AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY INC

To meet the needs of the Hebrew University: The vision of AFHU is to forge meaningful partnerships between U.S. and Israeli citizens through support of--and advocacy for—education, research, and the advancement of knowledge at the university. Forging a meaningful partnership between the US and Israel, AFHU will continue to work to ensure Israel’s continued strength and pre-eminence nationally and internationally. AFHU-sponsored cultural, educational, and social programming attracts people from all walks of life, including Hebrew University and Rothberg International School alumni, American scholars and scientists, and the general U.S. public. Overall initiatives will promote greater understanding of the university’s contributions to the world in fields ranging from nanotechnology to sustainable agriculture, medicine, and the humanities.

In order to address the challenges to maintaining AFHU as a vibrant organization with a pipeline of volunteer leadership, AFHU seeks to build the next generation of supporters who will be the philanthropists and visionaries of tomorrow’s Israel. To this end, AFHU established the Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD) program three years ago and is working to institutionalize it, both through continuing the program (we are now entertaining LEAD Cohort 2) and potentially, through endowment of the program. LEAD has demonstrated the success of engaging the next generation of prospective leaders with a curriculum that educates, provides a toolkit of leadership skills, immerses participants in Israel’s history and wisdom, while opening the door for each individual to build relationships with Hebrew University professors, leaders, and alumni. Most excitingly, the first LEAD cohort has established strong bonds among the participants themselves and they are now an ongoing part of recruiting and mentoring the second cohort that just launched.

GOALS
1) Secure sustainable financial support for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2) Educate the US public about the global impact of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s research and contributions to the global good
3) Develop leadership for the future of AFHU

Vitally important to the organization is the development of future volunteer leadership to continue AFHU and build support for the Hebrew University. AFHU invests in leadership development by holding educational and professional development webinars for staff, volunteers, and board members, as well as by making resources available for staff participation in ongoing learning and development programs. AFHU Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD) is engaging and preparing the next generation of high-level volunteer leadership for AFHU, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Israel.

AFHU strategies to achieve the goals of promoting the Hebrew University are employed regionally and nationally across the U.S. as follows:
• Introducing Americans to the Hebrew University and its diverse programs and students.
• Raising awareness of mission and cause through marketing activities, public relations, and social media.
• Maintaining regional boards and a national AFHU board (that includes representation from the regions and alumni association).
• Supporting the university's alumni organization within the regions and nationally.
• Engaging in strategic partnerships with other nonprofit, public and/or private sector organizations.
• Supporting the Hebrew University's participation in thought leadership activities such as presenting at conferences, publishing research, etc.
• Community building, training, and organizing.

Founded by American philanthropist Felix M. Warburg in 1925, AFHU has been a central force in the Hebrew University’s rise to global prominence. The Hebrew University, which was founded years before the establishment of Israel, formed the basis for the nation’s strength and has educated successive generations of leaders. Today, AFHU is part of an international network of Friends organizations spanning more than 25 countries. Since its inception, AFHU has been committed to providing academic, research, and physical resources in support of the university.

AFHU has long been a highly responsive, flexible, and committed partner to the university. Among AFHU's resources are its regions, each of which has a core of committed volunteers working with a relatively small staff (from 2 to 6 people).

The university itself supports AFHU and other friend groups around the world by providing educational programs, faculty presentations and ongoing content information to support marketing and fundraising. The friends groups share information and materials amongst themselves, in order to more effectively support the university.

Shared purpose characterizes the pivotal camaraderie between AFHU's staff, donors, and volunteers with Hebrew University's administration, faculty, medical teams, research scientists and labs -- enabling AFHU to meet its goals.

AFHU conducted more than 100 meetings and events on behalf of HU in the U.S. It provided financial aid and scholarships for undergraduate through post-doctoral students. AFHU rallied support across its regions to help the university address the wider needs of the Jerusalem community and to support Israeli and global “Tikkun Olam” initiatives ‘to heal the world.’ The AFHU constituency supported advances in research and research facilities that have potential to improve life across the planet.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath, AFHU has continued successful outreach, communication, education, fundraising cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship operations. AFHU and the university have been able to successfully combine traditional in-person education and special events with virtual and hybrid offerings that encourage wider regional, national, and international participation. Alumni events have become virtual interactive opportunities for people to get acquainted, learn about developments at the university, and share information. Educational presentations in real-time and via the website and YouTube have gained popularity and have acted as a substitute for in-person events, bringing volunteers together with HU students, faculty and administrators. In many cases, written donor reports are now enhanced by live Zoom meetings between benefactors and recipients.

The AFHU LEAD program weathered the pandemic to develop into an ongoing leadership development initiative that has launched Cohort 2 with the active support and mentoring of its Cohort 1 members.