Avi Smolen

I oversee a portfolio of grants focused on international civic engagement and democracy. In addition to making grants, I monitor and conduct due diligence on existing grants, and provide support to grantees. I help to shape learning and evaluation activities and facilitate networking between stakeholders on issues of common concern.

I facilitate dialogues, give speeches, and make presentations to a wide range of audiences about the power of interfaith cooperation.

I manage portfolios focused on disaster preparedness and response, and strengthening mental health infrastructure, especially for young people. Specifically, I: ● Direct an annual budget of ~$12M, including multi-year grants to regional and national partners ● Develop and revise portfolio strategies to match the changing environment and increase impact ● Engage peer funders in groups and bilateral relationships to collaborate on shared challenges ● Supervise a Portfolio Associate, providing guidance on work product and professional development

I oversee a portfolio of grants, ranging from global health to women's rights in focus. My main focus, in addition to overseeing the grant terms, reviewing reports, etc., is to serve as a resource to my grantees, providing them with accessible, informed, and responsive support. A major focus of my time is contracting with providers to build grantee capacity in areas such as financial health and strategy.

I project manage and lead the implementation of a suite of workforce initiatives including the development of alumni and mentoring programs, and creating frameworks for learning paths and professional development. In doing so, I collaborate with colleagues from a range of departments on the development of these initiatives and facilitate the input of a steering committee involved in implementation.

I coordinate grantmaking and manage the operations of a division that advocates for just and equitable health services for marginalized groups around the world, by looking at upstream issues related to governance and financing. In this role I also liaise with grantees, consultants, and partners; manage convenings; and coordinate the budget for my team.

I support a team focused on health financing, managing grantmaking processes and budget management.

The AJWS Global Justice Fellowship is a selective, year-long program designed to inspire, educate and train key opinion leaders in the American Jewish community to become activist leaders in support of global justice. It involves an immersive experience with AJWS grantees in a developing country and skills building throughout the course of the fellowship.

I shaped communications strategy to support national and local advocacy and engagement campaigns and programs, focusing on web, email and social media platforms. During my tenure, I took part in the re-branding of the organization and development of its new website.

I crafted online and print communications, and advanced young leadership outreach to support the Keren Or Center in Jerusalem, which helps blind children with multiple disabilities.

I developed a resource guide for immigration reform, helped to implement the strategic plan, and coordinated with similar immigration reform organizations.

One of 30 fellows placed in cities around the US, UK, and Canada, I worked in an interfaith partnership to create a sustainable hub of multifaith youth action to prevent deaths from malaria. Based in Washington DC with the Malaria Policy Center, I focused on mobilizing college students in the Washington area, running large scale events and creating a multi-faith network of ten youth leaders at five area universities committed to creating interfaith global health awareness programs at their schools.