The JScreen program, based out of Emory, was launched in 2013 with the goal of raising public awareness about preconception screening and providing convenient and affordable at-home screening.
Thirteenth annual Slingshot Guide highlights the best of the thriving Jewish nonprofit world
JScreen has been named one of North America’s top 50 innovative Jewish organizations in the thirteenth annual Slingshot Guide. 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. Slingshot 2018 was released today.
JScreen is a national not-for-profit education and at-home carrier screening program for genetic diseases. The goal of the program is to give individuals and families easy access to information and to allow testing to be done conveniently from home. Testing is performed by a certified laboratory and results are reviewed and reported to participants by genetic counselors via phone or secure video-conferencing.
Selected from among hundreds of finalists reviewed by over 100 individuals with expertise in grant-making and Jewish communal life, JScreen is saving lives every day, according to the Guide. 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. JScreen 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.
“JScreen is honored to be selected in this year’s guide as we continue to maximize our impact and reach throughout the country”, says Hillary Kener, director of national outreach for JScreen.
Added 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. We are proud 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’s board chair, agreed, "We are excited to highlight 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 both 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 an important step for selected organizations to attain much needed additional funding and to expand the reach of their work, as the Guide is a frequently used resource for donors seeking to support organizations transforming the world in novel and interesting ways.
About the Slingshot Guide
The Slingshot Guide, now in its thirteenth 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 Slingshot Guide has proven to be a catalyst for next generation funding and offers a telling snapshot of shifting trends in North America's Jewish community – and how nonprofits are meeting new needs and reaching new audiences. The book has been published annually since 2005. Each edition is available as a free download at slingshotfund.org, where you can learn more about Slingshot’s work and new strategy for continuing their impact into the future.