Jerusalem Philanthropic Initiatives Appoints Inbal Gottesman as Director of Value Creation

Jerusalem Philanthropy Initiatives (JPI) is excited to welcome Inbal Gottesman to the team as the Director of Value Creation. JPI works to uplift, advance and provide tools and resources for Jerusalemite grassroots leaders who believe the diversity of the city is its foremost creative advantage. JPI was created by the Leichtag Foundation with its partners on the ground. JPI programs are now supported by a growing consortium of funders.

Inbal will lead efforts to develop and expand resources and networks for JPI and the initiatives JPI supports. This includes members of the Jerusalem Model, which convenes civil society leaders, and Jerusalema, which educates those interested in public sector work.

“Inbal’s years of innovation and activism in Jerusalem and her deep understanding of professional tools and competencies that leaders of all kinds must possess to inspire others and scale programs makes her the ideal candidate for this position. We could not be more excited for Inbal to come on board and know that she will expand the impact of JPI and of Jerusalem grassroots leaders and initiatives substantially,” said Charlene Seidle, Executive Vice President of Leichtag Foundation and President of JPI.

Born and raised in Jerusalem, to an Iraqi mom and American dad, Inbal brings her passion for the city to both her career and her social entrepreneurship. For almost two decades she has been working across sectors with leaders, communities, and organizations to strengthen their capacity and enhance their impact.

Inbal is joining JPI after spending the last four years as the Jerusalem Ecosystem Manager at Start-Up Nation Central, where she managed the organization’s efforts to advance Jerusalem’s tech and innovation scene. Prior to that she was the Director of Operations & Marketing at StellarNova, a start-up that creates gender balanced STEM products; the producer of the ROI and Schusterman initiatives in Israel, including the ROI Summit; and the Community and Resource Development Manager at New-Spirit, one of Leichtag’s first grantees in the city.

Inbal has been an active member of the Jerusalem Model since its inception, as well as a Schusterman ROI Community member. She is a seasoned entrepreneur and has assumed leadership roles in several social initiatives including Open Holidays festival in Jerusalem, Project Resisim, and TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

Inbal is a certified Dale Carnegie Life Coach, as well as a trainer in the fields of storytelling and public speaking. She holds a BA in Psychology and Social Justice as well as an MA in Organizational Consulting.

“As a child, my brother and I used to wander from our home in Armon Hanatziv to the nearby Arab village Jabel El Mukaber to buy candy and run around with our neighboring friends. Only years later did I realize how unique and special was the relationship we had with our fellow Jerusalemites. To me that is the essence of Jerusalem, and why as an adult I chose to live and raise my family in this diverse, beautiful, and complex city.”

“For many years people viewed Jerusalem’s diversity as a liability. It is only in the past decade that this diversity has been recognized as an asset and an engine for growth. This shift is the result of relentless efforts, led by the city’s social activists and visionaries, who think creatively of ways to build a better city for us all. With that in mind, I am excited to be joining JPI, an organization which is committed to advancing diversity and shared society in Jerusalem, and to be helping its incredible grantees elevate their work to even greater heights,” added Inbal.