Why Support Machshavah?
-
The Opportunity
This is a startup investment opportunity - a chance to seed something that doesn’t yet exist but that the ecosystem desperately needs.
-
Why Now?
The salon tradition emerged in moments of upheaval - when old certainties crumbled and new possibilities beckoned, when diverse people needed spaces to think together about who they were becoming. We live in such a moment now.
-
Interested in becoming a Founding Supporter?
We welcome the opportunity to discuss the vision in more detail and explore how you might want to be involved - whether through personal philanthropy, connecting us with other potential donors, or simply participating and spreading the word.
For Foundations & Institutional Funders
High Leverage: Small gatherings of influential thinkers generate outsized impact through their networks and public work. A single salon that helps 25 thought leaders think more clearly about Israel-Palestine influences how thousands encounter these questions.
Innovation: Fresh model filling genuine gap. Most institutions can't create space for genuine disagreement because of stakeholder pressures—Machshavah can.
Replicable: Success in New York creates a template for other cities and institutions. Strong founding network, clear path to viability, documented model others can adapt.
Measurable: Clear outcomes, rigorous external evaluation, transparent reporting including failures. We'll publish what doesn't work, not just successes.
Timely: Addresses urgent contemporary needs while honoring centuries of Jewish intellectual tradition. The infrastructure crisis won't wait.
Intellectually Pluralistic: We're not asking you to fund a progressive or conservative agenda—we're asking you to fund infrastructure for Jews across the spectrum to think together. This serves the entire Jewish community, not just those who share your political or religious views.
For Individual Donors
Enable conversations that couldn't happen elsewhere: Your funding creates space for discussions too risky for institutions with stakeholder pressures.
Invest in infrastructure for Jewish civic discourse: This serves the entire Jewish community across the political and religious spectrum.
Preserve Jewish intellectual tradition: You're ensuring that centuries of Jewish commitment to argument-as-love continues—that the Talmud's preservation of dissenting opinions remains a living practice.
Create community among Jewish thinkers: Many of our most thoughtful Jews work in isolation. You're building the relationships that enable collaborative thinking.
Position yourself as a founding partner: Early supporters shape not just funding but vision and model. You're helping determine what American Jewish discourse infrastructure looks like for the next generation.
Partnership Opportunities: founding support structure
Covers:
1-2 months of Programming
Venue and Hospitality for Multiple Salons
Facilitator fees
Guest Honoraria
Covers:
Venue and Hospitality for Multiple Salons
Facilitator fees
Guest Honoraria
Donate What You Wish
Any donation will help us towards continuing and sustaining our mission.