, fund and connect to meaningful, exciting experiences in Jewish life. After 12 years, the book remains relevant in a changing world because we continue to highlight organizations doing exceptional work, serving as the trailblazers for what is possible, meeting the community’s evolving needs and inspiring all of us. Whether we look to the guide for funding ideas, best practices or trends in Jewish life, it remains a resource for all of us, providing new tools and optimism for our collective future.”

Sarah Rueven, Slingshot board chair, agrees: “It is clear that innovation is a critical component of today’s Jewish community and embracing organizational life cycles will be important for all of us as we seek to support and sustain Jewish innovation. Slingshot is highlighting the work of organizations that strengthen Jewish life by rising to the challenges of the day and making our community more relevant to our generation. We are inspired by projects that help people connect to Jewish life in ways that feel both fresh and relevant, while honoring our traditions. Readers will learn about valuable new projects and gain a deeper insight into the emerging needs in Jewish life, as identified by our community’s top leaders.”

Being listed in the Guide is often a critical step for selected organizations to attain much-needed additional funding and to expand the reach of their work. Furthermore, the Guide is a frequently used resource for donors seeking to support organizations transforming the world in novel and interesting ways.

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Gateways: Access to Jewish Education provides high-quality special education services, expertise and support to enable students with diverse learning needs to succeed in Jewish educational settings and participate meaningfully in Jewish life. To learn more, please visit www.jgateways.org.

The Slingshot Guide, now in its 12th year, was created by a team of young funders as a guidebook to help funders of all ages diversify their giving portfolios to include the most innovative and effective organizations, programs and projects in North America. The Guide contains information about each organization’s origin, mission, strategy, impact and budget, as well as details about its unique character. The book is available in hard copy and as a free download at www.slingshotfund.org.

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