Twenty years ago, Israeli-American philanthropist Adam Milstein made a pivotal decision that would reshape the landscape of Jewish giving. After building a successful career in commercial real estate, Milstein shifted his focus from making money to maximizing impact, committing his wealth, time, energy, experience, and networks to what he calls “venture philanthropy”—a strategic approach to fighting antisemitism, strengthening American values, and supporting the State of Israel.

Milstein drew inspiration from pro-Israel philanthropic giants like Bernie Marcus, Sheldon Adelson, and Newt Becker, who demonstrated that hands-on philanthropy could transform the ways the Jewish community stands up and fights back. Rather than simply writing checks, Milstein quickly realized that real impact requires a disciplined approach: vetting the most effective nonprofits, motivating them to collaborate, and helping them execute their vision.

Identifying a Systemic Challenge

A decade ago, Milstein identified a core systemic challenge facing many innovative Jewish nonprofits. Leaders from small and medium-sized organizations visited his office weekly. These were the community’s most innovative groups, led by passionate people with proven concepts. Yet they were trapped in a cycle, spending 60-70% of their time fundraising instead of executing their critical missions. Brilliant leaders had become professional fundraisers by necessity, which severely limited their ability to achieve long-term impact.

Recalling the simple, effective donor meetings organized by the late Newt Becker—where pro-Israel and pro-America smaller organizations gained direct access to committed philanthropists over lunch—Milstein realized this model could be scaled and structured for greater efficiency. Drawing on that experience and his own business background, he founded the Impact Forum.

Building an Innovative Philanthropic Engine

The Impact Forum began modestly with a small group of philanthropists holding monthly lunches. Two vetted groups would pitch their mission in a “Shark Tank”-style format, and attendees would fund the work that resonated with them most. The foundational principle was, and remains, transparency and efficiency: one hundred percent of donor support goes directly to the nonprofits. There is no overhead or bureaucracy—just a direct connection between funders and mission-driven leaders.

The Forum grew through trusted networks, creating a family of like-minded philanthropists committed to supporting bold, nimble, and mission-critical Jewish and pro-Israel nonprofits. For participating organizations, the benefits are powerful: increased annual budgets, new funder relationships, collaborative partnerships, strategic direction, and most importantly, the ability to spend more time doing their work instead of chasing dollars. For donors, the model solved the problem of discovery and vetting, providing access to effective organizations identified through a trusted, shared network.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the Impact Forum evolved from monthly lunches to major quarterly dinners featuring keynote speakers like Bari Weiss, Douglas Murray, and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, alongside the nonprofit pitches. The Forum has since expanded to Dallas and Miami, where dedicated local leaders have embraced the mission. This growth demonstrates the powerful demand for strategic, collaborative philanthropy that puts mission first.